One of my New Year Resolutions was to read more in the year 2025. I set a goal of reading 12 books this year.

For you non-math majors out there… That is (1) book a month.

So far, so good. I am one book down for the year. The sky is the limit. 

Heck, I read a book to my oldest son every night before he goes to bed. So, you would think that I would be able to hit that goal quickly…

WELL…

LET. ME. TELL. YOU.

Some of those books (although for children), have so many pages! 

Some of them are written like a tongue twister

And other books are written so elementary, it makes you question your ability to read at all!

Examples…

The Little Blue Truck – 30 pages

THIRTY PAGES!

Why on Gods green earth does it take 30 pages to tell a story about a little blue truck? 

Do we really need to go through that little blue trucks entire day of honking and beeping at every animal on the farm? 

That book could be shortened by about 15-20 pages, and the story will still come across just fine.

Llama Llama Red Pajama – Tongue Twister

This is actually a good book. It’s short…about 10 or so pages… and has a good lesson for kids..

But the tongue twisters… 

You will read a sentence that goes something like this…

Llama Llama in his red pajamas told Mama Llama that he heard Grandma Llama talking to the Dalai Llama.

Even the most excelled readers will sound like they have a mouth full of marbles reading this.

Fancy Nancy Series – Can I even read?

These books are only 5 pages long… Sounds great, right? Nope.

They are written so elementary. Every time I read one of these books, I begin to wonder if I even know how words work. 

I have to read the sentences in my head at least three times before my brain sends them out of my mouth.

Now…

You may be thinking…

If Matt is struggling to read books meant for children, how is he going to read 12 books in one year?

That is a valid question…

I honestly do not know. But I will do all one can to get it done.

-Matt Webb