Just in case you didn’t see my 2026 New Goals post I have decided to share more of my reading on Goodreads in 2026. My goal for 2026 is 150 books and I only rate/review books if I like them so if you see a book here it means I rated 4 or 5 stars. If you’d like to follow me on Goodreads, that’s fine. I’m not accepting friend requests at this time.
The 150 will include everything from picture books to adult books. So how did I do in January? I read 19 books! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I'm a reading specialist and award winning educator from Chicago. While living in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for nine years, I spent time hiking on the trails with my Goldendoodle Charlie and friends, writing, working in a literacy program at the Boulder Public Library, and mentoring writers and teachers. I love visiting schools. My books combine STEM and Kindness. "Aliana Reaches for the Moon" a picture book that draws inspiration from the moon and the curiosity of children, inviting children to be creative, explore, and experiment. "An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story" a picture book told in the form of a newscast which skillfully balances the serious subject of forest fires with compassion and humor to help children navigate this important topic through the real events of 2020. I moved to Northern New Jersey in 2025 and am working on new projects.
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Hi Laura
Congratulations on the amazing reader interest — that kind of connection is rare and so well-deserved. Your words clearly resonate, and it shows.
I’m also in my final phase with my own book right now — polishing, refining, breathing with it — so it could be out anytime. It’s a strange mix of excitement and quiet nervousness, isn’t it? 🙂
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how screen time quietly steals our real time — especially for creatives. I once wrote about it through the lens of a struggling cartoonist, watching his sketches slowly get replaced by endless scrolling… until he almost forgot why he started drawing in the first place. That thought still stays with me.
If you ever feel like browsing, I share similar reflections here: 👉 https://urbanwellbeingtips.com/2025/08/02/digital-burnout-mental-health-2025/
👉 https://urbanwellbeingtips.com/2025/11/23/digital-detox-before-bed/
Wishing you many more readers, quiet writing days, and moments of real presence. Keep shining ✨
Warmly,
Rohitash
Thank you, Joyce. I had been using Goodreads for many years for my book club reading and then expanded it in the past few years but when I saw other people’s challenges in 2025 I was inspired.
That’s an impressive number of books! I’m a much slower reader and I have too many things to do that take away from my reading time. Some days, I think I should just quit writing and sit and read instead 😄
Thank you, Teresa. I’m definitely doing more reading than writing and I have a bag of 25 picture books from the library sitting beside my desk at the moment!
I’m also a big fan of audiobooks and I’m not distinguishing between audio, ebook, or physical copy in this but sometimes I mention when an audiobook has excellent narration in my review.
I’m not a format snob…LOL! I count audio books and ebooks the same a actual physical copies and read them all (I usually am in the midst of several books in various formats…hmm, maybe that’s why it takes me forever to finish a book 😉 )
I recently read a blog post where people were discussing which books they include on Goodreads. I was shocked by how many said they don’t count picture books. How can that be!? Picture books need as much attention as any other books!
Marcia, of course they do and I agree completely! At the beginning of 2026 I shared a post that I am only reviewing books that I rate 4 and 5 star books and that can include picture books – adult in any format. I won’t rate a book if I can’t give it 4 stars or more because I like to put out negative reviews just as when I was teaching I did everything in my power to help my students earn better grades.
I read a blogger who said she never gave a 5 star review. Even her favorite book of all time didn’t earn 5 stars because, “What if there was something better in the future?” Does she think she’s only allowed to give one 5 star review in her entire life? They’re free and many books can be 5 star books in my opinion.
Thanks, Sylvia. It’s a combination of picture books, middle grade on up to adult books and includes audiobooks so I’m ‘always’ reading and I thought it would be interesting to record my thoughts and share them this year.
Thanks, Tiffany! For some reason I am just seeing this comment now. It really was a great reading month and February is turning out to be pretty good as well. I was worried with it being shorter and not having a head start it might not be, but I surprised myself.
Great list of book! I read the MGs The Pecan Sheller and The Teacher of Nomad Land in January. Both good books! I’d managed to read all 5 of the NBA finalists. Sooo good! And I’d read All the Blues in the Sky earlier last year. Another great book! Just read the PDF of Unbreakable. So much heartbreak that resonates with our current situation. It’s hard to keep track of all the PBs I read. Loved If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone. Just read Fireworks! I’d thought I’d read it last year, but hadn’t. Unbelievable! So many books……
I’m waiting for The Teacher of Nomad Land from the library and of course I had 3 books (not picture books) come in all at once so I’m not sure what will happen with them. 🤷🏼♀️
I read If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone and Fireworks! but I haven’t reviewed them. The former was in 2025 for sure but I’m not sure about Fireworks! Yes, so many books 📚📚📚
Thank you, Marcia! I’m doing a bit of housekeeping on my website and found 3 comments that ended up in spam for some reason and yours was one of them. I’m sorry to have taken so long to reply! I’ve been struggling to comment on some WP blogs recently. I’m not sure why.
