I ended 2006 by becoming a reviewer for Children's Literature (www.childrenslit.com), a company that contracts with Barnes & Noble's website, and also collects reviews from 30 different sources for a database service they sell to libraries and universities.  Though currently it's an unpaid position, I get to keep the books I read.  This is significant in that I've always thought it would be the coolest thing to get free books, and have someone want my opinion about them in return!

My first box arrived about a week ago, with three picture books and two young adult novels.  The latter were ARCs (Advance Readers Copies), the former were F & Gs (Fold and Gather), which means they were the pages of the picture books stapled, with the dust jacket around them, no binding.  What have I learned so far, from reading books I did not select?  First, I learned I'm very picky.  Of the three picture books I reviewed, I would purchase none.  Second, I learned that I can be entertained by something I never would have picked up on my own.  Third, I confirmed that when it comes to mysteries, I have no idea "whodunnit."  Finally, I learned there are authors who write brilliantly yet have zero reputation -- for whatever reason.  I'm hopeful that the last of these lessons will be helped by my positive review and by word of mouth.  Since these books have not yet been published, I will wait to blog them (well, I should change that to blog it, as I'm only going to recommend one title out of the five).  And yes, it's great fun to read books before anyone else has the opportunity.

So, eventually, you will be able to see my name on a national bookstore chain's website, if only as a reviewer!