Our featured blog review for today looks at Fiction Picture Books finalist Creepy Pair of Underwear! written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Peter Brown. A few months ago, Round 1 judge Jennifer Dieleman reviewed this book on her blog, picturebooks4learning: I teach younger children, so I tend to stay away from books that will give them nightmares. I love …
REVIEW: Spirit Hunters
Round 1 Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction judge Katy Kramp is a public librarian who blogs at A Library Mama, and she brings us our featured review of the day. A couple of months ago she reviewed finalist title Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh: Here’s a super-creepy book by We Need Diverse Books founder Ellen Oh for those who want to …
REVIEW: Soupy Leaves Home
It’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day! For an excellent look at the history of King’s time period, check out the March graphic novel series by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and illustrated by Nate Powell. (March, Book 3 was one of our winners in last year’s contest.) The featured finalist review of the day also looks at a YA graphic novel: …
REVIEW: Shark Lady
The category of the day today is Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction, and the featured blogger is Jen Naughton, a writer and homeschool educator who blogs at Geek Reads Kids. Recently, she reviewed Elementary Nonfiction finalist Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist, written by Jess Keating and illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens: I’d …
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: The Hate U Give
As we enter the Round 2 judging period, we have the opportunity to look at reviews of our fabulous finalist titles from throughout the previous year, and our first such review looks at Young Adult Fiction finalist The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. This widely buzzed title was reviewed by high school teacher William Polking at the group blog …
REVIEW: Wonder Woman: Warbringer
Today’s finalist review is one of six worthy competitors from the Young Adult Speculative Fiction category–Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo, author of the acclaimed Shadow and Bone trilogy. This novel brings readers a new story featuring the beloved DC character recently rebooted on the silver screen. Round 1 judge and YA author Tanita Davis reviewed it on Finding Wonderland …
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: Cityblock
Board Books was our other pilot category this year, in response to popular demand. The winning entry in the Board Books category was Cityblock (Alphablock) by Christopher Franceschelli and illustrated by Peskimo. It’s part of the same successful series as Dinoblock and Countablock. Round 1 Fiction Picture Books/Board Books judge Kate Unger reviewed this one as part of a big …
REVIEW: The Inquisitor’s Tale
We’ve got a review of one of our winning titles for you today: the inaugural winner in our brand-new Audiobooks category. The book is The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz, a funny and fantastical medieval adventure. Audiobooks Round 2 judge and Cybils blog co-editor Melissa Fox reviewed this one just last …