Coming soon to a fashionable blog near you … Tracy Grand at JacketFlap has once again provided a terrific widget for us all. You'll see an example of it in the right sidebar (partway down). If you want one, here's the linky-loo so you can create your own. Pick genres and colors and the widget does the rest. Gorgeous. I …
REVIEW
The Art of Freedom by Bob Raczka
A lot of us bloggers know Jone MacCulloch as one of the intrepid organizers of this year's Kidlitosphere Conference in Portland, but her hard work doesn't end there–she's also a member of our Non-Fiction Picture Books panel for the Cybils. As a library media specialist at an elementary school in Washington State, Jone gets to encounter books every day, and …
REVIEW
Cicada Summer by Andrea Beaty
Elf toys, elf paraphernalia, or anything else related to actual elves, you won't find on Kerry Millar's blog, Shelf Elf. What you will find are reviews, interviews, news, and more about books for children and young adults. Kerry is also a contributor to Guys Lit Wire and she happens to be a Middle Grade panelist for this year's Cybils, too. …
Meet the Panelists: Non-Fiction Picture Books Roundtable
Thanks to category organizer Fiona Bayrock of Books and 'Rocks, we have the opportunity to get to know the intrepid panelists for the Non-Fiction Picture Books category. Just about everything kids ever want to know about the world can be found in the pages of a good picture book, and our panelists are just as hungry to find the best, …
REVIEW
Chalice by Robin McKinley
Charlotte's Library is the online home of Charlotte Taylor, one of our panelists for the Fantasy and Sci-Fi category this year. About herself, she says, "I'm an archaeologist by day, the president of the Friends of a small New England library by night." In that capacity, she helps raise money to buy books; and in her capacity as a mom, …
REVIEW
We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson
In the header of her blog Carol's Corner, blogger and literacy coach Carol Wilcox presents a quote by well-known author Kate DiCamillo: "Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or a duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift." Carol writes enthusiastic and heartfelt reviews that do just that–offer up a feast of books …
Q&A: Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel
Back in February, in the 2007 Cybils Graphic Novels category, we were pleased to announce that Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel was the winner for Elementary and Middle Grade readers. Well, a few months down the line, we're just plain chuffed to present a full-length interview with the winning authors and illustrators: Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, Giovanni Rigano, and Paolo …
REVIEW
Jellaby Vol. 1 by Kean Soo
Kidlit bloggers from the good old days of, well, a couple of years ago, will remember when our own Betsy Bird hit it big on the blog scene. She moved on up to School Library Journal with A Fuse #8 Production, ensuring that new scores of readers would be treated not only to beloved recurring features such as Video Sunday …
Elections and Kids — Open Thread
Whether we elect the first African-American president or the first female vice president, today's a rather historic day, wouldn't you say? So let's take a break from Cybils judging and gab a bit about America's big day at the polls. What'd you tell your kids about it? In my household, my son told ME — in no uncertain terms. He …
Meet the Panelists: YA Fiction Roundtable, Part II
If you joined us last Thursday for Part I of our YA Fiction panelist roundtable, you're no doubt eager to hear what else the nominating panelists have to say (and probably wishing you could be a fly on the wall for their discussions of nominated titles!). YA Fiction category organizer Jackie Parker (Interactive Reader) chimes in with three more revealing …