Blog changes

Ever since I set up this review blog over 2 years ago, I have never specialised the genres I read. I've reviewed most genres. I love so many books, I love the variety how different books suit different moods, I love sharing the diversity of books with everyone. I've steered away from generalising just because I found it hard to pick one or two genres.

I think it boils down to the fact that although I want to review every book published which comes my way, in reality I don't have enough time for that.

Last week I discovered the time frame I'm potentially looking at for finding treatment that works (I hasten to add what I have isn't terminal, it is just unusual and I'm not responding to obvious medication. I mostly blog about life 'stuff' over on my other blog, Nayu's Realm) could reach into 2012. The strategies I'd used up until now in organising my time will need to be adjusted to cope with that change.

Up until now, I've been eclectic in the books I review here. I've reviewed mostly YA books, which may make my next decision a little odd.

NRC is shortly going to become a review blog focused on children's books


For the most part gives me leeway. I love YA. I will keep reading YA. Right now I need to read books which (mostly) are a little lighter to read, which have a lot of humour in, are fun and cute. I find a lot of children's books tick all those boxes. Serious issues are explored a lot, but not necessarily to the extent of YA.

Here are the changes to my blog

• Honouring current commitments (not a change, just a notice)
• All books I've agreed to read will be read and I will participate in the relevant tours. 
• Children's books which I will be reviewing
• Picture books
• These are often the first books to be read when I receive them. I love the diversity of designs, how the pictures convey different emotion and different textures are used within the illustration. 
• 0-5 years
• Early years of childhood are precious, filled with incredible changes as each child learns more about the world and the people they love. I enjoy checking out the highly entertaining books for this age range. 
• 5-9 years
• I remember reading heaps of books during my first few years at school, and I still love reading stories for this age group, which are filled with heaps of imagination (like all books), often help the child understand a few issues by using language they'll understand. 
• 9 - 11 years/Older readers 
• Usually with less illustrations than previous books, the books in this range can address various world issues in great depth, with greater peril for the protagonists, and the enemies get very creepy. 
• There may be some overlaps with YA 
• Topics I'm particularly interested in within Children's fiction
• School stories - they never get old 
• Magic/magical creatures - there's fun to be had with magic around
• Fairies/princesses - never fail to make me smile 
• Animal stories - somehow that's an area that I've never lost a passion for
• Historicals - a genre I particularly love at the moment 
• Mysteries & quests - because I love adventure
• Books that will make me laugh - I'm on a mission to keep in good spirits, and books play a vital role in that. 
• Anything samurai/ninja/Japanese related - because it's awesome! 

I would like to note that I'm in the process of letting all my contacts know about this change in review focus. I've run out of time to send emails tonight, but I expect to have finished sending emails by the end of Wednesday 22nd June.  (updated 8.45pm 19th June)

I hope this all makes sense. Please do get in touch if you have a query, either in the comment box or via email. If you're a publisher or author whose books fit some of the options I've listed, please do get in touch with me, as I'm eager to dip further into the kaleidoscope of children's fiction.