The Ones that Got Away: #CYBILS2024 edition

What’s your favorite book? What are your top 5 books for [insert year]? Who is your favorite [genre] author? As a reader, you already know how hard it is to answer these questions. Now, imagine being in a group with six avid readers like yourself, having to lift up 5-7 books from hundreds of titles each of you just finished …

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#CYBILS2024 Finalists for Nonfiction

  ELEMENTARY NONFICTION  |  MIDDLE-GRADE NONFICTION |  HIGH SCHOOL NONFICTION ELEMENTARY NONFICTION   A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen Erin Frankel, illustrated by Paola Escobar Random House Studio Nominated by: Sarah Polumsky This starts with Jose’s passion for cooking as a young boy. We see his love and bonding with his …

#CYBILS2024 Finalists for Elementary/Middle-Grade Fiction

  A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits) Lisa Yee, illustrated by Dan Santat Random House Books for Young Readers Nominated by: aquafortis Lisa Yee’s A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits) is accompanied by fabulous illustrations and cover art by Dan Santat. This powerhouse duo tells the story of Olivia Zang and her misfit classmates/teammates/friends as they learn to become secret agents in …

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#CYBILS2024 Finalists for Speculative Fiction

      Elementary/Middle-Grade | Young Adult Elementary/Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction         Accidental Demons Clare Edge HarperCollins Nominated by: Joy McCullough Bernadette Crowley – Ber for short – has grown up a proud member of a family of blood witches who trace their roots back to Ireland. Ber’s extra strong magic was always an asset until her recent …

#CYBILS2024 Finalists for Graphic Novels

    Elementary/Middle Grade | Young Adult ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE-GRADE GRAPHIC NOVELS     Anzu and the Realm of Darkness: A Graphic Novel Mai K. Nguyen, illustrated by Mai K. Nguyen Viking Books for Young Readers Nominated by: Gary Anderson Anzu and the Realm of Darkness takes readers into the mythological Japanese underworld called Yomi. Anzu inadvertantly finds herself there after following …

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#CYBILS2024 Finalists for Poetry

  Poetry Collections | Novels in Verse POETRY COLLECTION        A Planet Is a Poem Amanda West Lewis, illustrated by Oliver Averill Kids Can Press, Ltd Nominated by: Katy K. Come take a tour of our solar system where you’ll encounter familiar favorites (like Mercury, Venus, and Mars) and meet some less popular members too (like Arrokoth, the …

Future Tense

technology and scifi books

With the dawn of a new year upon us, what better time to introduce a collection of books that explore the future. These books are about the future. And some of them are tense (read: big, heavy subjects). True stories and (science) fictional tales. Subjects rooted in the last century, and some in dimensions beyond ours. Good guys and bad …

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Wind, Weather & Other Natural Forces | #CYBILS2024 Book List

weather and natural phenomena books

What is it about the weather? Extreme or mundane, it always gives us something to talk about! [There’s even a television commercial about our weather addiction.] So of course we had to create a book list featuring Mother Nature in all her glory. True stories of survival in extreme conditions Weather allegory and poetry. People whose lives and careers were …

A Pirate’s Life for Thee | #CYBILS2024 Book List

pirate books 2024

Did we go a little overboard with this collection of book choices? Yes. Yes we did. But look at these treasures! Landlubbers and seafarers alike are sure to find something in this xx of seaworthy tales from nonfiction board books to mythical serpents of Filipino folklore (YA Speculative). Perfect your pirate voice! Nod off to sleep with narwhals and guillemots, …

A Tapestry of Tales: Folklore from Around the World #CYBILS2024 Book List

folklore legends books teens kids

What we love about this year’s collection of nominated and submitted folklore is the rich diversity of the cultures represented. [See list below]. Readers are immersed in Legends that are centuries old but freshly told.  Tales with magic to capture the imagination. Stories where natural and unexplained worlds collide.   through stories told visually in graphic novels and picture books, …