REVIEW: Frank and Bean

Today’s review is of Easy Reader finalist Frank and Bean (Amazon, IndieBound). Round one panelist Kelley,who blogs at Kidlit Underground, wrote:  While this is a classic “opposites clash but learn to complement each other” story, the not-so-subtle bean/fart references will delight kids.  Read the whole review here.

REVIEW: Harold and Hog Pretend for Real

When faced with a book like Easy Reader nominee Harold and Hog Pretend for Real (Amazon, IndieBound), round one panelist Pat, who blogs at her self-titled blog Mrs. Patricia Ann Timbrook, steps up her game:  We will first set a “pretend” mode, meaning that we–you, the reader, and I, the reviewer–will be playing a game together, an imagination game about …

REVIEW Yasmin the Chef

Hi and welcome to the first of this year’s Highlighted Reviews of Nominated BooksTM! We start this year with Kelly Karsner Clarke, who blogs over at Kidlit Underground. She recently reviewed Easy Reader nominee Yasmin the Chef (Amazon, Indiebound), writing:  At 25 pages of text, divided into three chapters, YASMIN THE CHEF as a standalone has the readability of a picture book …

REVIEW: Fox the Tiger

Happy Friday! Today’s featured title is Easy Readers finalist Fox the Tiger (My First I Can Read) by Corey R. Tabor. The review was written by Round 1 judge Jennifer Miller, a reviewer, writer, and specialist in children’s books who blogs at Raise Them Righteous. In her recent review, she wrote: Fox the Tiger is a sweet story perfect for …

REVIEW: My Toothbrush Is Missing

Our featured review for today was posted by category organizer, librarian, and Round 1 judge Jennifer Wharton on her blog, Jean Little Library. Nominated in the Easy Readers category, My Toothbrush Is Missing by Jan Thomas is the latest addition to the Giggle Gang series. In her review, Jennifer said: This funny story includes bold text that is easy to …

REVIEW: Fish Are Not Afraid of Doctors (Maud the Koala)

Welcome to our first featured blogger book review of the 2018 Cybils season! Yay! If you’re new to Cybils, all you have to do to get our book review posts in your inbox is sign up for our Books newsletter (scroll down to the bottom of the blog and the signup window will pop up)–it’s that easy. Three times a …

REVIEW: We Need More Nuts! (Penguin Young Readers, Level 2)

Cybils category chair Jennifer Wharton blogged about today’s featured title back in October on her blog Jean Little Library, where she writes book reviews of titles for all ages as well as posting about the library life. We Need More Nuts! (Penguin Young Readers, Level 2) by Jonathan Fenske is a finalist this year in the Easy Readers category: Fenske’s …

REVIEW: King & Kayla and the Case of the Secret Code

Welcome to our very first review of the Cybils 2017 blog season! We’re starting at the top of the category list with a nominee for Easy Readers: King & Kayla and the Case of the Secret Code, written by Dori Hillestad Butler and illustrated by Nancy Meyers. This mystery starring a dog and his girl is part of a series, …

Interview with Tina Kugler

Where did you get the idea for Snail & Worm? My answer has two parts, actually: first I decided I wanted to write a funny easy reader, and then I discovered my characters. At one point in my life, I owned an independent children’s bookshop, and later I worked in the Youth Department of a public library, so children’s books are …

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: …