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: They All Saw a Cat
Today’s featured review can be found on Literary Hoots, the blog of Round 2 Fiction Picture Books judge Emily Andrus. Emily is a stay-at-home mom and children’s librarian who posts book reviews, library musings, booklists, literacy info, and more. A few months ago, she reviewed Fiction Picture Books finalist They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel: “This book has been …
REVIEW: The Infamous Ratsos
One of our Round 1 judges this year in Easy Readers/Early Chapter Books is Kristi Bernard, who is well known around the Kidlitosphere as a longtime proponent of diversity in children’s books on her blog Kristi’s Book Nook. Last month she reviewed Easy Reader finalist The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Matt Myers. About the book, Kristi said: …
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: Fresh Delicious
Our featured finalist review for today comes from Round 1 Poetry judge Carol Wilcox, a reading coach and literacy intervention teacher (and Cybils veteran) who blogs at Carol’s Corner. A couple of months ago, she reviewed Poetry finalist title Fresh Delicious: Poems from the Farmers’ Market by Irene Latham, illustrated by Mique Moriuchi: “I was talking with a group of …
REVIEW: Roller Girl
Today’s featured review looks at Elementary/Middle Grade Graphic Novel finalist Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson, a Newbery Honor Book which has been described as a great read for kids who loved Smile by Raina Telgemaier. The review is from NoHigh5 News, the blog of Massachusetts 5th grade teacher and Apple Distinguished Educator Mike Lewis. His blog is just one of …
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: The Fog Diver
Today’s featured review comes from the blog Log Cabin Library, which is the online home of Round 1 judge Brenda Tjaden, on the panel this year for Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction. Brenda is a speech language pathologist by day, as well as an aspiring novelist with a particular interest in middle grade books. A few months ago, she reviewed EMSF …