Round 1 judge in Elementary and Middle Grade Nonfiction, Ellen Zschunke, is an elementary school librarian in Pennsylvania who blogs at On the Shelf 4 Kids. A few weeks ago, she reviewed Elementary Nonfiction nominee Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code written by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by Katy Wu. Grace is notable for more than just witty remarks; she …
REVIEW: Girl Rising: Changing the World One Girl at a Time
Today’s featured blog review comes from one of our Round 1 judges in Junior/Senior High Nonfiction, Anne Bennett. Anne is a school librarian, YA lit fan, and book club enthusiast who blogs at My Head is Full of Books. Last month, she looked at Senior High Nonfiction nominee Girl Rising: Changing the World One Girl at a Time by Tanya …
REVIEW: The Search for Olinguito
Cybils veteran and Round 1 Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction judge Carol Wilcox is the author of today’s featured review. Carol, an educator and mom, has been blogging at Carol’s Corner since 2007. Yesterday, she posted about Middle Grade Nonfiction nominee The Search for Olinguito: Discovering a New Species by Sandra Markle: Markle follows the scientists’ journey with an an engaging story …
REVIEW: Shackles from the Deep
Today’s featured review comes from Heidi Grange, an elementary school librarian who blogs about a wide range of kids’ books at Geo Librarian. Heidi is a Round 1 judge for Junior/Senior High Nonfiction, and earlier this year she reviewed Junior High nominee Shackles From the Deep: Tracing the Path of a Sunken Slave Ship, a Bitter Past, and a Rich …
REVIEW: Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix
Attention parents with foodies in the family: you might want to check out today’s nominee from the Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction category. Our blog review of the day looks at Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix, written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and June Jo Lee and illustrated by Man One. The book was reviewed over the summer by Round …
Interview with Caren Stelson
In the back matter, you tell us how you first learned Sachiko’s story and how you traveled to Japan multiple times to meet with her. Will you please tell us more about these meetings? Where did you meet? What was it like talking through a translator? What did you talk about? What did you do when you and Sachiko weren’t …
Interview with Melissa Sweet
What is your favorite thing you learned while researching the book? There were so many favorite things. One is that White, by his own account, was not a great reader. Not that he didn’t read, or have a library in his home, he just preferred being outside and doing a myriad of things from shearing sheep to sailing. That made …
Interview with Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann
What is your favorite thing you learned while researching the book? As we began to investigate the myths, stories and science of the giant squid we discovered that there are lots of myths and stories but that the science is hard to come by. Despite there being hundreds of thousands of giant squid in the world’s oceans, they are secretive …
REVIEW: When Green Becomes Tomatoes
It’s Friday, so of course it’s time for poetry! The Poetry category brings us our featured finalist review today: When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Julie Morstad. Round 1 judge Sondra Eklund, who blogs at Sonderbooks, reviewed this title last year and wrote: “Here’s a lovely book that goes through the seasons …
REVIEW: Bubonic Panic: When Plague Invaded America
The featured Cybils review for today is from the Middle Grade/Young Adult Nonfiction category: Bubonic Panic: When Plague Invaded America by Gail Jarrow. Librarian and Round 1 judge Kelly Jensen reviewed this one in the fall on her blog Stacked: “Those most susceptible to America’s bubonic plague were Asian immigrants, and the choices politicians made to slow down the spread …