December 2023 Reading Recap

We did it! We survived 2023, and we read SO MANY books in 2023, and we never have to do that again! Woo!

As many of you know, in October, I decided I was going to challenge myself to cross the line of “1000 books read in 2023” like I was a child doing the kindergarten reading challenge. This was possible, but unlikely…and yet I did it! I read 200+ books each month for November and December, which included a heck ton of easy readers and picture books, but I already feel like such a better librarian! I was really broad in my reading, got good at keeping a book ready to go for small nooks of time, and I ended the year at 1,022 books read TOTAL.

But this isn’t about the whole year…this is about DECEMBER. December, oh what a month of chaos.

I read 231 books in December 2023. I kid you not…231. I did not DNF a single title in December, which is impressive. Let’s look at a quick overview:

• 119 Picture Books
• 5 books for Heavy Medal (SLJ’s Mock Newbery)
• 6 books for Capitol Choices (though many HM titles are also on CC…)
• 63 books for a Graded Reading List Update I am working on at work
• 12 audiobooks!
• 1 finished book that I started in SEPTEMBER
• 13 graphic novels
• 1 short story collection: You Are Here
• 1 singular YA title read: Huda F Are You?
• 1 novel in verse: Mascot
• 2 non-PD adult books read: Conversations with Friends and the True Love Experiment

I read a LOT of Kid Lit this year in general, but I got really into a few chapter book series this month, which is great for me, because that’s what I feel like I need to do more RA in frequently. This month I read the Keena Ford books on audio–adorable, about an hour each, and set in DC. I also read the three Marya Khan books, and honestly I love everything Saadia Faruqi does. I finally read an Ivy & Bean book. I read all the Mercy Watson books, finally—I had already read the Deckawoo Drive spinoffs.

So…yeah. I’m going to be more intentional about reading backlist adult titles this month while I have some time but….I’m proud of myself. It’s not what everyone else would call a goal to read, but it perfectly aligns with my interests ,profession, and the award committee work I’ll be doing in 2024.

Stay tuned for my January 2024 reading recap!