Idea Boards: #CYBILS2023 Edition

idea boards goodreads

For the past several years, we’ve invited readers to use our Idea Boards, hosted by padlet.com, to share their recommendations on books they believed should be nominated come October. Thanks to you embracing the idea boards, lotts of the books YOU recommended were nominated. Some even were selected as finalists or winners. Bottom line: we wouldn’t have known about them …

ICYMI: 2022 Teen & YA Books Eligible for #CYBILS2023

Come this time in October, all the nominations for the the 2023 CYBILS Awards will be in. With our publication cut-off of 10/15, there are always great books that don’t get their nod. As you saw in our previous post, there are lots of books published at the end of 2022 that shouldn’t be forgotten when CYBILS time rolls around …

ICYMI: 2022 Books for #CYBILS2023 Young Readers Edition

Sometimes we get so excited about the shiny, just-released book that we forget there may be older, new-to-us books that are equally entrancing. That is especially true for books that come into the world after the October 15th CYBILS Awards cut-off but which are eligible to be nominated this year for #CYBILS2023. There were so many wonderful books that just …

REFUGEE by Alan Gratz CYBILS ๐Ÿ“š๐ŸŽถ

2017 MGLit Fiction winner

REFUGEE by Shannon Stocker illustrated by Devon Holzwarth Scholastic Winner – Middle Grade Fiction 2017 CYBILS Awards The Book Middle Grade Fiction historical fiction, realistic fiction, war Three children, three countries, three points in history. Three stories in one. Refugee by Alan Gratz is an important story for our times. The writing is tension-filled and although the young characters are …

LISTEN by Shannon Stocker #CYBILS ๐Ÿ“š๐ŸŽถ

nonfiction book playlist

LISTEN: How Evelyn Glennie, A Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker illustrated by Devon Holzwarth Dial Books Finalist – Elementary Nonfiction 2022 CYBILS Awards The Book Nonfiction Picture Book Disability, Picture Book, Music The illustrations of music, sound, and rhythm in this biography of a famous percussionist almost seem to boom in your ears as you read this; seeing …

PATRON SAINTS OF NOTHING by Randy Ribay #CYBILS ๐Ÿ“š๐ŸŽถ

patron-saints-nothing-playlist

PATRON SAINTS OF NOTHING by Randy Ribay Kokila Books Finalist – Young Adult Fiction 2019 CYBILS Awards The Book Young Adult Fiction Contemporary, Family, Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Social Justice More than just a murder mystery, PATRON SAINTS OF NOTHING tells a poignant, powerful story about a Filipino-American teen who travels to the land of his birth to investigate the wrongful …

WATERCRESS by Andrea Wang #CYBILS ๐Ÿ“š๐ŸŽถ

2021 picture book winner

WATERCRESS by Andrea Wang illustrated by Jason Chin Neal Porter Books Winner – Fiction Picture Book 2021 CYBILS Awards The Book Fiction Picture Book Culture & Tradition, Family, Realistic Fiction, Social Issues Watercress is a beautiful lyrical story that transports your mind and heart through words and images. It incorporates a universal childhood desire to fit in while at the …

EVERYWHERE BLUE by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz #CYBILS ๐Ÿ“š๐ŸŽถ

ya verse novel fritz

Right after we launched our book playlist feature, Joanne Rossmassler Fritz contacted us to share the Spotify playlist her son created for her book EVERYWHERE BLUE. Riya describes it as “stunning.”ย ย  EVERYWHERE BLUE By Joanne Rossmassler Fritz Holiday House Winner – Poetry 2021 CYBILS Awards The Book Young Adult Climate Change, Family, Growing Up, Mental Health, Music, Mystery, Realistic Fiction …

WHEN STARS ARE SCATTERED by Victoria Jamieson #CYBILS ๐Ÿ“š๐ŸŽถ

Because graphic novels by their nature engage readers on multiple sensory levels. When a story is told through pictures, there is more on the page for readers to explore, and having “background music” can add to the reading experience exponentially. WHEN STARS ARE SCATTERED by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and Iman Geddy Dial Books Finalist …

SONNY’S BRIDGE by Barry Wittenstein #CYBILS ๐Ÿ“š๐ŸŽถ

sonnys bridge-nonfiction finalist

SONNY’S BRIDGE:JAZZ LEGEND SONNY ROLLINS FINDS HIS GROOVE by Barry Wittensteinillustrated by Keith Mallettย ย  Charlesbridge Publishing Finalist – Elementary/Middle-Grade Nonfiction2019 CYBILS Awards The Book Elementary/Middle-GradeBiography, Black History, Music, Nonfiction ย  Sonny’s Bridge is a tribute to the prolific jazz musician Sonny Rollins. Sonny was born in the vibrant times of jazz music. As a kid, Sonny played the saxophone and …