reading in 2016 - book stats and favorites January - March

My book reading goals for 2016 are the same as they were last year: 1. Read more. 2. Write down all books read.

The good news is that I've already read a ton of books in the first three months of the year! The bad news is that I've already forgotten to write down a few of the picture books I've read (though I've gotten almost all of them).

Here are my book stats for this year so far (here's the link to all of last year's stats as a comparison):

2016 Book Reading Stats (January, February, March):

43 Picture Books*

3 Easy Readers

1 Chapter Book

4 Middle Grade Novels

2 YA Novels

4 Graphic Novels

2 Non Fiction Books**

1 Adult Novel

Total = 60 books!***

* On track to beat picture books read last year by a HUGE margin (I'm already one over my total for the whole year of 2015, although there were a few picture books this year I forgot to write down, and a LOT of them I forgot to write down last year). 

** The two non fiction books were both adult books about children's books.

*** There were two books I didn't finish that aren't in the totals above (not the right books for me right now, though I probably would have enjoyed them at a different time), and one book I wish I hadn't read (even though I liked parts of the book and was engaged in the story, there were many things I didn't like that took me out of the story - those made me wish I hadn't read the book - I did finish it to see what happened though).

Note: Some of these were new reads and some were re-reads, but each book is only counted once (each year), even if I re-read over and over. I usually don't re-read novels, but I do re-read picture books.

January to March 2016 - Picture Book Favorites: 
I decided to pick five picture book favorites ... but ended up with ten! (And could have had so many more). It's always hard to pick favorites! On the other hand, it's also fun to think about the books I've read and which ones stand out in my memory. I decided to focus on picture book favorites because I've read more of them so far this year than any other type of book. Plus, I love picture books! Here are ten of my favorite picture books this year (so far) in alphabetical order:

ARE WE THERE, YETI? by Ashlyn Anstee

- Long car rides almost always come with cries of, "Are we there yet?" This book has a slight twist in that it's a bus full of children with a school bus driver named Yeti (who is, of course, a yeti). Along the way to there destination, the kids cry out, "Are we there, Yeti?" Eventually they arrive at their unexpected destination. The kids are happy to finally be there, but are not sure they want to be there at first. A fun story with neat art and a diverse cast of kids. Sure to be a hit on the next road trip, or while staying at home too.

 

BOOKS ALWAYS EVERYWHERE written by Jane Blatt, illustrated by Sarah Massini

-  What's better than a book about books? This book about books has fun suggestions about what books can be in the text and in the clever illustrations. A diverse cats of children and animal friends celebrate all the things a book can be. 

COCKATOO, TOO by Bethanie Deeney Murguia 

-  Some picture books just beg to be read aloud, and this is one of them. Fun and feathery word play combined with colorful illustrations make for a book that kids (and adults) will enjoy reading. Warning: reading this book might lead to dancing and silliness.

FOUND by Salina Yoon

- For everyone who has ever had a plush toy friend who was real, this is the book for you. When Bear finds a toy rabbit in the forest, he knew that the rabbit was a special friend that someone had lost. Bear sets off on a search for the lost owner with his new rabbit friend. A heartwarming story with wonderful illustrations that will have children going back several times to capture all the details.


 

LOVE IS MY FAVORITE THING by Emma Chichester Clark 

- Plum the dog has lots of favorite things, but her favorite is love. Plum tries so very hard to be good and to do what her humans tell her, but she can't help that she's a dog and sometimes loves to do things that humans don't want her to do. Will Plum's humans still love her when she lets her doggie nature take over? This book is for dog lovers of all ages (and pet lovers of all kinds, cats, birds, rabbits, etc.).

MY DOG'S A CHICKEN written by Susan McElroy Montanari, illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf

-  What do you do if you're a resourceful kid whose parents say no to getting a puppy? If you're Lula Mae, and your family has a yard full of chickens, you'll pick a chicken to be your puppy (whether the chicken wants to be a puppy, or not). This is a funny story about pets and accepting that things might not be exactly what you want, but maybe, just maybe a chicken makes a better dog than a real dog (whether your parents want you to have a pet chicken, or not).

NIGHT ANIMALS by Gianna Marino

- Just like some kids are scared of the dark and things that go bump in the night, some animals are scared of night animals who roam around in the dark outside. This story is an interesting and amusing take on being scared of creatures in the dark, and on finding friends who will watch your back so that nobody can get you. Fun twist at the end that some kids might see coming, and others, just like the animals in the story, will not.
 

ROAR written by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Liz Starin


- This story about friendship and what really matters unfolds as a conversation between a boy who thinks he's a dragon and two dragons who think he's not, and also a cat named Stanley. The amusing text is sure to have everyone pretending they are dragons, and the energetic illustrations will have them looking closely to get tips on how to act like a dragon.


 

SHH! WE HAVE A PLAN by Chris Haughton

- Shh! The characters in this book have a plan! They have a plan to capture a bird. Unfortunately, the littlest one keeps foiling their plans. Every time they are about to capture the bird, it gets away. After a few twists and turns, there's a new plan. Shh! The story is neat and the illustrations are stunning. The art graphically captures the plan and showcases the birds in stark color contrast to the robbers.

