Dinos. And dragons. And monsters. OH MY!

Don’t be scared! This gathering of dinosaurs, dragons, and monsters are (for the most part) pretty harmless. In fact, they’re playful and funny and cute, too. From well-known fantasy writers to debut authors, there are lots of wonderful stories to share … and might we suggest reading aloud? Yes, we might. Summaries are from Goodreads. Click the book cover link …

#CYBILS2023 Books by Previous Winners

Turning 18 has made us a bit nostalgic … and yet looking forward, too. That got us thinking … wouldn’t it be fun to see how many 2023 CYBILS Awards nominees are written by previous winners? So we dug into the archives to find which CYBILS Awards winners of yore who have new books being considered this year. Quite a …

Baked-In Book Deliciousness: A Foodie Book List

Want to know the yummiest thing about this book list? Aside from the celebration of all things food? That no matter the cuisine, food brings us together. From memories of a special dish to multi-generational stories, there is something for everyone’s taste here. All made delicious with a pinch of sweetness, a dash of humor, and a cup full of …

See Me Read Thursday | #CYBILS 2023 Book Reviews 11.9.2023

Easy readers and early chapter books are the bridge between listening to stories and taking off on one’s own adventures as an independent reader. The best ones offer new readers the chance to “model” the person who read picture books to them. They also create new opportunities to bond through reading aloud together. We’re kicking off our first See Me …

2021 Judges and Panelists: Easy Reader/Early Chapter Books

Cybils Awards

Round 1 Pamela  Thompson McLeod Books by Pamela Thompson Twitter: @MostlyMcLeod Claire Noland A Field Trip Life Twitter: @claire_noland Instagram: @clairesfieldtriplife Pam Jones-Nill Pam Jones-Nill Children’s Author Twitter: @pjonesnill Sheri Howard Lobit Library Newsletter Brooke Freebairn Brooke Freebairn Twitter: @thebrookelist Instagram: @thebrookelist Round 2 Benji Martin Elementary School Library Twitter: @MrBenjiMartin Instagram: @MrBenjiMartin Laura Trapp Trapped Librarian Twitter: @ltrapp13 Instagram: @thetrappedlibrarian …

#CybilsAwards Backlist Book List Summer: It’s a Wrap

Last week we posted our last Backlist Book List for 2021. We hope you have had as much fun exploring the curated lists as we had in creating them! Nine lists: 6 read-alike lists, 3 themed lists.  Ten years of nominations, finalists, and winners. 154 recommended books for readers toddler to teen. What made them particularly fun was discovering books …

Backlist Book List: #STEM + #DiverseBooks For Young Creators

In 2019, Frankie Sparks and the Class Pet by Megan Frazer Blakemore won the Cybils Award in the Early Chapter Book. In selecting Frankie Sparks as a finalist, the panelists said:     … This promising first book in a series will have children learning about animals, design thinking, and emotional intelligence while turning the pages to meet the new pet. …

REVIEW: Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote

Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote

Today’s blogger review brings us back to the Early Chapter Books category, with a peek at finalist title Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts: In this latest title in “The Questioneers” chapter book series, Sofia’s teacher announces that the class can vote on a pet for the class. The class narrows the …

REVIEW: Our Friend Hedgehog

Our Friend Hedgehog

Today’s featured review looks at Early Chapter Books nominee Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us by Lauren Castillo: The animal characters are lovable, and each has his or her own distinct personality. We loved Owl and his penchant for defining vocabulary words. This story has the feel of a classic, with its cozy illustrations and animal friends teaching values. …

REVIEW: Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business

Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business

Today’s featured panelist review is Early Chapter Books nominee Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business, written by Lyla Lee and illustrated by Dung Ho: Through Mindy’s honest, endearing voice, humor, and a lot of heart, Lyla Lee expertly explores topics like grief, cultural identity, loneliness, friendship, and responsibility in age appropriate and fun ways. Click here to read the …