This was the year the Kindle caught Fire, the Nook fought for its niche, Borders went belly up and ebooks overtook their dead tree cousins for good. But for us here at Cybils, it was another year of reading, blogging and more reading. Whether on paper or in pixels, we found plenty of stories worth sharing with the world.
By now, you're probably inundated with "best books of the year" list. Well, here's ours. Kid friendly, blogger approved. Out of 1,289 nominated books, the ones in the links below rose to the top after fierce discussions and numerous rounds of vote-taking and yet more debate.
Enjoy!
--Anne Levy, Cybils admin.
Click on the links for the 2011 Finalists:
Easy Readers & Early Chapter Books
Fantasy & Science Fiction (Middle Grade)
Fantasy & Science Fiction (Young Adult)
*clap* I'm so happy to see Dodsworth and Clementine among the Early Readers finalists.
Posted by: Miss Print | January 01, 2012 at 12:46 AM
Fantastic lists! I'm so happy to see Cousins of Clouds, Can We Save the Tiger?, I Feel Better with a Frog in My Throat, Planting the Wild Garden, Thunder Birds, The Friendship Doll, and The Cheshire Cheese Cat, all books I have enjoyed this year (and a couple I nominated!!)
Now, on to more Cybils reading!
Posted by: Amy @ Hope Is the Word | January 01, 2012 at 02:59 AM
Honored to be a Cybil's finalist! Thank you, Sarah Wendorf, for the nomination!!!
Posted by: Lisa Yee | January 01, 2012 at 12:57 PM
I wrote about the shortlists here:
http://www.hopeisthewordblog.com/2012/01/01/armchair-cybilsshortlists-link-up/
Posted by: Amy @ Hope Is the Word | January 01, 2012 at 01:21 PM
Man oh man...you guys are amazing! Great lists and looking forward to catching up with ones I've not read yet. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Deb Marshall | January 01, 2012 at 03:13 PM
And congrats to all the short listers!
Posted by: Deb Marshall | January 01, 2012 at 03:14 PM
Great lists! Though I'm sort of amazed that Chime didn't make it.
Posted by: Kate Coombs | January 01, 2012 at 04:40 PM
Is it possible to get any feedback on the submissions that did not make the short list? Would like to know what the judges had thought of my book and if there were any particular failings to it.
Posted by: Jason Beineke | January 01, 2012 at 07:12 PM
Delighted to see Bunheads as a finalist! Well deserved, and congratulations to all the others, too.
Posted by: Franforman | January 01, 2012 at 08:10 PM
@Jason: Our FAQs state quite clearly that we cannot offer feedback on individual books. Good luck with your book.
Posted by: Anne | January 02, 2012 at 08:37 AM
Great lists, y'all! I look forward to my next trip to the library, shortlists in hand.
Posted by: Susan (Chicken Spaghetti) | January 02, 2012 at 09:43 AM
Great lists! Will there be a printer-friendly version for us to take to the library (i hope, i hope...)?
Thanks!!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 02, 2012 at 01:15 PM
Congrats to all finalists!
Posted by: Sommer Leigh | January 03, 2012 at 08:21 AM
@Jennifer: Thanks for reminding me! Give me a day or so. The hubby usually has to help me with loading it up (I'm technically illiterate). I promise to have one up by week's end, definitely.
Posted by: Anne | January 03, 2012 at 09:18 AM
Congrats to all the finalists!
Posted by: Ruckus Media | January 03, 2012 at 09:42 AM
And a note to the publishers/advertisers: I just made an order card for each book our library doesn't already have. So, ya' know: Cybils count!
Posted by: Ami | January 03, 2012 at 03:22 PM
Thanks, Ami!
Posted by: Sheila Ruth | January 03, 2012 at 04:18 PM
Wow, Ami, thanks so much! That puts a big smile on my face.
Posted by: Anne | January 04, 2012 at 04:53 PM
Awesome list again! One request - please, please add the name of the illustrator to the picture book category, even if it is in the blurb! I am a big fan of the winning artists too!
Posted by: Karen Lee | January 05, 2012 at 08:40 AM
@Karen: How strange. We've always listed illustrators in the past. Not sure what happened. I'll have to check with the person who runs the database, as this all loads automatically. Of course they should be listed!
Posted by: Anne | January 05, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Oh no! Do I have egg on my face. It seems we haven't listed illustrators for the last several years in the finalists. Oh my. I will see if we can fix that.
Posted by: Anne | January 05, 2012 at 11:25 AM
I'm so thrilled to have Dodsworth as a Cybil's finalist! Thank you so, so much! What a great way to start the new year!!!
Posted by: tim egan | January 06, 2012 at 09:40 AM
Our pleasure, Tim! My kids were fans of Dodsworth when they were littler so I was thrilled to see him make the finals -- though probably not as thrilled as you :)
Posted by: Anne | January 06, 2012 at 01:07 PM
Great YA list. I just wish the word "crazeballs" hadn't been used in the blurb. It's offensive to those of us who have been there and seen our own ants and lived to tell the tale.
Posted by: Cheryl | January 11, 2012 at 09:59 AM
Congratulations for the finalists. You did a great job that's why you are worthy to have this kind of recognition. Keep inspiring us.
Posted by: childrens jackets | January 21, 2012 at 04:49 AM