Very rarely do we have cause or ability to reprint a blogger’s entire review of a title in our featured post…but today is one of those times. The book in question is YA Graphic Novels finalist Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir by Maggie Thrash. The blogger in question is Emily Mitchell of Emily Reads, one of our Round 2 judges. …
REVIEW: Blizzard
Since we’re in the throes of winter (although “throes” may be debatable, depending on where you’re located), it seems fitting that today’s featured finalist review is the Fiction Picture Book title Blizzard, written and illustrated by John Rocco. Our blog review for this title was posted to Gathering Books, and was written by the blog’s founder Myra Garces-Bascal, who does …
REVIEW: Castle Hangnail
Our featured blog review for this Monday is Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction finalist Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon, who is well known for her Dragonbreath series of graphic novels. This review from last spring comes from Stephanie Whelan, a New York Public Librarian who blogs at Views from the Tesseract. Stephanie, one of our Round 1 judges this year, has …
REVIEW: Guts and Glory: The Vikings
One of the coolest things about Roberta Gibson’s blog Wrapped in Foil is that she’s got a list of children’s books by state, from Alabama to Wyoming, along with brief descriptions of each book. Our featured review today–Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction finalist Guts & Glory: The Vikings by Ben Thompson—may not exactly fit on that list, but it did make the …
REVIEW: Dory and the Real True Friend
Today’s featured review of Early Chapter Books finalist Dory and the Real True Friend by Abby Hanlon–the sequel to 2014 Cybils finalist Dory Fantasmagory–comes from Round 2 judge Freya Hooper. Freya, a mom of 3 kids, blogs at One Great Book, where she reviews books for children and teens (and helpfully sorts them by grade level). About Dory and the …
REVIEW: Hilda Bewildered
Cool fact about Round 1 Book Apps judge Jill Goodman: as a faculty member at University of Central Florida Department of Education, she serves on the dissertation committees of students doing their theses on apps in early childhood education. She also reviews book apps at Participate Learning, which is where she reviewed Book Apps finalist Hilda Bewildered: “There are few …
REVIEW: Bone Gap
The featured blog review of the day is YA Speculative Fiction nominee Bone Gap by Laura Ruby, reviewed by Round 1 judge Maureen Eichner. Maureen is a library assistant in the Indianapolis area who blogs at By Singing Light, where she focuses on middle grade and YA books, especially sci-fi and fantasy. In her review of Bone Gap earlier this …
REVIEW: The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy
Happy Holidays from the Cybils! We hope everyone is able to find a bit of relaxation during the holidays and some time to enjoy a good book. To that end, today’s featured review is YA Nonfiction nominee The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs. It was reviewed earlier this year by Round 1 judge Jennifer Rothschild, who manages …
REVIEW: Changes: A Child’s First Poetry Collection
Changes: A Child’s First Poetry Collection, by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke, is a poetic celebration of changing seasons by a classic children’s poet. Round 1 Poetry judge Carol Wilcox, a mom and educator who blogs at Carol’s Corner, reviewed it recently and said: “The poems are lovely, and gentle, and cyclical, and comforting. A perfect lap book …
REVIEW: Everything, Everything
Our featured blog review of the day looks at YA Fiction nominee Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. Earlier in the year, Round 1 YA Fiction judge Karen Jensen reviewed this book for her blog Teen Librarian Toolbox hosted at School Library Journal. Karen, a veteran Young Adult/Teen Services Librarian, gave this book a rave review: “This is a beautiful and …