WHERE'S THE ELEPHANT? by Barroux

- If you love seek and find books, be sure to check this one out! There are three animals to find (an elephant, a bird, and a snake). In the beginning, it's hard to find them among the trees. As their habitat shrinks and buildings appear, it becomes easier and easier to find the animals. A wonderful way to look and habitat and how humans and animals co-exist together (or not). Great twist at the end, where the illustration suggests that it will soon be hard to find the three animals again.


What have you been reading lately? Any recommendations? Any favorite picture books this year?

p.s. If you want to see my book stats and favorites for April, May, and June this year, Click Here.

reading in 2015 - book stats and book favorites

Book Reading Goals for 2015: 1. Read more. 2. Write down all books read.

Pretty sure I read more than in 2014 (don't have 2014 totals, but it seems like I read more in 2015). I managed to write down most of the books I read too.

2015 Book Reading Stats:

20 Board Books

42 Picture Books*

1 Easy Reader

6 Chapter Books

29 Middle Grade Novels

22 YA Novels

10 Graphic Novels

2 Memoirs

2 Adult Books

Total = 134 books!*

* There were a few (or more?) picture books I read that I know I forgot to write down.

Note: There were also six books I didn't finish (they weren't the right books for me at the time, though I may have enjoyed them at a different time), and one book I wish I hadn't read (book pubbed several years ago - some people might like it; wasn't for me).

2015 Favorites:
I thought I'd pick a few favorites, but in the end, decided to pick only one for each category that I read more than five books. So hard to choose! I could add so many more!

Board Book: ARE YOU MY MOMMY? by Joyce Wan
- I've loved Joyce's art for years. It's always wonderful to read one of her board books or picture books and see her art. In this book, she makes clever use of cutouts of animals in a story about a baby rabbit trying to find her mommy.






Picture Book: WHEREVER YOU GO written by Pat Zietlow Miller / illustrated by Eliza Wheeler
- This book is gorgeous! I love both the art and the verse. It's a book that uses the theme of travel to open up a world of possibilities.







Chapter Book: THE PRINCESS IN BLACK AND THE PERFECT PRINCESS PARTY written by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale / illustrated by LeUyen Pham
- This is the second book in The Princess In Black series. In this book, Princess Magnolia is having her birthday party, with princesses from all over invited to attend. Unfortunately, the monsters have other plans for the same day. Chaos ensues and The Princess In Black races to the rescue! This book is even more fun than the first one in the series. Can't wait to read the next one!



Middle Grade Novel: UNUSUAL CHICKENS FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL POULTRY FARMER written by Kelly Jones / illustrated by Katie Kath
- A wonderfully wacky story about a girl who moves to a farm her family inherited and uncovers some mysterious and unusual chickens that she needs to care for (and protect from a possible chicken thief). Loved the fun illustrations and the characters, including the chickens.






YA Novel: BONE GAP by Laura Ruby
- This book contains two mysteries: What happened when Roza went missing? What did Finn really see? These mysteries, woven together with Roza and Finn's stories and the stories of the people of Bone Gap, combine to create a powerful story that's part real, part magic, and part myth. But this book is so much more than that. There are subtle and important truths about life hidden in each part of this book. I'm so happy that Laura Ruby wrote this book so I could read it, and so all of you can read it too.




Graphic Novel: PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN by Dana Simpson
- This graphic novel is part comic strip and part friendship story (think Calvin and Hobbes). Not every graphic novel that reads like a connected comic strip works out, but this one does. Loved this book and the second in the series, UNICORN ON A ROLL. Just found out there's a third book coming in February. Hooray! Can't wait!

Book Reading Goals for 2016: 1. Continue to read a lot! 2. Write down all books read (ALL of them this year).

snowmen, sand people, zombies, and penguins for the new year

I'm not really a resolutions person. Sometimes when I start a new year, I look to the past to see what I've done, instead of thinking about what I need to do. Not just the last year, but other years as well. Sometimes this helps me to decide what I want to do in the future, especially when it comes to art.

In 2011, my blog post for the New Year featured zombie snowmen! Since I'm currently reading a zombie book, I thought about posting the zombie snowmen here again:

I painted this in December, 2010, and it turns out, I painted some other snowmen that year too. If you're not into zombies, maybe you'll like the one watching a penguin skate:

Or, maybe snow is too cold for you. If so, I have a solution. These snowmen aren't technically snowmen at all. They're sand people! And at least one of them is a sand woman.

It's a crop from a larger sand people painting I did as a blog header for WaWe (a watercolor site which no longer exists):

Then again, maybe you're not into snowmen at all and really prefer the penguin. In that case, how about a painting of a penguin and bear making snow angels from 2008?

All this reflecting and looking at art has made me realize that I really miss painting. It's been a while. It's also clear that I used to make more time for fun art (not for a project or book, but just because I wanted to make art).

