On the occasion of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, it seems like the perfect time to feature March: Book Three, by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and illustrated by Nate Powell. March: Book Three is a finalist in this year’s YA Graphic Novels category, and it continues the compelling story of the civil rights movement as experienced by the iconic Congressman …
REVIEW: They All Saw a Cat
Today’s featured review can be found on Literary Hoots, the blog of Round 2 Fiction Picture Books judge Emily Andrus. Emily is a stay-at-home mom and children’s librarian who posts book reviews, library musings, booklists, literacy info, and more. A few months ago, she reviewed Fiction Picture Books finalist They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel: “This book has been …
REVIEW: The Infamous Ratsos
One of our Round 1 judges this year in Easy Readers/Early Chapter Books is Kristi Bernard, who is well known around the Kidlitosphere as a longtime proponent of diversity in children’s books on her blog Kristi’s Book Nook. Last month she reviewed Easy Reader finalist The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Matt Myers. About the book, Kristi said: …
REVIEW: A Study in Charlotte
Our featured blog review for this January Monday comes courtesy of Round 2 YA Fiction judge Jessica Holland, who is a freelance fiction editor, writer, curriculum developer, and blogger at Tales Between the Pages. This past year, she reviewed YA Fiction Cybils finalist A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro: “Just when you think she’s a carbon copy of Sherlock, …
REVIEW: The Goblin’s Puzzle
Round 1 Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction judge Sherry Early wrote our featured review for today–she’s a homeschooling mom and longtime Cybils judge (and, one could add, a fixture of the Kidlitosphere) who blogs at Semicolon. In the fall, she reviewed Cybils EMSF finalist The Goblin’s Puzzle: Being the Adventures of a Boy with No Name and Two Girls Called Alice …
REVIEW: Fresh Delicious
Our featured finalist review for today comes from Round 1 Poetry judge Carol Wilcox, a reading coach and literacy intervention teacher (and Cybils veteran) who blogs at Carol’s Corner. A couple of months ago, she reviewed Poetry finalist title Fresh Delicious: Poems from the Farmers’ Market by Irene Latham, illustrated by Mique Moriuchi: “I was talking with a group of …
REVIEW: In the Shadow of Liberty
Happy Cybils Round 2 and Happy 2017, everybody! If you haven’t had a chance to check out our finalists announcement, go have a look. From this point forward, we’ll be featuring reviews of finalist titles (and, to avoid any conflicts, the reviews were all written prior to the announcement of the shortlists). Today’s featured review looks at Young Adult Nonfiction …
REVIEW: Allie, First at Last
What if it felt like everyone in your family was a winner except you? Allie Velasco, the protagonist of Allie, First at Last by Angela Cervantes, comes from an exceptional family–and now it’s time for her to prove herself, too. This Middle Grade Fiction nominee was reviewed by Round 1 judge (and Cybils veteran) Sarah Sammis of the blog Puss …
REVIEW: Princess Princess Ever After
Today’s featured nominee is not your typical princess story. In this one, two princesses team up to rescue a prince, and end up finding their own happily ever after. Round 1 Graphic Novels judge Alexandra Cenni (For the Sake of Reading) reviewed Princess Princess Ever After by Katie O’Neill earlier this year on her Goodreads feed, and said: “There’s a lot …
REVIEW: Steam Train, Dream Train Colors
Happy Boxing Day! Today’s featured review is from Fiction Picture Books/Board Books Round 1 judge Sue Morris, who blogs at Kid Lit Reviews. She features a wide range of children’s books, from picture books to middle grade, as well as board books, like Cybils nominee Steam Train, Dream Train Colors by Sherri Duskey Rinker and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. In …