Today I received my 5000th comment since starting the blog. It's a bit of an artificial milestone, since I usually respond to comments by commenting, so a lot of the comments are from me. But I'm still a little awed by it - that's an average of more than 4.5 comments per day over the three years that I've been blogging. I'm sure that the Kidlitosphere Comment Challenge caused me to reach this milestone sooner than I would have otherwise. Thanks, Pam and Lee!
And special thanks to Deanna H, my 5000th commenter. Deanna is a teacher and avid reader of children's books. She blogs at Once Upon A Time... (subtitle: There is nothing juvenile about children's literature), a new blog that I've been enjoying recently. You should definitely check it out. The milestone comment said (in reference to my review of Beige):
"I have seen this book before, but haven't heard anything about it. Now that I have a trusty review to go off of, I'll get to add it to my list. Thanks! P.S. I hope you are feeling much better."
How fitting is that? A comment in which I learn that I've helped someone to decide to read a book, and one that also has a personal note asking how I'm doing (after I took some time off recently for ergonomic reasons). Is the Kidlitosphere the best place in the world, or what? (I mean, if it was a place, of course).
Many, many thanks to everyone who has taken time to comment over the years, and thus made me feel like what I'm doing with this blog makes a difference. I can't imagine that I would have kept it up without you.
congrats on reaching that milestone! And, I just checked _Beige_ out of the library after reading your comments on it. About to start reading...now!
Posted by: Libby | November 30, 2008 at 07:02 PM
Big congratulations on your "small" milestone! Your blog inspired me to start my own, and continues to inspire me with every thoughtful review and roundup (and comment on my own blog, too). I'm STILL waiting for Allegra Goodman's Other Side of the Island, by the way--how long ago did you review that? The hold list for it at my library is very, very long.
Posted by: Anamaria | November 30, 2008 at 07:18 PM
Jen, honestly, I don't know how you've done it for three years. I'm sure you put so much time and energy into this site - and it's such a gift. I'm raising my glass of chianti to another 5000 comments!
Posted by: Aerin | November 30, 2008 at 07:41 PM
Libby, that's great. Thank you for letting me know. I hope that you enjoy Beige.
And Anamaria, I'm thrilled that you started your blog, and honored to have played a part. I reviewed The Other Side of the Island back in July. But to be fair to your library, that was an ARC - it didn't come out until September. I hope you get it soon, and look forward to hearing what you think!
Aerin, thanks for raising your glass. I'm drinking a red wine house blend tonight myself. As for keeping up the time and energy that the blog takes, comments from people (and things like that contest that you did) really do help keep me motivated to keep going. Sometimes it's hard to find the time, but I'm always glad when I can put things up that I think are worthwhile. We'll just have to see how I do juggling the holiday season this year...
Thank you all so much!!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | November 30, 2008 at 09:31 PM
Congrats!
Posted by: sprite | December 01, 2008 at 07:07 AM
Jen, congratulations. It's a wonderful blog, and you help all your readers tremendously.
Posted by: Becky Levine | December 01, 2008 at 07:31 AM
Congratulations, Jen! And just think of all the readers who value your blog but don't have the time/energy/whatever to comment on each post. Wow! :-D
Posted by: Lisa Chellman | December 01, 2008 at 08:25 AM
Awww... Thanks, Sprite, Becky, and Lisa. You all are always wonderful about commenting.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | December 01, 2008 at 09:03 AM
That's not small at all, that's amazing!
Congratulations, Jen!
Posted by: Kim Baker | December 01, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Oh my goodness! I feel like I've just won some huge award. Your blog is one of the biggest and best in the kid lit world and I feel so honored to be the 5000th commenter.
I'm just really glad I didn't write something too lame or that was misspelled:)
Thanks for your great blog!
Posted by: Deanna H | December 01, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Well, small in the grand scheme of things, but big in my world. Thanks, Kim!
And Deanna, I'm glad that you didn't mind being quoted. If the 5000th comment had been something lame or mis-spelled, I wouldn't have quoted it, of course. But yours was perfect. Thank you!!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | December 01, 2008 at 12:49 PM
A wonderful milestone, Jen. So glad you shared it. Congrats!
Posted by: Jolie | December 01, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Thanks, Jolie! I'm glad I shared it, too, because people have been so great.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | December 01, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Wow! What affirmation for the literacy evangelist. I don't know that it will take 3 years to get the next 5,000.
Posted by: Terry | December 02, 2008 at 07:29 AM
Thanks, Terry! It definitely won't take 3 years at the pace that people have been commenting lately (thanks again to Pam and Lee), that's for sure.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | December 02, 2008 at 09:35 AM
Congratulations on 5000 and on your upcoming third anniversary!!! What wonderful accomplishments.
Thanks for sharing Deanna's blog - I love it!
Posted by: Karen | December 02, 2008 at 06:52 PM
Thanks, Karen! And yes, Deanna's blog is an excellent find. I'm glad that you like it.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | December 03, 2008 at 08:36 AM