Attention parents with foodies in the family: you might want to check out today’s nominee from the Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction category. Our blog review of the day looks at Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix, written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and June Jo Lee and illustrated by Man One. The book was reviewed over the summer by Round …
REVIEW: Shadow Magic
This year’s winning title in the category of Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction is Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan, a tale of outlaws, sorcery, adventure…and a giant bat. Round 1 judge Brandy Painter reviewed this one back in the fall on her blog Random Musings of a Bibliophile: “The world Khan created for the book is incredibly interesting and the way …
REVIEW: Lowriders to the Center of the Earth
One of our finalists this year in Elementary/Middle Grade Graphic Novels is the second in a series: Lowriders to the Center of the Earth by Cathy Camper and illustrated by Raul the Third. Round 2 Graphic Novels judge Earl Dizon reviewed this one last summer on his blog The Chronicles of a Children’s Book Writer (along with several other intriguing …
REVIEW: When the Sea Turned to Silver
Today’s featured review comes from Round 2 Elementary/Middle Grade Spec Fic judge Mark Buxton, a retired teacher in Ohio who blogs at Say What? One of the fun things about his blog reviews is that he posts, in part, in the voices of book characters themselves. He also, of course, adds his own comments. Regarding finalist title When the Sea …
REVIEW: The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary
I have to admit, I was drawn to the title of this book right away–I attended Emerson Elementary (AN Emerson Elementary, anyway!). The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan is today’s featured finalist in the Poetry category. The review was written by blogger Katharine Manning, a Round 2 Poetry judge as well as a mom, reader, and …
REVIEW: Giant Squid
Who isn’t fascinated by the idea of giant squid? It certainly makes a great topic for a picture book–like today’s featured book, a finalist in Elementary/Juvenile Nonfiction. Giant Squid by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann, was reviewed last year by Round 2 Judge Alyson Beecher. Alyson, an educator and writing mentor for elementary students, blogs at Kid Lit Frenzy. …
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: The Slowest Book Ever
Today’s featured blog review looks at a nominee from the Elementary/Juvenile Nonfiction category: The Slowest Book Ever by April Pulley Sayre and illustrator Kelly Murphy, a celebration of all things slow, from animals like sloths to natural wonders like the Grand Canyon. A recent review of the nominee was posted by Round 1 Cybils judge Sandy Brehl, an author and …
REVIEW: Bera the One-Headed Troll
Today’s featured reviewer is Round 1 Graphic Novels judge and first-time Cybils participant Benedict Hutchinson, who blogs at A Goblin Reviews Graphic Novels. (Plus–PSST!–he is the son of our very own EMSF category organizer!) As a Round 2 judge in Graphic Novels, I’m looking forward to seeing what he and the rest of the panel pick for us. One of …
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 …