It has been brought to our attention that one of our finalists, Baby Monkey, Private Eye, has racial representation issues. Significantly, anthropomorphized monkeys have been used throughout United States history as a tool of white supremacy, to demean and dehumanize African-Americans and justify slavery, Jim Crow, and continued racial injustices. While we are sure that Baby Monkey, Private Eye was …
REVIEW: Peek-a-Who?
We’re returning to the Board Books category for today’s featured review, which introduces finalist title Peek-a-Who? by Elsa Mroziewicz. The reviewer is Ami Jones, a Round 1 judge, youth services librarian, and, amazingly, a recent kidney donor, who blogs at A Mom’s Spare Time. About the book, she said: Normally when patrons ask me where the “lift the flap books” …
REVIEW: Inkling
Our featured blog review for today comes from Round 1 judge Dr. Cheryl Vanatti, an education specialist and former teacher in Florida who blogs at Reading Rumpus. One of the books she recently reviewed was Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction finalist Inkling by Kenneth Oppel: Inkling is a master class in personification. Taking an ink blot and not only giving it …
REVIEW: The True Tale of a Giantess
Today’s featured finalist review is from the Elementary Nonfiction category: The True Tale of a Giantess: The Story of Anna Swan written by Anne Renaud and illustrated by Marie Lafrance. The author of the review is Round 1 judge Ellen Zschunke, an elementary school librarian and Cybils returnee who blogs at On The Shelf 4 Kids. When she reviewed this …
REVIEW: Fox the Tiger
Happy Friday! Today’s featured title is Easy Readers finalist Fox the Tiger (My First I Can Read) by Corey R. Tabor. The review was written by Round 1 judge Jennifer Miller, a reviewer, writer, and specialist in children’s books who blogs at Raise Them Righteous. In her recent review, she wrote: Fox the Tiger is a sweet story perfect for …
REVIEW: Darius the Great Is Not Okay
Our featured review for this Wednesday comes from Round 1 judge Adrienne Gillespie, a current 6th grade teacher and former school librarian who blogs at Books and Bassets. A few months ago she reviewed Young Adult Fiction finalist Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram: It was a perfect read for a weekend. I got lost on Darius’ …
REVIEW: Pitch Dark
Today’s featured blog review comes from our very own Cybils blog co-editor (and Young Adult Speculative Fiction judge) Melissa Fox, a bookseller and mom who blogs at The Book Nut. She recently reviewed YA Speculative Fiction finalist Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda: I really liked this book. A lot. But I have NO idea how to describe it succinctly. See, …
REVIEW: Can I Touch Your Hair?
Our featured blog review for today looks at Poetry finalist Can I Touch Your Hair?: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship written by Irene Latham and Charles Waters and illustrated by Sean Qualls and Selina Alko. Round 1 Poetry judge, editor, and longtime Cybils participant Anastasia Suen posted a wonderful author guest post on her blog early last year. Co-author …
REVIEW: The Orphan Band of Springdale
Welcome to today’s featured blog review, courtesy of Round 1 judge Debbie Tanner, a librarian who blogs at The Book Search. Earlier last year, she posted a review of Middle Grade Fiction nominee The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet: It’s set in World War 2 and I really loved that it tells the story of what it was …
REVIEW: The Grand Escape
Cybils veteran Karen Yingling of Ms. Yingling Reads is our featured blogger for today–besides being a middle school librarian and book reviewer for School Library Journal, she’s also been a category organizer for Cybils and is a Round 2 judge for Junior/Senior High Nonfiction. Recently, she reviewed Senior High Nonfiction finalist The Grand Escape: The Greatest Prison Breakout of the …