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 …
REVIEW: Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear
Today’s featured review looks at this year’s Caldecott Medal winner, which is a also nominee in Juvenile and Elementary Nonfiction: Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear, by Lindsay Mattick and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. The review comes from Round 1 panelist Carrie Waterson of the IndyPL Kids’ Blog at the Indianapolis Public Library. She read …
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 …