Colorful. Beautiful. Funny. Poignant. Amazing. Pick your word. These are the stories – with and without words – that can capture our hearts and mind, whether we are two or 92! Fiction Picture Books are a show and tell art form. They introduce young readers to their worlds, present and past; take us on fantastic journeys, real and imagined; offer …
List Fun: Ghost Stories for All Ages
Whether or not you believe in ghosts, stories that feature these ethereal characters are a creepy delight for readers of all ages. These ten books, selected from past Cybils nominees/finalists/winners, highlight the best tales about ghosts. Some of the ghosts are friends, others are foes; some stories are pretty funny while others are downright terrifying. There’s something for every reader! …
REVIEW: Last Stop on Market Street
Today’s blog review features a title that’s gotten a lot of attention this year for being the Newbery Award winner: Fiction Picture Books finalist Last Stop on Market Street written by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson. Our reviewer is Cybils veteran Mary Ann Scheuer of the blog Great Kid Books–this year she’s a Round 2 judge …
REVIEW: Blizzard
Since we’re in the throes of winter (although “throes” may be debatable, depending on where you’re located), it seems fitting that today’s featured finalist review is the Fiction Picture Book title Blizzard, written and illustrated by John Rocco. Our blog review for this title was posted to Gathering Books, and was written by the blog’s founder Myra Garces-Bascal, who does …
REVIEW: Sidewalk Flowers
In the middle of winter, we could use a few flowers, couldn’t we? Today’s featured review brings you Sidewalk Flowers, written by JonArno Lawson and illustrated by Sydney Smith. The review was written by Hannah DeCamp, one of our Round 1 judges in the Fiction Picture Books category. Hannah, who is a bookseller and literacy advocate, among other things, has …
REVIEW: Blue on Blue
Today’s featured review comes from Round 1 Fiction Picture Books judge Sandy Brehl, who blogs at Unpacking the POWER of Picture Books. She’s an Education Outreach presenter and writer, so her blog has a number of well-thought-out book lists on topics like Math Picture Books and Graphic Novels. She also posts reviews to Goodreads, and that’s where she reviewed today’s …
REVIEW: Leo: A Ghost Story
With Halloween coming up fast, today’s book review features another ghost story–this one for younger readers, as a nominee in the Fiction Picture Books category. The review of Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Christian Robinson comes to us from Benji Martin, a round 2 Fiction Picture Books judge hailing from Alabama and blogging at Tales …
Fiction Picture Books Category Description
Ah, fiction picture books. Their skinny spines create a kaleidoscope on bookshelves that is mesmerizing. On each shelf, you are likely to find the tall one next to the short one, the orange one next to a purple or green one, and sweet script cowering next to BIG BOLD TITLES. Fiction Picture Books are a show and tell art form. …
List Fun: Read Aloud Fiction Picture Books
Whether you’re snuggled up with your own kids, or you’re seated in the “teacher chair” for a group story time, if you want a lively read aloud experience, you look for picture books that encourage children to think, to notice, and, quite often, to laugh. Here are book suggestions from the Cybils archives. Too Many Toys written and illustrated by David …
Interview with Chris Haughton
First off, congrats! We adored Shh! We Have a Plan! Can you tell us a bit about how you came up with the idea for the book? CH: Thanks so much! In all my books I try to think of a sort of theatrical ‘pantomime’ effect when you turn the page. It’s fun to read aloud. In this book I …