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Mother Reader,
Your line about comparing pandas to Ashton Kutcher made me smile. Up until last fall, I was a long-time lurker because I felt I had nothing to add. Your thoughts on this idea were appreciated.

Also, thank you and Lee for the comment challenge. I've found out about some great books and "met" some interesting writers. My kids have read a lot of the book reviews, too and keep asking when we're going to the bookstore!

Congratulations on your upcoming blog-birthday. You add so much to our online community that I have a hard time picturing it without you here.

I only have a handful of kidslit blogs that make it to my must-read-every-day list. Yours is one.

I'm so happy to be gassy for you. Wait, that didn't quite...

I saw a great quote zip by on Twitter that ties into your last line. Source is unknown to me, but...

Dance like the photo's not tagged, love like you've never been unfriended, tweet like nobody's following.

Rock on, MR! See you in year five :-)

I am delurking. Indeed, no one can hear us read in cyberspace.

Excellent reminder :)

Oh honored Mother,

I have come to see the wisdom of your ways. All of a sudden people are looking at my blog, whereas before all I knew for certain was that my paltry attempts were at least getting me proficient at editing my own really bad spelling and grammar.

I e-mailed you my count of comments yesterday but was unclear if I was following proper protocol. Can I get reassurance?

Well done on the four years, and thanks for the good times.

I'm loving this challenge-I've had fun exploring other blogs and getting more comments on my own! A win-win situation. I'm very glad you keep writing!

I'm glad you haven't quit. And I had to check - I'm coming up on my 5th blog anniversary (come May). Wild!

I love the connections you make by reading/commenting on blogs.
And how would you compare a panda to Ashton Kutcher? Speaking of Ashton, That 70's Show is one of my all time favorite sitcoms!

Oh, yes. I am a professional lurker, but I'm trying, find my voice, raise my voice, be true to my voice. All those things we want our characters to do. Thanks for the challenge.

BE the energy. I will remember this nugget of wisdom when my kids challenge me to jog around the block. I'm glad you're still blogging. The blogosphere would not be the same without you.

I'm here! And I'm glad you're here!

-Suz

I'm here! I like popcorn.

Happy Blog Birthday (coming up).

I love this post...and I'm SO glad you haven't quit! I don't know where the kidlitosphere would be without you.

Let me just say I'm glad you're not giving up the blog as you approach your 4th birthday. I've loved the Comment Challenge and I live for the weekend after school when the 48 hour Challenge begins.
I've loved reading your blog these past few years; thanks for your contribution to the kidlitosphere!

Delurking to simply say, I'm here. And have been here for over a year, loving every minute of it. :D

I have learned so much from visiting other people's blogs. I'm enjoying the challenge. I have no idea how many blogs I visit each day, but I've been busy. Have a great weekend.

Congratulations on your upcoming blog birthday! My Book Review blog is just a baby, but I've been keeping a personal blog for almost four years (my blog birthday is coming up in February!). I stopped for awhile, but I really missed it. It hasn't been easy to get back into it, but I think it's really worth it.

Thank you, thank you again for the comment challenge!

Happy Blog Birthday!
Thanks for everything, and for your openness. :)

I should have put in this link in the first place, but here is how one compares pandas and Ashton Kutcher:

http://www.motherreader.com/2009/08/nonfiction-monday-round-up-pandas.html

Love the metaphor! Your comment challenges has really been fun for me. Since I am a newbie getting started, I find blogging is fun and difficult all at the same time.Consequently, I have really enjoyed seeing what other blogger talk about and learned at lot in the process. So I am glad you haven't stopped writing. Happy Anniversary.

Great post! I do try to comment and am taking part in your comment challenge too. Thanks for the opportunity to connect with other readers.

Hello everyone, I'm here too...lurking as usual because I don't feel like I have anything of use to contribute.

Thanks you, Mother Reader, for the Comment Challenge, for your blog, and for your presence on the web. Even when we don't agree :), I learn from your posts and comments, and you often make me smile with your own brand of humor.

Keep blogging.

Pandas to Ashton Kutcher, huh? I'll have to think about that one...

I love having you around, Pam. Thanks for not giving up. :-)

Awesomeness - well said. You continue to be an inspiration to so many of us - and what an accomplishment 4 years of your amazing blog will be!
I'll be there cheering for you in the first row,
namaste and a Hug,
Lee

Just discovered you.
I'm here and I'm glad you're still here.

