Favorite reads from 2012

Since the topic of this blog recently has been books, I thought I'd list some of my favorites from 2012. These aren't necessarily books that were published in 2012, but favorites out of the books that I got around to reading last year.

Picture Books

I read a few picture books last year. OK OK! More than half of the books I read last year were picture books. It was a combination of padding for the reading list and a genuine love of picture books. I should probably make a point to read more of them all the time anyway because they make me happy. Perhaps I can convince myself to go back to making picture books a reward for finishing ANY book - not just killer reads like Frankenstein. Then they might appear more legitimate as half of my reading list.

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs

NEW FAVORITE! I gave myself this delicious dinosaur-and-chocolate-pudding-and-small-unsupervised-child-filled book as a prize for finally reading Frankenstein. It was worth every angst-filled moment and more. Now Mo Willems needs to write even more awesome books so I can finally finish reading Dracula!

Those Darn Squirrels! (and 2 sequels)
For once, the squirrels are the heroes! Go squirrels! Then we get squirrels with wedgies and I tell ya, I am scarred for life. And finally, the only thing that could possibly be worse than teenagers driving your car: squirrels driving your car! Love love loved these books!

This Moose Belongs to Me
Love it! I want a moose just like that for a pet, too! (I think this one resonated with me because I learned this past year that my own children are my personal equivalent of the moose in this story. Oh boy!)

The Cloud Spinner
Beautifully illustrated folktale teaches the value of "enough" and the danger of excess.

Nightsong
Wow! This story fits perfectly with the year I have coming. Time to send a few little bats out singing!

YA Novels

Immortal Beloved trilogy
I loved these books! The main character is engaging, thoroughly enjoyable amid her complex angst, and I could just hug her to pieces. All other characters are equally enjoyable and the storyline sucked me in and left me wanting more. I devoured this trilogy and declare it to be absolutely the best read of the entire year.

Poison Study series
Hunter pointed me to this series and I am so glad I found it, along with it's companion Glass series. Loved the world-building, loved the characters, and Poison Study goes down as one of my new all-time favorites.

Wondrous Strange series
I started this series a couple of years ago but didn't get around to reading the last book until last year. I enjoyed it so much more and found the Shakespeare connections and the faerie world seemed better-done on a second read. The third book to wrapped it all up nicely and I was glad I had gone back and re-read them all.

Aurelia series
This series grew on me and by the end of the second book I was most anxious for more! Alas, the next book is not written yet so I will have to wait and likely go back and re-read it all later. *sigh*

Palace of Stone
This follow-up to Princess Academy was simply lovely. In fact, I enjoyed it even more than its predecessor. A great story filled with Shannon Hale's beautiful-as-always writing and powerful themes.