Does anyone remember the days when we couldn’t wait for the <insert merchant name> Wish Book (aka Christmas catalog) to arrive in our mailbox so that we could start our personal wish list of gifts we wanted? The days of snail mail mega-catalogs are long gone, but that doesn’t mean we don’t hope for things … like great books kids will love.
We recently asked our #CYBILS2024 judges for their wish list: two or three eligible books they read, loved, and wished had been nominated or submitted for this year’s awards. Three of our judges offered books that they found original and compelling and have or will be buying as gifts.
If they love them this much, maybe your young readers will, too.
A book included in this list doesn’t imply anything about its eligibility for a CYBILS Award, nor is it an endorsement.
This post contains buy links which earn the CYBILS Awards advertising fees through Bookshop.org and Amazon Associates.
Book covers link to Goodreads. Blurbs extracted from Goodreads.
The category they would have been eligible for is in parenthesis.
From Rachael Owen, Do Good With Books
Link to review: Rachael’s review of Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment*
Not knowing what quite to expect from Underhill’s sophomore novel, this book does it again with capturing Underhill’s signature writing of swoon-worthy queer rom-coms following two teens and one eventful day in New York City.
Link to review: Rachael’s review of This Day Changes Everything*
*I will also note here that I reviewed both of these books as e-ARCs in exchange for fair and honest reviews.
Lindsay Moretti, Goodreads
An immersive and compelling narrative of the reintroduction of Yellowstone wolves, most notably of Wolf 8, the runt of the pack who struggles at first to adapt to his new home. From the beginning, Wolf 8 demonstrated a resilient and strong character, and continued to thrive, lead, and impact the wolves of Yellowstone. It is very well-written and filled with events personally witnessed by author, a renowned wolf researcher.
Link to review: Lindsay’s review of The Unlikely Hero: The Story of Wolf 8
This is beautifully written in lyrical text, stunning the reader with detail with simple, yet impactful and emotive words to illustrate the power, wonder, and beauty of volcanoes. My kids loved it and any questions they had, the answers were provided within the text boxes.
Link to review: Lindsay’s review of Volcanoes
Katlyn Erdman, Two Grey Kittens Book Club
A compelling and simply visceral way of communicating the importance and the many facets of a thorough, heart-felt apology. We are able to feel empathy from the teacher’s patience & persistence, and also the softening & broadening of hearts over time.
Link to Review: Katlyn’s review of I’m Sorry You Got Mad
Link to Review: Katlyn’s review of My Daddy is a Cowboy
Gently and with tremendous depth, we get to take a journey alongside a table as it shifts its location and in turn, the family & environment it supports. There is a beautiful quietness of being a part of each scene & the life unfolding around it -a steadiness amongst the ups and downs of the human experience.
Link to Review: Katlyn’s review of The Table