Very inspiring! An apt comparison of blog commenters to gas in the hybrid. So, so true.

The comment challenge ahas also made me find time to create more posts for my blog. I have been lax this year.

Congrats on year four!! And please don't quit, you would be missed :)

popcorn and new shampoo.

Coffee and a fire in the woodstove. Also, random parking lot mojo.

Snow that sparkles. I manage to temporarily forget all the problems snow causes when I see it winking so prettily!

chocolate, a good book, my kids playing with each other without fighting. All of these at the same time are absolute heaven.

Seeing a fox when I'm walking the dog at 5 a.m.

Mail. Oh, how I love getting mail.

I will not lurk, I will not lurk, I will not lurk...Adding to my gorilla collection, reading the comics every morning and a clear blue sky with bright sunshine.

a hot shower, finding little playmobil scenes hidden in corners around the house, that first sip of wine on Friday night!

my 6-yr-old reminding me what I need to remember every morning...

Watching the Red Sox in HD. My Brookstone NAP blanket (pretty much my favorite possession, even though it was technically a gift to both Mheir and me). Walker's shortbread cookies. And the fact that the housecleaners are coming today.

A freshly changed bed, a massage, a book in the mail, hot chocolate, and good comments.

The warm,safe,cozy, snuggled feeling when I wake up on a winter morning, and soap...........I have always loved soap.

Today: birth coaching.

Sleep (although that's not a small thing to me).

This afternoon I went to Kohl's with gift cards from christmas. I tried on 9 different things. I actually liked all nine things. That has never happened. (I had to put two back, but still I was excited!) Then I had a chocolate covered marshmallow heart, and picked up my preschooler who gave me a big hug. When I got home, my oldest was playing his new guitar. Plus it's a sunny day and over 32 degrees. All of these things made me smile today! :)

Naptime makes me oh so happy.

riding horses, Lexie my dog, my four grandbabies (can you still call an almost 16 year old granddaughter a baby??), sunrises and sun sets, my friends, and playing blackjack

down blankets, a snuggling dog, a fire in the fireplace, and our cottage up north.

I second Wendy and Sandra and say mail (particularly when it's a book), my cat when he's cuddly, the Zombie Emergency Procedure hanging on my wall (http://www.lol.com/joke/show/856), good smelling candles, when friends text me...

I have to go with my MacBook Pro and snuggling with my husband in front of our Snow Village.

My coffee machine, seeing a bald eagle fly by, blue sky, blueberry pancakes

Hot tea. Wool socks. Having time in the morning to sit in bed with coffe and a book - most recently the new Margaret Atwood.

Cupcakes, giggling toddlers, my daughter. (Does this make me an official former lurker?)

I love my new Macbook and have no idea how I lived without it. I love my library book and a new purses !

Snuggling on the couch with my man and watching a scary dvd.

For me it is the little things in life that make me VERY happy. I would be a fibber if I said the big things weren't thrilling and really cool, but the little things just take on a whole new special meaning.
I will name five small things that make me happy:
1)my coffee maker---LOVE my coffee!
2)my laptop and like you I don't know what I would do without it.
3)my hacky-sack. Almost 50 years old and I still love it and play with it everyday.
4)Makeup (lol)
5)And last but not least, Sundays and reading the New York Times in bed (most of it anyway)with yummy coffee!
Great question!

Gayla
PS: I really like your blog :)

Mythbusters and burritos.

Hi, Pam! So far so good on the Comment Challenge, so that's making me happy. :) Other things that make me happy: coffee and chocolate while I'm working at the computer; evenings spent loafing at home with my husband and cats; a cat on my lap while I read; cooking with a glass of wine at hand. Oh--and my netbook!

single person escalators.

Zendalas Presently I'm most excited that you 1) Reminded me of the intricate mandala-esque drawings I used to do back in high school and that 2) they have a nifty name these days. Most excellent!

Netflix I'm also excitable when the show I want to watch most in any given moment is streamable on Netflix. :)

Mini Things Saved the best (and most self-explanatory) for last!

Fruit
Wind
Muppets

-AZ

My MacBook, definitely :) Also coffee, cupcakes, reading to my daughters, and seeing the clouds turn colors at sunrise.

Walking to work. It's that shot of self righteousness that gets me through the morning sometimes!

The birds at my birdfeeder, dark chocolate, my grandgirls

I love my iPod more than is reasonable. When I read about your daughter's being stolen, I had to go check on mine, just to make sure it was okay. It's something that, for me, is purely just about fun.

