Today’s featured review has a little bit of sunshine for you: Sunny Side Up, a graphic novel for elementary and middle grade readers by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, the team behind Babymouse. Our reviewer is Alex Baugh, a Round 2 judge in Middle Grade Fiction this year. Alex is a former 4th grade teacher and historical fiction enthusiast …
REVIEW: Bayou Magic
Our featured review for today was written by Katy Kramp, who is a public librarian and Round 1 judge for Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction this year. She blogs at alibrarymama, and features books that span the age range from board books all the way to adult. A few months ago she reviewed Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes, a magical …
REVIEW: Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
Amy Broadmoore, who is a Round 1 judge this year for Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction, is an aspiring children’s librarian, mom of 3, former attorney, and founder of International Book Giving Day. At her blog Delightful Children’s Books, she focuses primarily on great picture books, and has a fantastic range of booklists sorted by age range and theme/subject matter. Earlier this …
REVIEW: Dayshaun’s Gift
Charlotte Taylor is one of our indispensable category organizers at the Cybils–she’s in charge of Elementary and Middle Grade Speculative Fiction, as well as being one of the Round 1 judges this year. Her blog, Charlotte’s Library, is devoted primarily to reviews of sci-fi and fantasy for children and teens, and on Timeslip Tuesdays she specifically looks at time travel …
REVIEW: Big Red Kangaroo
Today’s review is brought to you by Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction category chair Jennifer Wharton, librarian and longtime Cybil-ite, who blogs about children’s books at Jean Little Library as well as contributing to No Flying No Tights. One of her recent reviews really appealed to me because I just got back from Australia last week (and yes, I did see both …
REVIEW: Took: A Ghost Story
As we creep closer to Halloween, it seems only fitting that we take a look at a ghost story from the Elementary and Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction category. (And isn’t that cover art SUPER creepy? Yipes.) Today’s review of Took: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn is brought to you by Round 1 judge Mark Buxton, aka sixth-grade language arts …
REVIEW: Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France
Roberta Gibson, Round 1 judge for Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction, brings us our review of the day, from her children’s lit blog Wrapped in Foil. She focuses primarily on children’s and YA nonfiction, and has an interest in both biographies and STEM titles–both of which could describe EMNF nominee Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France …
List Fun: Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Deserves it’s Own Book Club
There’s nothing I love better than getting lost in a new world. Bonus points if there’s a pirate or a map or a glossary or a new language! For those moments that I’m reading speculative fiction, I’m no longer trapped in my body: I’m on adventures, I make new friends, and sometimes I conquer fears. For a long time middle …
List Fun: Kid-Friendly Biographies
As a panelist, we always discuss all books on their merits both literary and kid appeal. Sometimes, librarians find picture book biographies to be a tough sell. Not me! I am fortunate in my school to have the opportunity to collaborate with some amazing classroom, special education, and special area teachers. The third grade team at my school has created …
Review: Viva Frida
A first-round Elementary/Middle Grade Non-fiction panelist, librarian and parent, Ellen, still manages to find time to blog at On the Shelf 4 Kids. She recently read nominee Elementary/Middle Grade nonfiction nominee Viva Frida, by Yuyi Morales. She writes: I like the way the visuals flow through Frida’s boisterous life and into a dreamlike state. Much like the wounded deer she often …