REVIEW: When Your Lion Needs a Bath

Our review for today was posted by Round 1 Fiction Picture Books/Board Books judge Tiffa Foster at her blog, The Picture Book Review. In October, she reviewed Board Books nominee When Your Lion Needs a Bath written by Susanna Leonard Hill and illustrated by Daniel Wiseman: When Your Lion Needs a Bath is so much fun. It easily incites happy giggles …

REVIEW: Ghosts of Greenglass House

The co-editor of this very blog, Melissa Fox, is also a Round 1 judge this year in Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction. Melissa is a bookseller, mom, and reader in Kansas who blogs at The Book Nut (and, of course, here!). A couple of months ago she reviewed Ghosts of Greenglass House by Kate Milford, the sequel to Greenglass House and …

REVIEW: Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code

Round 1 judge in Elementary and Middle Grade Nonfiction, Ellen Zschunke, is an elementary school librarian in Pennsylvania who blogs at On the Shelf 4 Kids. A few weeks ago, she reviewed Elementary Nonfiction nominee Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code written by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by Katy Wu. Grace is notable for more than just witty remarks; she …

REVIEW: Christmas in Cooperstown

Today’s seasonally appropriate title is a nominee in Early Chapter Books this year: Ballpark Mysteries Super Special #2: Christmas in Cooperstown written by David A. Kelly and illustrated by Mark Meyers. Our Easy Readers/Early Chapter Books category chair Kristi Bernard reviewed it last month on her blog, Kristi’s Book Nook: Author David A. Kelly has created an interesting story that …

REVIEW: Caraval

Our featured review for today comes from Round 1 judge for YA Speculative Fiction Rebecca J. Allen, a middle grade author in Connecticut who blogs at The Winged Pen. Back in January, she reviewed YASF nominee Caraval by Stephanie Garber: Scarlett must follow the clues in Legend’s game to find her sister, but winning won’t be easy. In Caraval, no …

REVIEW: A List of Cages

Today’s featured review looks at Young Adult Fiction nominee A List of Cages by Robin Roe. Round 1 judge Kim Baccellia, an author and longtime Cybils judge, reviewed this title for Young Adult Books Central and gave it a rave review: There’s so much to love about this novel which includes how powerful love and friendship are to those who …

REVIEW: Forest World

Deb Nance of the blog Readerbuzz wrote our featured review for today. Deb is a librarian from Texas who is a Cybils regular and Round 1 judge this year in Fiction Picture Books/Board books. Earlier this year, she reviewed Poetry nominee Forest World by Margarita Engle on her Goodreads account: Cuba came alive for me in this story, with its …

REVIEW: Stef Soto, Taco Queen

Happy December! I’m especially excited about today’s featured nominee because the author lives in my area. Reviewed by Cybils veteran and Round 1 judge Sarah Sammis of Puss Reboots, Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres is a nominee this year in Middle Grade Fiction. Sarah reviewed it earlier this year and said: Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres …

REVIEW: Girl Rising: Changing the World One Girl at a Time

Today’s featured blog review comes from one of our Round 1 judges in Junior/Senior High Nonfiction, Anne Bennett. Anne is a school librarian, YA lit fan, and book club enthusiast who blogs at My Head is Full of Books. Last month, she looked at Senior High Nonfiction nominee Girl Rising: Changing the World One Girl at a Time by Tanya …

REVIEW: Fish Girl

The featured blog review of the day looks at a nominee in the Elementary/Middle Grade Graphic Novels category: Fish Girl by David Wiesner and Donna Jo Napoli. Earlier this year, Fish Girl was reviewed by one of our Round 1 judges, Mel Schuit, a picture book author and illustrator who blogs at All the Wonders and Let’s Talk Picture Books. …