The wiggly/stampy/OMG YOU'RE HERE dance my dog does whenever someone walks in the door. You can't stay in a bad mood when you see it.

magazines, office supplies, libraries/book stores, pasta, creativity, kisses from my son

Things that make me happy: My new condo, that I bought with my very own savings. I feel like I'm playing dollhouse all grown up.

Being back home, which I have yet to take for granted even a year after my return. I love this town.

Friends, online and off.

The last few years I have done Ali Edwards thing of choosing a word for the year. For 2010 I chose "savor." I want to be more intentional about being in the moment when I am with other people, savoring moments with my family, with my son, etc.

Hoping the best for your Clean Slate year!

I don't like to make resolutions, but I gotta say I pretty much rocked last year. So my motto this year is to ROCK HARDER. Or as Tracy Jordon said on 30 Rock, "Live every week like it's Shark Week!"

Is it irony or fate tapping me on the shoulder since I read your post right after Andrea's post about releasing resentment? I'm thinking the latter. Thanks for the kick in the you-know-what, MR.

I usually don't come up with new year's resolutions, but I really would like to try to get my house in better shape, with some sort of cleaning system that works for me rather than just letting it get so cluttered that I can't stand it and then cleaning like a mad woman before company comes over. :) I developed a system in December, tried it out, it worked great, and then I dropped it when the holidays hit. A clean slate is a nice idea too.

Every year I always make a resolution to work on/finish (heck--start) my novel so this year I'm going to resolve NOT to even begin it. What better way to ensure it actually gets done by placing a DO-NOT-STOUCH-THE-RED-BUTTON aura about it?

P.s. Or as Tracy Jordan said on 30 Rock, "Live every week like it's Shark Week!" AGREED.

I'm going with the one word thing, too: Joy. I've got to regain my capacity for deep, honest joy and not let anything or anyone steal it away.

I have never been very athletic and haven't run more than a half mile at a time in years, so one of my goals this year is to run a 5K. I'd like to be able to at least run the Race for the Cure 5K next fall in honor of my sister's successful battle against breast cancer.

Here's to a better 2010! I like your motto. Onward and upward!

I live this all the time...my washing machine broke two days after Christmas for example. Some years are better than others for sure. Hopefully, positive thoughts will help your clean slate start!!

Mother Reader, I'm a Fairfax County librarian, and so will probably be losing my job due to those same new budget cuts. Meanwhile, my not-yet-divorced husband is retiring from the military, hasn't found a job yet, and is cutting child support. So my goal for the year is not to be afraid! And hope for a new adventure that isn't homelessness! I'm also planning to spend at least 30 minutes per day working on my middle-grade novel. Last year, I shot for 15 minutes per day and only missed a dozen or so. I hope that this year, I'll get one finished to send out.

Ergh. I just found out at lunch today that Fairfax is cutting people yet again. It's so sad.

This summer I adopted a friend's motto of "I have awesome problems" because, when it boils down to it, my life is pretty good and most people would kill for my "problems."

My big goal this year is "laugh more, worry less" I've been thinking a lot about all the worry and stress I had in high school and college because THIS PAPER MUST BE PERFECT BY 8am TOMORROW! When, looking back, in the long run? Getting some sleep and turning the paper in a day late would probably have been a better option. And I wonder, what in my life now am I treating the same way?

My resolution this year (besides getting the Boy to POOP ON THE EFFING POTTY ALREADY) is to stop hating on my children so much. (Crap. I already broke it in that first sentence, didn't I.) I get a little embarrassed that other mom friends of mine seem so much more delighted by raising their kids than I do mine.

And Pam, I would love to look at your picture book manuscript. FB me for address.

My resolution is to be better at keeping in touch: return calls, initiate calls, answer email more promptly, send letters and cards in the mail...and delurk once in a while!

But that was before Jim brought Shark Week back to my attention...I might have to rethink things!

My old college friend Rob has a great philosophy for New Year resolutions: set yourself up to succeed. This year, his resolution is to eat more salsa, and he reports that he is already doing very well with it. Myself, i think the way he attacks things with a sense of humor and perspective makes for a pretty good resolution in itself.

I actually hadn't given much thought to this before I read though the comments. I think, right now off the top of my head, I want to be more focused. Some of it is enjoying the moment when I'm with the people I'm with, but some of it is just not being so scatterbrained about things.

