Resolutions and Reflections

Happy new year! I've been doing some thinking about this blog recently and the direction I want to take it in. I've rounded up some of my favorite posts... and I've thought a lot about the topics I'd like to write more about.

Here are my blog resolutions for 2008:

• To start writing profiles about wonderful independent bookstores that specialize in children's books and terrific libraries with great children's departments. My first profile was about Powells bookstore in Portland, Oregon, but there are many more libraries and bookstores I'd like to write about. I'm also seeking guest bloggers... see this post if you're interested in writing a profile.

• To wrap up the series of posts that are currently in progress; particularly the chapter by chapter analysis I've been writing about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and the clues about the entire series that are hidden in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
  

• To write more in-depth glimpses about clues and motifs scattered throughout the Harry Potter books, such as this post about the vanishing cabinet and this one about the barman at the Hogshead and his goats. Both of those posts were written before Book 7 was published, so I'd like to write some new ones.

• To write more reviews of my favorite children's books, such as this review of The Man Who Walked Between the Towers and this review of Knuffle Bunny. And nothing gives me a bigger thrill than hearing from the authors whose books I've reviewed. That's been one of the most rewarding (and most behind the scenes) aspects of blogging.

• To write more about comic strips. I have a few profiles up about comic strips so far, such as this one about Unshelved and this one about Doonesbury, but I'd like to write a lot more about the comics. I'd also like to start reviewing comic strip book collections.

• To try to create comic strips myself. I discovered a wonderful web tool called ToonDoo that allows even the artistically challenged (such as myself) to make their own comic strips. I've written two strips (this one and this one), but I want to do much more with it.
  

• To become more involved in the Kidlitosphere (the group of bloggers who write about children's literature). I've been reading and commenting on many wonderful kidlit blogs and I'd like to do much more of that. I've started submitting posts to Poetry Friday, which has been great fun, and I've written three original poems so far: A Good Mom, Freedom and Book of Memories. I'm also hosting the January Carnival of Children's Literature and am enjoying seeing the submissions come in and discovering new blogs.
  

• To continue conducting polls. The results always surprise me, such as this poll about dreadful dinner guests from the Harry Potter books or this one about favorite Caldecott winners.
  

• To share lessons I've learned such as this post with advice for beginning bloggers or this one about how to buy a book for a baby.

• To write more about the back stories of children's books that I love such as this post about Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. There are so many books that have fascinating histories such as Curious George and The Little Engine that Could and I'd like to write more about them.

• To start providing links to Book Sense, Powells and independent bookstores instead of (or in addition to) links to Amazon. See my next resolution for an example.
  

• To write about my favorite books about books such as Anita Silvey's 100 Best Books for Children or K.T. Horning's From Cover to Cover.
  

• To continue blogging, to continue connecting with wonderful people in the kidlit community, to continue to talk about children's books, comic strips and Harry Potter and to continue to have fun sharing my thoughts.

As for personal resolutions, I like the ones that Adrienne posted at What Adrienne Thinks About That. Particularly resolutions #5 and #8. Now, those are goals that I'll have no trouble achieving.