This month’s featured bloggers are Guinevere and Libertad at Twinja Book Reviews. We met them at KidlitCon last month, and were impressed by their enthusiasm and energy and passion, and wanted to get to know them a big more. We were glad they took some time to answer our questions about their blog and diversity in YA/Speculative Fiction. Tell us a …
Review: Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty
I’m being indulgent today. Partially, because I hardly ever read and review a collection of poetry. And partially because this is one of those books I want everyone to know about. I recently read and reviewed Poetry nominee Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty, by Christine Heppermann and was completely enthralled. I wrote: I didn’t know what to expect, but …
Review: The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher
Today’s review of Middle Grade Fiction nominee The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher, by Dana Levy comes from Middle Grade second round judge, Alex. An avid reader and a teacher, Alex has enjoyed reading since the age of four. Of the Fletchers, she writes: Everyone I know who has read Dana Levy’s The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher agrees that the …
Review: Fly Away
Today’s review comes from first-round panelist Kimberley, who blogs at Books First in Maine. A teacher, parent, and avid reader, Kimberly recently read Easy Reader/Beginning chapter book nominee, Fly Away, by Patricia MacLachlan. She wrote: Patricia MacLachlan has the ability to really move me. She does it so subtly, you almost feel duped. “Hey!” you think, “Why am I crying?” Then …
2014 Publisher’s Weekly Best-of Lists
I figured that since we highlighted the New York Times best picture books last week, we’d do the same with the PW best-of lists. It turns out that we fared better with these. Here’s the ones that made the cut: Picture Books Rules of Summer A Boy and His Jaguar The Farmer and the Clown Take Away the A My Teacher …
Exclusive: Cover Reveal, The Temple of Doubt
We’re always excited when anyone in our Cybils community has a new project forthcoming. But, when it’s our Executive Director, the instigator of the Cybils, the boss lady, the tsar (and however many other titles she’s been known by over the years), then it’s something special. Anne’s publisher, Sky Pony Press (an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing), has allowed us, here …
Review: Viva Frida
A first-round Elementary/Middle Grade Non-fiction panelist, librarian and parent, Ellen, still manages to find time to blog at On the Shelf 4 Kids. She recently read nominee Elementary/Middle Grade nonfiction nominee Viva Frida, by Yuyi Morales. She writes: I like the way the visuals flow through Frida’s boisterous life and into a dreamlike state. Much like the wounded deer she often …
Review: Girls Like Us
Author and blogger Lyn reviews at The Pirate Tree, along with a handful of other bloggers interested in children’s literature and social justice issues. A first round Young Adult Fiction panelist, Lyn reviewed nominee Girls Like Us by Gail Giles. She writes: Gail Giles’s narrative alternates between Biddy and Quincy as they tape-record their tumultuous first months together—a time when Quincy …
Review: The Family Romanov
Blogging at The Fourth Musketter , librarian and Young Adult Nonfition panelist, Margo specializes in historical fiction for young people. She reivews Young Adult Nonfiction nominee The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia, by Candace Fleming, writing: Fleming expertly weaves together the intimate life of Russia’s last czar and his family with the saga of the revolution brewing …
2014 New York Times Best Illustrated Books
It’s late on a Sunday afternoon, and I had almost forgotten in the busyness of the weekend that I wanted to highlight the Cybils nominees on the 2014 New York Times best illustrated books of the year! The Baby Tree, by Sophie Blackall The Pilot and the Little Prince, by Peter Sis Hmmm…. I thought we had done better …