That, and I want to be a better friend. I could work on that...

It's kind of funny but my first resolution for this year was "no more dead dog books". It sounds lame but sort of exemplifies a lot of how I feel about life in general. Why punish myself with something I know is going to make me feel bad? I don't care if it's the book of a lifetime (or movie or tv show or gathering or whatever) if it has a dead dog moment in it then I'm not playing. It's just not worth it!

I also like Jaymie's one word idea. I'm going to go with "persevere" because 2009 had some moments that brought me to my knees and sometimes, you just need to keep standing and that is enough.

I would like to enjoy the litle things in life, and not always stress out. I stress out way too often. :)

Wonderful post!

My motto this year is DO NOTHING! I'm trying to find 15 minutes every day to do absolutely nothing except let my mind wander with no goal in mind.

Ack--it's hard. This is the second year I'm trying it.

Good luck with Clean Slate! Great motto!

I like your motto, it is what the new year brings. I hope 2010 is better for you.
My Motto for writing: revise.polish.send.
My personal motto: find joy each day. live gratefully.

I was very happy to see the end of 2009. That rotten year held a lot of painful situations, both personally and professionally. But, on the positive side, I made significant steps toward a new career. Already, 2010 is looking better!

My New Year's goals are simple: positivity, productivity, and being more considerate.

I want to try to "keep on swimming" like Dorie, the wise yet clueless fish in "Finding Nemo."

And to be more joyful!

Whoa! NYC! Congrats to your daughter! This will be a fantastic experience. Will you get to stay with her?

Wow! Congratulations to your daughter. That just put the month over the top. What a heartwarming way to tell the Arctic blast to "take that!"

Congrats to your daughter! I was part of a fine arts summer camp growing up and I loved it!

This month will be a winner for me because I get my first three day weekend in almost two years, I'm exicted to hear the results of the ALA Media Awards (I will get up early on my day off to twitter live!), and it's my husband and neice's birthday this weekend, so we're partying!:)

This month will be a winner for me because I love the fresh "kick-off" kind of feel January brings every year - new goals, big plans, bigger dreams. I love a new year!

Congratulations to your daughter, Pam. That's very cool (though not surprising, given past reports).

I'm hoping for this to be a good month, work-wise, as we hope to start working with a new customer soon. We also have good friends visiting this week, which always makes for a good month.

Congrats to your daughter! Did she list reading with Mo Willems as part of her acting resume?

This month will be a winner if the baby sticking her toes under my ribs right now is born before the end of it. Her middle name will be that of the Paper Bag Princess, a good strong role model:)

Congrats to your daughter! And thanks for the push to comment. I am such a lurker, it is horrible. I definitely need the push to comment.

Congrats to your daughter; that is WAY awesome.

Today's a day for delurking. I read a lot of kidlit blogs but don't comment often because the blog I work on serves such a small niche. I just had to talk about this, though. My month has already been made. I help run a blog that recommends books to 9-14 year old boys and today I received a comment from a boy who said he usually doesn't "like books very much". It's badly spelled and has almost no punctuation, but it's from the heart. A boy who deosn't like to read gets excited by a book! How often do you get something so great, so fulfilling? Check it out on today's post at Boys! Rule! Boys Read! Thanks for letting me share.
(and congrats on your daughter!)

Your daughter a beautiful voice and is very poised. Enjoyed the video. My preschooler sings almost constantly, even while she is eating. I'll have to show her the video.

Congratulations to your daughter! She deserves it! Brava!

This month will be a winner for me if I can finish posting reviews of books I read in 2009, and get my Sonderbooks Stand-outs 2010 posted (the best books I read in 2009). I want to make my list before the ALA awards are announced, because I don't want to be swayed.

This month is a winner because I'm in charge of books for our school Multicultural night. We have rooms for each continent, and I'm supposed to showcase books (PB, NF, Chapter books) from our elementary library that show cultures from each continent.

Any ideas for South America? Antartica is getting a few Shackleton stories, some penguins, and all the global books.

After watching her handle the Kidlit Bloggers, a very tough audience in DC, I'm sure she'll be a smash on Broadway! I can't think of anything as a parent than watching your kids succeed at something they love. Congrats to all!

Typing too fast, should read "better as a parent." Just trying to get my comments for the day in!

What a great week! Congratulations to your daughter!

I'm hoping to get a bunch of books read and reviews written while finishing up with four groups of students and preparing for the next three groups. I'd also like to get a little sleep if I can fit it in.