Despite the fact that I'm not a resolutions kind of person, I do like to make goals (all year, not just in January). One of my goals for this year is to make more art for fun, and some of that art will be made with paint!

Do you make resolutions or goals to start the year?

Whether you make resolutions, or goals, or just wing it, I wish you a wonderful year full of amazing things (and no zombies)!

14 week novel, wk 11: follow your own path

Last week I asked other writers to weigh in on writing novels. If you haven’t already, check out the excellent answers that everyone gave on both blogs: Live Journal week 10 , Blogger week 10. Thank you so much to all the authors that commented!!!

It’s week eleven and we’re almost to the finish line …

Goal for week #11: Follow your own path. Find a way to work that works for you, whether it’s the 14 week novel, NaNoWriMo, fast drafting, slow drafting, BIC, or your own process.

What’s my path? The last couple of weeks I’ve been fighting a cold and unable to work (or worry) about my WIP the way I usually do. It’s made me realize that the way that I write might not fit well into the 14 week novel challenge, and that’s ok. I’m glad I did it because I like trying new processes, and it might work for someone else. I’m going to continue with it until the end, because I think it’s still a valuable exercise and it helps me to keep working on my projects. And anything that keeps me moving forward is worth it.

Why isn't it working? I think it’s because I need time to let my ideas percolate; they aren’t always ready when I want them to be. Or it could be because I’m not a one-project person, even though I’d like to be. I’m a multiple-project girl and I need to (finally) embrace that craziness. As long as I’m working on something and working towards the finish, that’s good for me.

What is working? I have learned to stick with a project (like Sheila the zombie cheerleader), even when I need to stop and work on another project for a while. For instance, I finally figured out a novel that’s been bugging me for a while and has been everything from a PB to a comic strip. The next few days are going to be devoted to writing it all down. Then I’m going back to working on Sheila’s story and taking a intensive comics class to help me learn more about writing and illustrating graphic novels.

What process works for you? How long did it take you to figure it out or are you still trying to find your process?

time management tips from the procrastination exterminator

When I registered for the SCBWI LA conference this year, I listed my occupation as “procrastination exterminator,” in addition to writer and illustrator. At the time, it was wishful thinking, and as evidenced by my behavior last week, I tend to go off on tangents with projects that aren’t necessarily the ones I should be working on. I don’t think I can ever completely curb my tendency for tangential projects, and I wouldn’t want to (Sheila the zombie cheerleader is another example). However, I need to be a little more focused in getting the things I need to do done, so I can go off and play afterwards.

Everyone has their own time management system. Here’s what’s worked for me in the past and what’s new. Use the tips that might work for you, and share your tips in the comments if you want.

15 minutes of fame: Each person reportedly gets (at least) fifteen minutes of fame, the same should be true for your procrastination projects. Set the timer for 15 minutes and dig into that task you don’t want to do (even if it’s your WIP and you really do want to write or draw that scene, but just don’t know how). When the timer rings, hopefully you will be so engrossed in your project that you won’t hear it, but if you’re not, you can always try again later. Set the timer again the next time you work on it. Repeat until you’re done or you don’t need the timer anymore. Works for chores as well as creative endeavors ... thanks mom.

Get a cheerleader: Your cheerleader can be anyone that helps cheer you on and supports you with your goal. I have Sheila the zombie cheerleader. If I do what she says, she won’t eat my brain. She’s new to the cheering team. My husband, parents, and writer/illustrator friends are part of the team too. Luckily they don’t want to eat my brain, they just want me to use it to be creative and get my work done.

Set goals: Set realistic goals so that you can achieve them. If you’re a big goal setter like I am, write down the big goals, then break them up into smaller steps and use those steps as goals along the way to achieving something bigger. It’s a lot easier to get things done when you know it’s possible, instead of having something hanging over your head that’s hard to finish in a day or a week or a month.

Make a to do list: Write down what you can realistically accomplish each day. Some days you might not finish it all, and some days you might get done early. If you have lots of things to do, make a big, huge list, then take a few of those items and put them on a to do list, for today. Tomorrow you can take more things off the big, huge, master list. Just like setting goals, your to do list should be manageable, so you can feel a sense of accomplishment each day. Plus, it’s really fun to cross things off the list.

Play: Sometimes you need to chuck the timer, the goals and the lists, and completely ignore the cheerleader, who will be confused as to why you have gone off on a tangent. Playing and following your bliss is important. You have to do that once in a while to connect with your creative side, and maybe you’ll even come up with a brilliant new idea or character. Just make sure to get back to your timers, goals, and lists when you’re done, otherwise you may never get anything done. Besides, if you don’t get back on track, Sheila will find you and eat your brain.

How do you manage to manage your time and control your tangential projects?

Note: THANK YOU to everyone that’s entered my WIP title contest so far!!!! There are so many excellent titles to choose from; I don’t know how I’m going to decide. If you still want to enter, there’s time. The contest ends tomorrow at 5pm EST. Winners announced on Wednesday.