6 Years (and Counting)

Tomorrow (December 17th) is the six-year anniversary of the day that I started Jen Robinson's Book Page. I remember the day I started the blog quite clearly, although I had no idea then of how big a role it would come to play in my life. I recall sitting on the couch with my laptop on my lap, selecting a fun snowman theme, and writing my first post. I'm not sure how it was that I had time to launch a new project a few days before heading to Boston for Christmas, but I also remember borrowing Internet access at my best friend's house over that holiday week, so that I could scour the web for any new literacy stories. And thus it's clear to me that this project had a strong hold on me, right from the start. (Special thanks to my friends Miles and Patrick, who both suggested blogging to me, and to Keith Ferrazzi, whose book Never Eat Alone helped inspire me to pull the trigger.)

In the ensuing six years I have:

• Read a great many books;
• Posted 658 book reviews;
• Posted countless children's literacy roundups (most recently with the partnership of Terry Doherty and Carol Rasco);
• Shared a number of Tips for Growing Bookworms;
• Gotten a professionally designed logo (by Sarah Stevenson);
• Participated in dozens of Carnivals of Children's Literature (hosting from time to time);
• Seen my blogroll grow from < 20 to > 200 children's and young adult book blogs;
• Seen the term "Kidlitosphere" invented (by Melissa Wiley);
• Seen friends get agents and book deals (and even movie deals!);
• Assisted in the launch the Cybils, Kidlitosphere Central, and the Children's Book Review Wiki (with Anne Levy, Kelly Herold, Pam Coughlan, Liz Burns, Colleen Mondor, Jackie Parker, Sheila Ruth, and many others);
• Attended and presented at all 5 Kidlitosphere Conferences; and
• Blogged for PBS, been a Readergirlz Postergirl, and occasionally participated in the SBBT/WBBT interview extravaganzas.

But there's no question that for me, the best thing about starting this blog has been the friends that I've made. Friends who I would never have had a chance to meet otherwise, who live in places like Australia and Germany, or Kansas and Arizona. People who share my love of classics from Elizabeth Enright and D.E. Stevenson, and people who share my addiction to dystopias. People who, like me, are equally passionate about children's literature and the Red Sox (or at least baseball in general), and people who, like me, care greatly that their children grow up to be bookworms. It's been such a joy to be able to attend KidLitCon and other conferences, and meet some of these friends in person. Others I have yet to have a chance to meet face to face. But they are still my friends.

These friends have shown me that I'm not alone in being an adult who loves to read children's books, and not alone in being a person who (regardless of profession) wants to grow bookworms. When I gave birth to my own Baby Bookworm last year, many of these friends sent wonderful books. Even more sent good wishes and encouragement and understanding. Even if I for some reason stopped blogging, I can't imagine not finding a way to keep these friends in my life. But of course I plan to keep blogging for as long as I possibly can.

Thanks for six great years! Here's to many more!

This post is (c) 2011 by Jennifer Robinson. All rights reserved.

Comments

[tanita]

Wow, you've been busy. It's crazy, looking back to the early 2000's on how we all sort of started this at once - ready, launch, blog! - and how surprising it is that many of us are still going strong.

Happy Blogversary! Can't wait 'til Jenn Jr. is writing her blog posts, too.

[Jen Robinson]

Thanks, Tanita! You and Sarah were on that first blogroll that I had, with something like 19 blogs. It is amazing how many of us are still here going strong.

As for Baby Bookworm's posts - I think those are a ways off (you know, since she isn't really talking yet). But perhaps one day...

[Mary]

Congrats Jen! You're one of the bloggers who gave me the courage and inspiration to dive into the Kidlitosphere myself. Here's to another 6 years!

[Stacey]

Congratulations! So, so many accomplishments. What a proud day!

[Rasco from RIF]

Indeed here is to many, many more for you, Jen! And I agree fully with the friendship comments you make; my life is greatly enriched by those of you I have met through the blog. Cheers to Jen's Book Page!

[jama]

Congratulations, Jen! Glad that I got to meet you in person (however briefly) at least once. :)

[Book Chook]

Happy bloggy birthday, Jen! Here's to very many more. The kidlitosphere is a much more colourful and supportive place with you here!

[Andromeda Jazmon]

Congratulations Jen! And thanks for all the inspiration and guidance over the last six years. You've made the world a better place!!

[Melissa@Book Nut]

It's been a delight to have you in the blogosphere, Jen! Congrats for making it this far, and here's to many, many more!

[Charlotte]

Happy blogiversery! Thanks for all the great posts, and for all the links in this post here to click on to find out who your mystery friends are! (viz D.E. Stevenson--I've asked for one of the newly published ones for Christmas; I though of asking for all three, but was worried they might not have been published at the time for a reason....)

[Michelle]

Congratulations on a successful six years! Here is to many more. :)

[Read Aloud Dad]

Congratulations Jen!

Wow, what a beautiful and moving post!

I am so happy that you are celebrating this great milestone.

A special thanks indeed to your friends Miles and Patrick who suggested blogging (visionaries indeed!).

And thank you for mentioning moi, that is such a great honor!

Here's to many more years of Jen Robinson's Book Page and the first joint review that you will write with Baby Bookworm!

Jen Robinson's Book Page was the original inspiration for my own blog and it remains a paragon of quality that I look up to!

Read Aloud Dad

[Eric Van Raepenbusch]

Congratulations on six years. It is an amazing accomplishment!

[Jen Robinson]

Many thanks, my friends. I was out all day yesterday, but received your comments on my cell phone, and had my day brightened again and again. Thanks for validating my exact point in the post - this is an amazing community of people, one I feel privileged to be a part of. Indeed, here's to 6 more years, at least.

[Joanna]

Congratulations, Jen. So much accomplished in these six years. Thank you so much for your ongoing contribution to kidlit!

[Valerie]

Congratulations, and thank you for all that you do!

[adrienne]

Happy blog anniversary (a little late)! I've been following you for most of those six years, and you've pointed me to so many books I've loved, for myself and for the library where I work. I can't imagine the blogosphere without your voice.

[Jen Robinson]

Thanks, friends. And Adrienne, I think you were one of those very first blogs that I followed, too. I remember that your blog background was pink... I couldn't imagine the blogosphere without your voice either.

[Ms. Yingling]

Congratulations! You have accomplished a lot in a fairly short time. Your blog would only be in first grade! Glad that you have stuck with it. You have greatly enriched the Kidlitosphere.

[aquafortis]

Lovely, Jen! What a milestone, and I'm so happy we met along the way and have had the opportunity to get to know each other both online and in person. Thanks for all you do, and congratulations! :)