This month is a winner for me because my little boy turned 5 and starts the next stage of his life :o)

Congrats to your daughter!

This month has been off to a great start for me, since I had a week of doing not much of anything last week. This week, I need to be productive, and the month will end up great if the classes I'm teaching at the community college start well and if I get the work done on my book that I'd like to get done. :-)

What a fantastic experience for you daughter, Pam! She's lucky to have such strong support from her parents.

This month will be a winner for me because we'll get a lot closer to knowing where we might be living next fall (hint: I hope it's right here).

Wow, Pam! What a tremendous accomplishment! I can't wait to hear how it goes.

This month I am :::thisclose::: to finishing my next book. It is going to feel SO. GOOD. to write that last page.

Congratulations to you and your daughter. What a way to start the year. I remember going to NYC with my daughter for a National Dance competition. I was so proud when they came in third in the Nation. It is an experience that stays with the parents and child forever.

Congratulations to your daughter.
Found my way here by googling "National De-Lurking Day 2010".
My kid's ever expanding vocabulary is and will be making my month!

How exciting for your family; please tell your daughter congratulations from me! And of course I know how hard parents work to be supportive of this type effort...so naturally I send congrats to you as well!

Congrats to your daughter! January will be wonderful because I will finish the first draft of my current ms.

Congrats to your daughter. This month will be a winner for me as I am very motivated with my WIP. I am putting blocks of time on my calendar for it.

Congrats to your daughter! That's a huge achievement!
This month will be a winner for me because it will be the 3rd anniversary for me and my husband!

Your daughter is amazing - what a stage presence.

I am going to stop lurking and jump into the kidlitosphere. My month started with the announcement yesterday of the Sydney Taylor Book Awards (Full Disclosure: I am on the committee.) It will be complete if I can get my book catalog up on line. I cannot thank you enough for all the inspiration to get off my butt and get going.

Wow congrats on your daughter's success! I am sure she is really psyched. This month has be fabulous. I actually got some followers that I didn't threaten, I am learning so much from all the blogs I have been visiting for the comment challenge, I am reading, reading, reading. Life is good.

I'm late to the congrat party... but CONGRATULATIONS to your daughter! That's fabulous.

Good morning, here I am- reporting for duty! Just stopped in to say Hello!

You are read. In fact, of the many blogs I subscribe to, you are one of the few I actually read your WHOLE POST not just skim the header. *sends waves of validation*

Hello again - I posted a delurk message on my blog as well. It's been fun. I hear you about more personal validation though!

You taught me not to lurk months ago with the commenting challenge. So now I shoot my fingers off here, there and everywhere :) Pat yourself on the back -- you've made a difference for hundreds (if not thousands!) of readers and bloggers nationwide!!!

And here I thought base jumping was the new golf. Thank heavens I straightened that out by checking out your blog today, as I often do. Happy Delurking Week!

Validate, validate, validate. We love you, MR!

I was doing so well commenting until the holiday break, but then I actually stepped away from the computer and didn't right or read much. Bad blogger--must get back to participatory blogging!

I really feel like they're diluting the true meaning of the holiday by stretching it out like this...

Delurking here... you crack me up! My fave kid's book is Peach and Blue by Sarah Kilborne.

and I enjoy your blog!

I'm going to delurk long enogh to give you the Premios Dardo award, check out the post at:

http://www.bookdads.com/2009/01/the-premios-dardo-award/

Ok, back to lurking.
Have a great day!

I do believe that I stood next to you at the Mo Willems event at TC the other day! I had 2/3 of my kids with me-- the 3rd grader who couldn't tear himself away from his newest Star Wars book, and the redheaded toddler who tried to ruin everyone's time by screaming her bloody head off. That was you with the ipod-listening daughter, right?

As a former varsity water polo player, I think I can confirm that water polo is, indeed, the new golf.

(At least insofar as I haven't played either one in more than 20 years.)

morninglightmama - yes that was me! Isn't it fun to know that bloggers exist in real life? I was going to write about the Mo thing yesterday, and then today, but now it's looking more like tomorrow. It was fun.

I'm appreciating all of the extra validation. My tanks were running on empty.

Oh, and tim, "stretching out the holiday..." LOL.

Christine, "base jumping was the new golf.." LOL that would have been a much better line.

