My Reading Life in 2013

It's not the last day of the year, but since I have Monday and Tuesday's posts slotted for something else, I'm going to take today to review my year in books.  I also reached my Goodreads goal this weekend, so I thought it was a good time to reflect.  Thanks goes to all the Twitter, blog, and Facebook friends that read as much or more than I do and provide a place to share books.  Thank you to my family who reads and likes to talk about books.  I love my book club who keeps me reading adult books when I could completely immerse myself in children's literature.  Thank you to those authors and illustrators who create the most amazing books - more than I could ever read in a year.  Most of all, though, the people who keep me reading the volume I read so I can "talk books" with them is my students.  They are the inspiration to read, read, and read.

- As of today, I read 301 books (my goal was 300).  This was 53 books above what I read last year.  Before you think that's a lot of books, consider Colby Sharp, who read 1007!!  This is the breakdown of what I read (as close as I can get since sometimes I forget to categorize something):

- 16 adult fiction titles (5%), 5 of which were audio.  These are mostly books I read for my book club.  It's a good thing I have to read adult titles for it!  Favorites published in 2013:

   

 

- 7 adult nonfiction titles (2%) , 2 of which were audio. Favorite published in 2013:

- 34 young adult fiction titles (11%), 16 of which were audio.  Favorites published in 2013:

   

 

- 51 middle grade fiction titles (17%), 17 of which were audio. Favorites published in 2013:

                                                                               Mine                                                                  

                  

Mock Newbery Club             Favorite Read Aloud

                       

- 16 middle grade and young adult nonfiction (5%). Favorite published in 2013:

- 83 fiction picture books (28%).  Favorites published in 2013:

     

- 50 nonfiction picture books (17%). Favorites published in 2013:

     

- 17 graphic novels (6%). Favorites published in 2013:

  

- 23 poetry books/novels in verse (8%). Favorites published in 2013:

  

- 4 professional teaching books (1%).  Favorite published in 2013:

When I compare my reading  to last year, I love that I've increased my  graphic novel and nonfiction reading, which were my reading gaps in 2012.  Thanks to Alyson Beecher and her 2013 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge, I met and exceeded my number goals for children's nonfiction by 31 books! I increased my graphic novels books by 14.  I did NOT meet my number goals in professional teaching books and adult titles and actually decreased those numbers..  I also have a gap in poetry even though I increased that by 11 books over 2012.

Goals for 2014:
- Keep Goodreads goal to 300 books.  This number was perfect for me.  It kept me challenged but didn't stress me out. 
- My reading gaps this year are adult fiction/nonfiction, middle grade/young adult nonfiction, poetry, and professional teaching books.  I'd like to step those up this year. 

I'd love to hear your 2013 reading reflections, favorite lists, and goals for 2014!