Invisible: A Graphic Novel Christina Diaz Gonzalez, illustrated by Gabriela Epstein GRAPHIX Nominated by: cheriee weichel Five Latine students are thrown together because they all speak Spanish. What they know, and others (including the reader) learn is that they are not: they all have distinct experiences and cultures that make them different. Told in alternating viewpoints, they all work …
#Cybils2022 Easy Reader/Early Chapter Books
Cornbread & Poppy (Cornbread and Poppy, 1) Matthew Cordell Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Nominated by: Reshama This charming story follows a pair of mice as they make preparations for winter. Cornbread, a born planner, starts preparing for winter in advance, scouring for berries, buying cheese, and finding grains. His house is all set with food for winter. …
#Cybils2022 Board Books and Fiction Picture Books
10 Little Tractors (10 Little Vehicles) Annie Bailey, illustrated by Jeff Harter Doubleday Books for Young Readers Nominated by: JSJ Ten little tractors have a busy day working, and when the day comes to an end, they all gather together to go to sleep. This is a board book that does everything we ask for in a board book: …
#Cybils2022 Nonfiction
A Perfect Fit: How Lena “Lane” Bryant Changed the Shape of Fashion Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal Clarion Books Nominated by: Emma @ Miss Print A Perfect Fit is a children’s picture book biography about Lena Bryant, founder of what would later become Lane Bryant clothing. But more than just being a story about the beginnings of a …
#Cybils2022 Young Adult Speculative Fiction
A Snake Falls to Earth Darcie Little Badger Levine Querido Nominated by: Sondra Eklund Beyond our world lies the mirror world, populated by monsters, spirits, and animals that can take human form. In this mirror world Oli, a cottonmouth, is finding his way for the first time away from his family. His found family forms quickly to include the …
#Cybils2022 Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction
Children of the Quicksands Efua Traore Chicken House Nominated by: Kim Aippersbach Simi’s mother raised her in a protective bubble in Lagos, which did nothing to prepare her for a summer spent with her grandmother in a remote village, where the magic of the Yoruba gods and goddesses is real, and modern conveniences aren’t. There she is confronted with …
#Cybils2022 Young Adult Fiction
All My Rage: A Novel Sabaa Tabir Razorbill Nominated by: Anne@HeadFullofBooks Noor’s uncle saved her from a natural disaster when she was a child…and won’t let her forget it. She finds solace in planning her escape. Salahudin struggles with his parents’ health conditions and decisions. The responsibility of the motel Sal’s mother ran now falls on his shoulders after …
#Cybils2022 Finalists!
Before we unveil our outstanding finalists, we want to give out a huge thank you to all our panelists who read more than a thousand books. We had 1045 read by at least 1 panelist and 1010 read by two. There was great discussion and deliberation, and they came up with some amazing shortlists. We also want to thank the …
#CybilsAwards Book Lists: Celebrating Religion and Faith
A Happy Christmas to all those who celebrate today! As a nod to the holiday, and to be more inclusive, I thought we’d celebrate all the books that embrace religion and faith – no matter what it is – in some way. Enjoy this! Piece by Piece: The Story of Nisrin’s Hijabby Priya Huq Harry N Abrams Huda …
#CybilsAwards Book List: Bird Books
As a bookseller, I (sometimes) notice trends in children’s books, and this year it has seemed to me that there have been a LOT of birding books. (This is not just in kids books; we have a TON of bird books for adults too!) I don’t know if it was the pandemic that made everyone interested in birds and birding, …