Kwame Alexander is known for his novels in verse, but he’s also written Poetry nominee The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life, a sort of sports-focused guide to life, success, and happiness. Round 1 judge and Cybils veteran Gary Anderson reviewed this title over the summer on his blog What’s Not Wrong? and …
REVIEW: Forest World
Deb Nance of the blog Readerbuzz wrote our featured review for today. Deb is a librarian from Texas who is a Cybils regular and Round 1 judge this year in Fiction Picture Books/Board books. Earlier this year, she reviewed Poetry nominee Forest World by Margarita Engle on her Goodreads account: Cuba came alive for me in this story, with its …
REVIEW: We Come Apart
Our featured blog review for today is from the Poetry category: We Come Apart by Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan. Longtime Cybils judge Sandy Brehl, an education outreach presenter who blogs at Unpacking the POWER of Picture Books, reviewed this nominee on her Goodreads page: The distinct and alternating voices of Jess and Nico are each heart wrenching, reflective of …
Interview with Laura Shovan
What were you doing when you heard you had won the CYBILS Award for Poetry? I was working on a big revision for my next middle grade novel. One of the judges Tweeted about the award. It was the best Valentine’s Day gift ever. Better than chocolate! This is a LOT of characters to invent and develop. What is your …
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: 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: 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: Booked
Kwame Alexander earned a lot of praise for his novel-in-verse Crossover, and its follow-up, Booked, is a Cybils nominee this year in the Poetry category. For a thoughtful review of today’s featured title, check out the Goodreads review by Round 1 judge Linda Baie, a retired teacher and lit coach who blogs at TeacherDance: “I love the voice of this …
REVIEW: You Can Fly: The Tuskegee Airmen
History in verse! What a cool idea. Today’s nominee from the Poetry category uses just such an innovative concept. You Can Fly: The Tuskegee Airmen by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Jeffery Boston Weatherford, is a nonfiction poetry title with some amazingly dynamic scratchboard illustrations by the author’s son. The review (and interview!) comes from Round 1 Poetry judge (and …
REVIEW: Moo: A Novel
Cybils veteran Adrienne Gillespie is a Round 2 judge this year in our new Audiobooks category, but this former librarian from Portland, OR reviews a wide variety of children’s and YA books on her blog Books and Bassets. Recently she reviewed verse novel Moo by Sharon Creech, a nominee in the Poetry category. According to the review: “This is a …