If you’re anything like me, you’re just getting started on your holiday shopping. The good news is, we’ve got your kidlit book recommendations covered! And if you buy books or ANYTHING after clicking through from a Cybils affiliate link, we get a teensy percentage of the purchase price–so don’t forget about Cybils when you’re doing your inevitable last-minute Amazon shopping …
REVIEW: Happy Grumpy Loved: A Little Book of Feelings
Our featured blog review for today comes from Round 1 judge Dawn Mooney, a mom and former preschool teacher who blogs at 5 Minutes for Books. Over the summer, she reviewed Board Books nominee Happy Grumpy Loved: A Little Book of Feelings written by Ruth Austin and illustrated by Kanae Sato: Ruth Austin and illustrator Kanae Sato have come together to …
REVIEW: Ghost Boys
Today’s featured review, I’ve just now realized, is from our third Jennifer in a row, Jenni Frencham–a Round 1 judge in Elementary/Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction. She’s a blogger at From the Biblio Files, and earlier this year she reviewed Cybils nominee Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes on her Goodreads page: This book covers an obviously timely topic and includes references …
REVIEW: Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton may have gotten all the buzz lately, but just wait until you read about his wife, Eliza. Elementary Nonfiction nominee Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton by Margaret McNamara and illustrated by Esme Shapiro is today’s featured title, recently reviewed by Round 1 judge Jennifer Dieleman on her blog Picture Books 4 Learning: Margaret has written a …
REVIEW: My Toothbrush Is Missing
Our featured review for today was posted by category organizer, librarian, and Round 1 judge Jennifer Wharton on her blog, Jean Little Library. Nominated in the Easy Readers category, My Toothbrush Is Missing by Jan Thomas is the latest addition to the Giggle Gang series. In her review, Jennifer said: This funny story includes bold text that is easy to …
REVIEW: Honor Among Thieves
Cybils veteran, category organizer, and YA Speculative Fiction judge Charlotte Taylor wrote our featured review for today–a few weeks ago, she looked at YASF nominee Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre on her blog, Charlotte’s Library: There’s smart-alecky bantering to lighten the mood, some moments where I was deeply moved, and intellectual pleasure from guessing where the …
REVIEW: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
Our featured blog review for today looks at Young Adult Fiction nominee I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez. Round 1 judge Gary Anderson, a writing professor and tutor as well as educational consultant, reviewed this title on his blog What’s Not Wrong: With this important book, author Erika L. Sánchez gives readers an authentic look …
REVIEW: Blood Water Paint
Today’s featured book review comes from Young Adult Fiction judge Stormy Campbell, a book lover and writer from Texas who blogs at Book.Blog.Bake. Last month she reviewed Poetry nominee Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough, a novel in verse based on the life of Renaissance painter Artemisia Gentileschi: I confess to knowing absolutely nothing about Artemisia before reading this book. …
REVIEW: Just Like Jackie
Today’s featured review looks at Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard, a nominee in our Middle Grade Fiction category. Earlier this year, Round 1 judge Julie Williams reviewed it on her blog Reading by the Pond. Julie is a teacher librarian from Maine who works at a K-5 school, and she’s a Cybils returnee. About this book, she said: Robinson …
REVIEW: Votes for Women!: American Suffragists and the Battle for the Ballot
Our featured blog review for today was written by Round 1 Junior/Senior High Nonfiction judge Heidi Grange, an elementary school librarian and longtime Cybils participant who blogs at Geo Librarian. With elections in the news this month, it seems appropriate to look at Senior High Nonfiction nominee Votes for Women!: American Suffragists and the Battle for the Ballot by Winifred …