Tag: Mark Buehner

2022 Top Book Picks

Favorites of 2022

Econogal’s 2022 Top Book Picks offer personal favorites from the past year. Just in time for the last minute holiday gift shopping. Most are recent releases but a few have releases as far back as 2000. I have divided the lists into three categories this year, fiction, non-fiction and children’s books.

It is always a tough decision on which books make the list. So, the 2022 Top Book Picks include nine in each section of adult reading material with a slightly shorter list of children’s books.

The genres range from futuristic to crime for the novels. And the non-fiction is just as eclectic with entries from self-help to economic thought. My new list of children’s books includes board books.

2022 Top Book Picks of Non-Fiction

I misremembered reading more non-fiction as one of my New Year’s Resolutions. Must have been from a prior year. Nonetheless, more of my reading in 2022 was non-fiction. Many of the books centered on home organization but the top three were critiques or reflections on the world around us. You can click on each title to link to my reviews.

  1. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
  2. Keeping At It by Paul Volcker and Christine Harper
  3. Reflections on a Life in Exile by J.F. Riordan
  4. Lose The Clutter Lose The Weight by Peter Walsh
  5. Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
  6. Understandable Economics: Because Understanding Our Economy is Easier Than You Think and More Important Than You Know by Howard Yaruss
  7. Freeze Fresh: The Ultimate Guide to Preserving 55 Fruits and Vegetables by Crystal Schmidt
  8. Hobby Farm- Living Your Rural Dream for Pleasure and Profit by Carol Ekarius
  9. Vail-Triumph of a Dream by Peter W. Seibert with William Oscar Johnson

Fiction: 2022 Top Book Picks

The fictional entries are always hard to pare down and this year is no exception. In fact, several of my favorite authors have been left off. But I think it is important to keep the list manageable.

  1. We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker
  2. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
  3. The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger
  4. The Fields by Erin Young
  5. You Have To Make Your Own Fun Around Here by Frances Macken
  6. Upgrade by Blake Crouch
  7. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
  8. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
  9. Daylight by David Baldacci

New List in 2022: Children’s Books

The 2022 Top Book Picks includes a listing of this year’s favorite children’s books. With three grandkids, more time will be spent reading storybooks.

  1. How To Babysit A Grandma by Jean Reagan with illustrations by Lee Wildesh
  2. Winter’s Gift by Jane Monroe Donovan
  3. Chairs on Strike by Jennifer Jones
  4. Skippyjon Jones in the Doghouse by Judy Schachner
  5. If a Horse Had Words by Kelly Cooper
  6. Santa’s Underwear by Marty Rhodes Figley with illustrations by Marty Kelley
  7. If Animals Trick-or-Treated by Ann Whitford Paul with Illustrations by David Walker
  8. Snowmen at Halloween by Carolyn M. Buehner with illustrations by Mark Buehner

Books as Gifts

Since books make great gifts, the end of the year compilation is handy. 2022 Top Book Picks is an eclectic mix of books. Just fitting for readers of the Econogal blog. Remember you can link to each review by clicking on the highlighted title. Happy shopping!

A Trio of Halloween Books

Almost Halloween

Since seasonal books are always a favorite of mine, I offer a trio of Halloween books to celebrate the season. Recently, I bought one for each grandkid at an independent Bookstore. Two are board books and one is a story book for the eldest.

Snowmen At Halloween

Board book cover with snowmen dressed in Halloween costumesThe youngest tyke is just now realizing there is a world around him. Fortunately, he has parents that both read and read to him. Snowman At Halloween is a board book that he can put his chubby little hands around…next year. But I am sure he will listen to more than one reading of the cute tale this year.

The story is written by Caralyn Buehner and illustrated by Mark Buehner. I picked it up because snow often fell before Halloween when my kids were little. Not so much anymore. The sentences have rhyme and rhythm, and the story is sure to please readers young and old. A perfect start to a collection of Halloween books.

Room on the Broom

This adaptation of the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler is sure to please my middle grandchild. She loves to open flaps and pull tabs. Since I have not read the original, I cannot attest to the changes. But this board book is delightfully humorous on its’ own. And the perfect length for pre-toddlers still building their attention spans. Interactive Halloween books are hard to find, and Room on the Broom is sure to be a hit.Kids lift the flap book with a witch on a broom

If Animals Trick-or-Treated

Cartoon animals dressed in Halloween costumes.The last of the trio of Halloween books is part of a picture book series. Ann Whitford Paul writes, and David Walker illustrates the If Animals… series. And If Animals Trick-or-Treated is sure to be a winner with the eldest grandchild who understands just what occurs on Halloween night.

If Animals Trick-or-Treated has a 2022 release date, so it may not be in many libraries yet. But the book portrays the various young animals in a variety of Halloween activities from visiting the pumpkin patch to reading scary stories and sharing delightful animal favorite treats.

A Trio of Halloween Books

Holiday themed books make great gifts. Halloween books are favorites with our family. The tradition began with my mom and continues with my grandkids. If your family enjoys Halloween, consider finding one of these three books to read this holiday.