Our blog review of the day looks at Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction finalist Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall by Anita Silvey. This fascinating look at the life of the naturalist who brought chimpanzees into the limelight makes a fascinating contrast to the graphic novel Primates, says EMNF category chair Jennifer Wharton. She reviewed the book last summer on her …
REVIEW: A Pig, a Fox, and a Box
Our featured blog review for today is Easy Reader finalist A Pig, a Fox, and a Box by Jonathan Fenske, reviewed by Round 2 judge Emily Andrus. Emily, a children’s librarian in Arizona, posts book reviews, booklists, resource ideas, storytime ideas, and much more for parents, teachers and librarians at her blog Literary Hoots. When she reviewed A Pig, a …
REVIEW: Flutter and Hum / Aleteo y Zumbido: Animal Poems / Poemas de Animales
Today’s featured review is from the blog Rosemary’s Reading Circle, the online home of Round 2 Poetry judge Rosemary Marotta. Rosemary is a lifelong book lover, having worked in libraries, in bookstores, and at Scholastic Book Clubs, and her blog is devoted to helping parents and others find great children’s books. A few months ago, she reviewed Poetry finalist Flutter …
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: Castle Hangnail
Our featured blog review for this Monday is Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction finalist Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon, who is well known for her Dragonbreath series of graphic novels. This review from last spring comes from Stephanie Whelan, a New York Public Librarian who blogs at Views from the Tesseract. Stephanie, one of our Round 1 judges this year, has …
REVIEW: Guts and Glory: The Vikings
One of the coolest things about Roberta Gibson’s blog Wrapped in Foil is that she’s got a list of children’s books by state, from Alabama to Wyoming, along with brief descriptions of each book. Our featured review today–Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction finalist Guts & Glory: The Vikings by Ben Thompson—may not exactly fit on that list, but it did make the …
REVIEW: Dory and the Real True Friend
Today’s featured review of Early Chapter Books finalist Dory and the Real True Friend by Abby Hanlon–the sequel to 2014 Cybils finalist Dory Fantasmagory–comes from Round 2 judge Freya Hooper. Freya, a mom of 3 kids, blogs at One Great Book, where she reviews books for children and teens (and helpfully sorts them by grade level). About Dory and the …
Review: Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me
Today we’re featuring Fiction Picture Book finalist Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me, by Daniel Beaty. Our review comes from panelist Carrie who blogs at Carrie On… Together!. Of the book, she wrote: The emotional resonance is greatly present in both art and text. It provides an eye opening view into the compassion and support of the characters and connects straight …
Review: Dear Wandering Wildebeest
Our review today is of Poetry finalist Dear Wandering Wildebeest and Other Poems from the Watering Hole, by Irene Latham. Panelist Margaret, who blogs at Reflections on the Teche, did a poetry round-up in the middle of our round one reading, and she wrote: I did not know what a wildebeest was until I got her new book of poetry. It …
Review: Extraordinary Warren: A Super Chicken
Today’s review of Easy Reader finalist Extraordinary Warren: A Super Chicken, by Sarah Dillard comes from panelist Kimberley at Books First in Maine. She writes: The illustrations in this book are picture book-like and the book also has chapters which are appropriately short enough for a young reader. There was so much to look at and think about as I …