About a year ago, I was lying in a hotel bed wide awake. The bed was soft, so soft I worried, in bleary-eyed sleepiness, that it would swallow me whole while I dreamt. It didn’t because it couldn’t—sleep just wouldn’t come. I was wide awake in the hellscape that is the intersection of desperate fatigue and stubborn insomnia.
So with nothing better to do, my mind began that inevitable end-of-year accounting. What had I done this past year? Did I accomplish my goals? Was I happy? What was missing? What did I want to do in 2023? As I answered these questions, it was glaringly obvious that I craved some creative pursuits.
Growing up, I was always carrying paper in my hand. Whether in the form of a book or a journal, often both. As time went on, academics took first billing and later on a career. It felt like it had been eons since I last picked up a pen for the sheer, self-indulgent pleasure of spilling words onto page (that didn’t read like buttoned-up corporate-speak).
Could I join my two great loves—reading (and not just reading, but reading children’s books) and writing—into one? From there, the idea of Readable Moments Book Club newsletter was born. I wanted to share my love of books with new(er) generations of readers and their caregivers.
So in January 2023, I wrote my first-ever post announcing my intention with this newsletter and it went out to a whopping 13 incredibly supportive strangers (who I am proud to say are still subscribed! 🥳).
Here’s how it’s gone since that very first post…
2023 Stats In Review
Number of Posts Published: 38 (including this one)
When I first started this newsletter, I only published every other week. But in May I decided to bump my publishing schedule up to weekly and I’ve kept that schedule ever since. I like this schedule—it feels comfortable and something I can do well without feeling like I’ve spread myself too thin.
Subscribers: I can’t believe we’re at 300 and counting!
If you want to do me a solid and help me hit my very ambitious goal of 500 subscribers this year, hit the ‘Share’ button below. Thank you!
Children’s Books Read This Year: 900+
While I own many children’s books, hitting this number would not have been possible without my public library system. Please, please, please support your libraries however you can. They are the bedrock of our communities!
ICYMI - My Most Popular Posts in 2023:
Why Raising Readers Matters (collaboration with
of theMaking Cents of Money: Financial Literacy for Kids (collaboration with
ofIt’s The Thought That Counts (my sort-of/not-quite gift guide)
Some thoughts…
I’ve fallen in love with writing this newsletter—it’s been such a great outlet for creativity and, even more importantly, has fostered meeting some lovely people who are just as excited about reading as I am. In a world that can feel so lonely sometimes, this has been the best gift this newsletter has given me.
I’m even more excited for next year! I will be taking time off from the newsletter in the last few weeks of December. I’ll be using this time to think through and plan how I want to show up for you in the new year. As a preview, I’ll be spending more time sharing how to introduce kids to diverse, inclusive reads. Stay tuned—I will share all of that with you when I return in January.
Let’s keep the conversation going…
Do you spend time at the end of the year reflecting on how the year has gone? What questions do you ask yourself?
Similarly, do you spend time at the beginning of the year thinking about New Year resolutions or things you want to accomplish generally?
And now, for some end-of-year fun…
🎁Giveaway🎁
To celebrate a year under our belt, I’m excited to give away the following book and a $25 Bookshop.org or Target gift card (winner’s choice).
How To Raise A Reader
Written by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo
I found this book tucked away in the corner of a local children’s bookshop and it called to me like a beacon. Written by a pair of book editors from The New York Times, this beautiful hardcover is the perfect entryway into thinking about how to foster a reading habit in kids (ranging from babies to teens). What I love about it is how easy it is to read, perfect for a busy caregiver or educator. The book is structured with sections addressing each age group so you can reach for it as your kids grow. It’s chockful of strategies that are practical and realistic—for example, if you have middle-grade readers with a growing sense of independence, you’ll need to evolve your role from choosing books to encouraging certain reads. The part you all may appreciate the most: at the end of each chapter (and the book), the authors have compiled a list of children’s book recommendations.
Buy now*
To enter to win this book and a $25 gift card to Bookshop.org or Target, just hit the button below! The giveaway closes at midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 19th at midnight ET.
✨Thank you for your continued support and see you in 2024!✨
Between now and when I see you in your inbox again, I wish you a wonderful time winding down 2023 with the people you love. If you’re celebrating any holidays, I hope they are joyful and soul-satisfying. As always, I am so thankful to have a place in your inbox. See you in January!
*Thank you for using (at no additional cost to you) the affiliate links in this post! :-)
You have created such a happy space here! I read all of your posts with a smile on my face! I can't wait to see what's in store for you in 2024!
Congrats! I’m glad I found your newsletter.