No worries, Laura! I continuously run into blog problems, too. I don’t even think my posts get into the reader feed anymore, which is frustrating. Thanks for pulling me out of spam! 😁
Thanks for understanding! I often wonder where some of the blogs I follow have gone and then there are others that I get so many emails about and my reader feed is one post after another of theirs.
Laura Roettiger Books 
What a great mix of books in January!
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Thanks, Kelly! 😊 I think so too. I’ve got a good feeling about February so far but it’s a shorter month so it wi be fewer books.
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Hi Laura
Congratulations on the amazing reader interest — that kind of connection is rare and so well-deserved. Your words clearly resonate, and it shows.
I’m also in my final phase with my own book right now — polishing, refining, breathing with it — so it could be out anytime. It’s a strange mix of excitement and quiet nervousness, isn’t it? 🙂
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how screen time quietly steals our real time — especially for creatives. I once wrote about it through the lens of a struggling cartoonist, watching his sketches slowly get replaced by endless scrolling… until he almost forgot why he started drawing in the first place. That thought still stays with me.
If you ever feel like browsing, I share similar reflections here: 👉 https://urbanwellbeingtips.com/2025/08/02/digital-burnout-mental-health-2025/
👉 https://urbanwellbeingtips.com/2025/11/23/digital-detox-before-bed/
Wishing you many more readers, quiet writing days, and moments of real presence. Keep shining ✨
Warmly,
Rohitash
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for sharing. I’ll check that out and good luck on your publishing journey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Laura🌹
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Laura, I should keep better track. You’re inspiring me to do so. 🙂
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Thank you, Joyce. I had been using Goodreads for many years for my book club reading and then expanded it in the past few years but when I saw other people’s challenges in 2025 I was inspired.
LikeLike
That’s an impressive number of books! I’m a much slower reader and I have too many things to do that take away from my reading time. Some days, I think I should just quit writing and sit and read instead 😄
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Teresa. I’m definitely doing more reading than writing and I have a bag of 25 picture books from the library sitting beside my desk at the moment!
I’m also a big fan of audiobooks and I’m not distinguishing between audio, ebook, or physical copy in this but sometimes I mention when an audiobook has excellent narration in my review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not a format snob…LOL! I count audio books and ebooks the same a actual physical copies and read them all (I usually am in the midst of several books in various formats…hmm, maybe that’s why it takes me forever to finish a book 😉 )
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’m not either, and I just wanted to mention audiobooks since that is a wonderful alternative for me given my limitations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I recently read a blog post where people were discussing which books they include on Goodreads. I was shocked by how many said they don’t count picture books. How can that be!? Picture books need as much attention as any other books!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Marcia, of course they do and I agree completely! At the beginning of 2026 I shared a post that I am only reviewing books that I rate 4 and 5 star books and that can include picture books – adult in any format. I won’t rate a book if I can’t give it 4 stars or more because I like to put out negative reviews just as when I was teaching I did everything in my power to help my students earn better grades.
I read a blogger who said she never gave a 5 star review. Even her favorite book of all time didn’t earn 5 stars because, “What if there was something better in the future?” Does she think she’s only allowed to give one 5 star review in her entire life? They’re free and many books can be 5 star books in my opinion.
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Wow! You read 19 books?? I’m a very slow reader so this is amazing to me!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Sylvia. It’s a combination of picture books, middle grade on up to adult books and includes audiobooks so I’m ‘always’ reading and I thought it would be interesting to record my thoughts and share them this year.
LikeLike
What a great reading month!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tiffany! For some reason I am just seeing this comment now. It really was a great reading month and February is turning out to be pretty good as well. I was worried with it being shorter and not having a head start it might not be, but I surprised myself.
LikeLike
Great list of book! I read the MGs The Pecan Sheller and The Teacher of Nomad Land in January. Both good books! I’d managed to read all 5 of the NBA finalists. Sooo good! And I’d read All the Blues in the Sky earlier last year. Another great book! Just read the PDF of Unbreakable. So much heartbreak that resonates with our current situation. It’s hard to keep track of all the PBs I read. Loved If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone. Just read Fireworks! I’d thought I’d read it last year, but hadn’t. Unbelievable! So many books……
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m waiting for The Teacher of Nomad Land from the library and of course I had 3 books (not picture books) come in all at once so I’m not sure what will happen with them. 🤷🏼♀️
I read If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone and Fireworks! but I haven’t reviewed them. The former was in 2025 for sure but I’m not sure about Fireworks! Yes, so many books 📚📚📚
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re doing great!
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Thank you, Marcia! I’m doing a bit of housekeeping on my website and found 3 comments that ended up in spam for some reason and yours was one of them. I’m sorry to have taken so long to reply! I’ve been struggling to comment on some WP blogs recently. I’m not sure why.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No worries, Laura! I continuously run into blog problems, too. I don’t even think my posts get into the reader feed anymore, which is frustrating. Thanks for pulling me out of spam! 😁
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Thanks for understanding! I often wonder where some of the blogs I follow have gone and then there are others that I get so many emails about and my reader feed is one post after another of theirs.
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