Hello, My Name is Pat and I am one of your lurkers. I was even such a faithful fan of your blog, I found myself slightly annoyed that the election threw off your posting of Alphabet Letter storytimes. I am happy to see that you resumed this recently tho. Yay. Thank you.

Oh, I am a big fan of Mo Willems too. I was on the Carnegie Medal Committee that awarded Mo for Knuffle Bunny, the dvd. I was so happy to be a part of that committee. I was even happier to eventually meet Trixie.

Delurking just to say don't abandon us for water polo - I have your blog BOOKMARKED and everything, and that isn't a commitment I make to just any ol' website!

Thank you for your wonderful blog, MR! I'm a regular reader, but I don't comment NEARLY as much as I should!

I have two young children, and I admire--so much!--how you mix reading and motherhood. Both are so important to me, too.

Ah, I did hear rumblings about this last week, but far too late to do anything about it. Perhaps I will this week...

hehe, word verification: latcoma

I'm delurking long enough to say hi. Somehow I managed to miss national delurking day or week or whatever it was. I hope you reach your magic number. I have no pony for you though.

nope, I'm not going to delurk, and you won't get your number because I DO know how much EXTERNAL gratification you need...which is why I'm here to warn you that I've tagged you on FB. And I really need to see more Obama drooling over here...c'mon!

Hi- I delurking here. I read your blog from time to time and probably say hello maybe every couple of months....but I'm here....lurking around on a weekly basis :)

Hello! Did I tell you I think your blog title is genius? Love it. Found your blog couple weeks ago. Really enjoy it. Happy New Year!

p.s. I'm a children's librarian too (on hiatus) and it's always nice to read other librarian's blogs :)

Oh, favorite picture book of 2008 was Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blabey :)

Hi. I'm a regular reader but I'm not sure how often I comment. My favourite children's book of last year? The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. Sucked me in from the first sentence. Also loved Before I die by Jenny Downham and Broken Soup by Jenny Valentine.

We're all in the time-sucking mode together. Your work, however, is a public service that makes our days go faster, with a touch of humor.

Hi there--I'm still hooked on your blog, with all the great info on children's lit and a daily dose of humor. Keep up the great work! ~Cheryl

Hi -- can I count a 2008 book I read last week? The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins.

Keep up the good work. :)

One of my favorite books this years was Skinned by Robin Wasserman. Love reading your blog!

I love reading your blog and hearing about all the great books and other things out there.

I've had a great time reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series to my nephews. I believe Titan's Curse and Battle of the Labyrinth are both 2008 books. We've done lots of spin-off Greek mythology reading and discussions from the books.

For early readers my daughter and I really enjoyed Jan Thomas's A Birthday for Cow followed by The Doghouse. They're an easy read for her but she loves them and it's one of the first times she started reading with animation.

I have a hard time picking a favorite picture book. Right now I'm reading Smash! Trash! by Jon Scieszka a lot.

Hi Pam,

Love your blog.

I'm going to go look for you on facebook now... I only have like 13 friends. Time for a few more!

Barb Kerley

Hello! Okay, you had inspired me to finally comment which I should have done long ago since I read your blog all the time. I am a Children's Librarian as well and really appreciate all the wonderful things you put on this blog. Thanks!
Btw, one of my favorite YA books of 2008 was The Adoration of Jenna Fox. This is even more amazing because I'm not really into sci-fi/fantasy but I loved this book.

Hi Pam! I'm not a lurker. But I do agree with you about that image. Very cool.

As for favorite books of 2008, I think my favorite picture book was A Visitor for Bear. I liked it so much that I accidentally bought my friends two copies at different points in the year. (It was embarrassing, but it says a lot about the book).

Lurker here! Thanks for the great ideas! My favorite audiobook of the year was Savvy by Ingrid Law - it really came alive on audio. My 10 year old also loved it.

I've just found your blog and can't believe what I've missed! I need 3 days to read and an extra week to heal my aching cheeks from the laughter. Love it!!!!

Hello! Another happy reader of your blog here. I recently read The Magic Thief, which I enjoyed. My favorite of the year was probably Paper Towns though. (With Hunger Games a close second.)

I read all the time, mostly through Bloglines. Even when you extoll the virtues of Mr. Obama. I must be addicted to your book talk, since even that doesn't scare me away :)

Favorites for 2008 are posted at the blog, but I have a new favorite. I just read The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart, and I thought it was genius.

Love the graphic!! Thanks for promoting this wonderful week of awareness!!

