Where did you get the idea for Mango & Bambang: The Not-a-Pig? The stories began with a first sketch Clara sent me of a girl and a tapir. We’d become friends and over coffee and cake a week or two before, Clara had suggested I write a book for her to illustrate. I hadn’t taken her seriously at all and had made a jokey response: “Alright …
REVIEW: Weekends with Max and His Dad
Today’s featured review–from our own Elementary/Juvenile Nonfiction chair, Jennifer Wharton, looks at Early Chapter books finalist Weekends with Max and His Dad by Linda Urban, illustrated by Katie Kath. This past fall, Jennifer reviewed the book on her blog Jean Little Library: “Max is nervous about spending his weekends with Dad, now that his parents are divorced. It seems like …
REVIEW: Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! The Cookie Fiasco
Since we’re on the verge of a major cookie-eating holiday, it seems seasonally appropriate to feature a book that’s cookie-themed: Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat. The review was written by our Elementary/Juvenile Nonfiction chair Jennifer Wharton, who is not a stranger to the Early Chapter Books category, where this book was nominated. In her …
REVIEW: The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde
What a mouthful of a title–and this hilarious book (the third in a series) promises much more than a mouthful of satisfaction. Today’s featured blog reviewer, Sondra Eklund, wrote about The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, earlier this year and gave it a stellar review. Sondra is …
REVIEW: What’s Up, Chuck?
Today’s blogger review comes via Sue Morris, a Round 1 panelist for Fiction Picture Books and blogger at Kid Lit Reviews. She prides herself on her thoughtful reviews of children’s books, from picture books on up through middle grade, and she is a writer and social worker as well as a kidlit enthusiast. Over the summer she reviewed Early Chapter …
List Fun: Ghost Stories for All Ages
Whether or not you believe in ghosts, stories that feature these ethereal characters are a creepy delight for readers of all ages. These ten books, selected from past Cybils nominees/finalists/winners, highlight the best tales about ghosts. Some of the ghosts are friends, others are foes; some stories are pretty funny while others are downright terrifying. There’s something for every reader! …
Interview with Abby Hanlon
First off, congrats! We adored Dory and the Real True Friend. Can you tell us a bit about how you came up with the idea for the book? Did it flow naturally from Dory Fantasmagory? Thank you! I was thrilled to hear that Dory and The Real True Friend was recognized in this very meaningful way. I am a big fan of the …
List Fun: Favorite Series for Beginning Readers
Some series are so beloved they are recognized by Cybils in some form every single year! Every eligible book published to date in the series listed below has been nominated for Cybils in the Easy Readers/Early Chapter Books category. –Katie Fitzgerald, Story Time SecretsEasy Readers/Early Chapter Books category organizer Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee This series …
The 2015 Cybils WINNERS!
Happy Cybils Day! As always, we want to thank all our judges for their reading, discussing, and ultimately deciding on our fantastic winners. And to our organizers who rose to the challenge of wrangling said judges, making sure everything ran smoothly, on top of everything else that was going on in life. (Life, it does get in the way of …
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 …