#CybilsAwards Backlist Book List: Pride!

Happy Pride Month! In celebration, we’re pulling out all the LGBTQIA+ books that were nominated last year (I’d go beyond last year, but that would be a long list!). There are some excellent books on here, just right for reading during June! I’m sure we’ve missed some; if there are omissions, let us know and we’ll add them! The Accursed …

#CybilsAwards Backlist Booklist: Environmental Picture Books

Earth Day was a couple of days ago, and so we thought a list featuring Environmental books for our youngest readers would be fitting. There are some beautiful books on here, and ones that will remind us that Mother Earth is worth taking care of. Enjoy! We Are Water Protectorsby Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela GoadeRoaring Brook Press 2020 CybilsFiction …

#CybilsAwards Backlist Booklist: Poetry!

It’s National Poetry Month, and what better way to celebrate than to share some of our favorite books! There are sooo many good poetry books for kids out there, that I think we’ll narrow it down first by sharing all the winners over the years that Poetry has been a category here at the Cybils Awards.  To see the finalists …

#CybilsAwards Backlist Book List: Turn Up the Music

Welcome to the Cybils Awards off-season! We’ve had so much great response to our booklists that we are going run themed lists twice a month, made up of past Cybils nominees, finalists and winners. If you’d like to participate, email us a themed list of your favorite books to blogeditor@cybils.com. If you need help thinking of books check out our …

#CybilsAwards Book Lists: Celebrating the Black Experience for Younger Readers

Before we wrap things up completely and move off into the post-season, I wanted to give a shout-out to the books celebrating the Black Experience on the younger end of the reading age. We’ll be quiet for a bit, but then we’ll pick up with backlist lists. If you have any good theme suggestions, let us know! Baby Young, Gifted, …

#CybilsAwards Book Lists: Celebrating the Black Experience, YA Edition

It’s Black History Month, and I thought it would be good to highlight all the wonderful books we have celebrating all aspects of Black Life. I’m sure I didn’t catch them all, but these are definitely worth checking out! I was going to do them all, but there are so many (yay!) we needed to split them up. Stay tuned. …

#CybilsAwards Book Lists: Princesses and Fairy Tales!

retelling-fractured-fairy-tales

We did a non-fiction heavy list last week, so I thought we’d give fantasy some love. I’ve noticed a huge number of princess and fairy tale books as I’ve gone through the lists, and thought they’d be fun to highlight! Besides, who doesn’t love a good fairy tale retelling or a princess story?   Goldilocks and the Three Engineersby Sue …

#CybilsAwards Book Lists: Non-Traditional Sports

Everyone knows books about the “traditional” sports: basketball, baseball, football, and soccer. But what about the sports that aren’t as big a deal to the general public. They are important to those who participate in them, and they can serve as backdrops for some pretty amazing stories.   Why We Flyby Kimberly Jones and Gilly SegalSourcebooks Fire “Why We Fly …

#CybilsAwards Book Lists: Snow!

It is snowing and cold today, as I put this together, and as I was scrolling through the lists of nominated books, I noticed a handful of snowy and wintery books. It seemed a good day to feature them!   The Snow Dancerby Addie Boswell, illustrated by Mercè LópezTwo Lions “I loved this story of making your own way and …

#CybilsAwards Book lists: The Ones That Got Away

Every year, our round-one panelists read lots of books, debate, whittle down, and pick what they think — collectively — is the best, most kid-friendly books of the nominations. However, since it’s a collective decision, it means individual judges’ personal favorites are bound to not make it to the finalist list. It’s just the way a collective decision goes. However, …