I enjoy your blog every day, though I rarely comment. Favorite children's book of 2008? "Dragon Slippers"

I'm highly amused by the idea of 'National Delurking Week'. I'd love to find a great calendar listing all of the various national days, weeks, and months we've got.

I think I'm in your library branch quite often. If so, my girls love it and always hate to leave.

Delurking! Always enjoy what I see here. My favorite YA book in '08 was Madapple by Christina Meldrum. Very, very good.

Another lurker reporting in. My favorite book of '08? Not sure I pay a lot of attention to the copyrights, but we have been big on Kevin Henkes and William Steig around here for the past year.

Thank you all for delurking, and I hope that more people continue to come into the light that is the comment field. It's quite comfy here, I assure you.

I have some great book titles to pursue now, some great compliments to file away for a blue day, and a person who may actually have met me in my library. (It's the BC branch in our Fair County).

Oh, if you click on the link I put in for Get to Know a Customer Day you'll connect to a lengthy list of celebratory days, weeks, and months. Let's call it my little delurking gift to you.

I am a regular reader, but not a regular commenter. We have gotten some of our favorite books for your blog reccomendations! Thank you

hey! delurking from switzerland! i'm afraid i'm no good with favorites (especially since i'd have a very hard time remembering everything i read this year). but, i did just read Hunger Games and was very very impressed with it! could definitely be a contender for favorite. I got my kiddos Wynken, Blynken, and Nod for Christmas, which I think was one of your recommendations, and we love it! My husband is in the states right now and I have him picking up How To Heal a Broken Wing for me.

I read a lot, but rarely comment, sorry! Don't often have anything intelligent to say.

Delurking myself: I'm also a mother, also a reader also have the mouth of a smartass. Sometimes I feel as though your words are my thoughts (only funnier). I Love your blog and read it several times a week.

I love your blog, but am a chronic lurker on most blogs I read! Most of the books I read this year were not published in 08, I'm sort of always catching up on my "to read" list... but I did enjoy reading all of Kate DiCamillo's books and the Penderwicks.

Fav YA novel that I read in 2008? That's tough, but it's a toss between The Book Thief, Chains, and Octavian Nothing.

Howdy Howdy!
Hands down, favorite book of 2008 was "Wave" by Suzy Lee...
Z-Dad

Wedding dazed but slowly returning to blogging life...favorite YA book this year was Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. Historical fiction at its very, very best.

I wasn't lurking, I swear! Just stumbling though, looking around, and I thought I'd say hello!

Does this mean we're going to have another comment challenge? I need another boost in the keister.

I've been lurking for awhile and enjoy your blog. My favorite book was The Hunger Games. I can't wait for the next one!

I'm an occasional lurker venturing over at the right time it seems. Good times.

I really enjoyed the latest installment of the Sisters Grimm series, Tales from the Hood.

Hi. I'm a lurker/subscriber--though I'm often weeks behind in my Bloglines. My favorite children's books of 2008 include Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains, and M.T. Anderson's Octavian Nothing.

I can get behind this National Delurking Week but I'll pass on getting to know your customer.
One of my favorite middle grade reads of 08- I Put a Spell on You- Its a very funny spelling bee mystery (hopefully the description makes up for forgetting the authors name)

Boy, all of a sudden everybody wants to know that I'm out there reading their blog! ;-D

Thanks for all the book reviews - and one of my favorites for the year was UNDERCOVER by Beth Kephart, an overlooked gem with sensational writing.

I admit it, I lurk but mostly because I am so busy enjoying what I am reading that when I stop to comment it all just takes longer and so it's a time issue for me. I love your blog though and do check it almost daily. Thanks!

Hi, another lurker here. A favourite 2008 teen book was the Australian book Loathing Lola, but I'm not sure if it's available in the States.

Great blog, btw. :)

Guess I will "delurk". Just a fellow blogger stopping in to say Hi!! Great blog, by the way.

My favorite YA book of the year was probably Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. (that's not counting the incredible number of Teen paranormal garbage that I like to fill my days reading!)

I read in google reader. Two kids under 4, 1 a newborn, so not much time to comment. This year the only book I had to get right away was Breaking Dawn. I was a little disappointed.

Don't know how I fell into the lurking category, but seem to have. You know I read because of my enthusiasm for the 48 Hour Reading Challenge, but that leaves a lot of the rest of the year in silence... Must do better!

One of the favourites of 2008 was Sweethearts, by Sara Zarr. So wonderful.