The featured blog review of the day is YA Speculative Fiction nominee Bone Gap by Laura Ruby, reviewed by Round 1 judge Maureen Eichner. Maureen is a library assistant in the Indianapolis area who blogs at By Singing Light, where she focuses on middle grade and YA books, especially sci-fi and fantasy. In her review of Bone Gap earlier this …
REVIEW: The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy
Happy Holidays from the Cybils! We hope everyone is able to find a bit of relaxation during the holidays and some time to enjoy a good book. To that end, today’s featured review is YA Nonfiction nominee The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs. It was reviewed earlier this year by Round 1 judge Jennifer Rothschild, who manages …
REVIEW: Changes: A Child’s First Poetry Collection
Changes: A Child’s First Poetry Collection, by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke, is a poetic celebration of changing seasons by a classic children’s poet. Round 1 Poetry judge Carol Wilcox, a mom and educator who blogs at Carol’s Corner, reviewed it recently and said: “The poems are lovely, and gentle, and cyclical, and comforting. A perfect lap book …
REVIEW: Everything, Everything
Our featured blog review of the day looks at YA Fiction nominee Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. Earlier in the year, Round 1 YA Fiction judge Karen Jensen reviewed this book for her blog Teen Librarian Toolbox hosted at School Library Journal. Karen, a veteran Young Adult/Teen Services Librarian, gave this book a rave review: “This is a beautiful and …
REVIEW: Finding the Worm
Today’s review was written by Round 2 Middle Grade Fiction judge Greg Pattridge, a teacher, consultant and writer who blogs at Always in the Middle. Earlier this year, he reviewed MG Fiction nominee Finding the Worm, the sequel to Twerp by Mark Goldblatt. About this coming-of-age story, Greg said: “This sequel, set in 1969-70, has Julian at age 13 returning to …
REVIEW: Sunny Side Up
Today’s featured review has a little bit of sunshine for you: Sunny Side Up, a graphic novel for elementary and middle grade readers by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, the team behind Babymouse. Our reviewer is Alex Baugh, a Round 2 judge in Middle Grade Fiction this year. Alex is a former 4th grade teacher and historical fiction enthusiast …
REVIEW: Sidewalk Flowers
In the middle of winter, we could use a few flowers, couldn’t we? Today’s featured review brings you Sidewalk Flowers, written by JonArno Lawson and illustrated by Sydney Smith. The review was written by Hannah DeCamp, one of our Round 1 judges in the Fiction Picture Books category. Hannah, who is a bookseller and literacy advocate, among other things, has …
REVIEW: Bayou Magic
Our featured review for today was written by Katy Kramp, who is a public librarian and Round 1 judge for Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction this year. She blogs at alibrarymama, and features books that span the age range from board books all the way to adult. A few months ago she reviewed Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes, a magical …
REVIEW: Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
Amy Broadmoore, who is a Round 1 judge this year for Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction, is an aspiring children’s librarian, mom of 3, former attorney, and founder of International Book Giving Day. At her blog Delightful Children’s Books, she focuses primarily on great picture books, and has a fantastic range of booklists sorted by age range and theme/subject matter. Earlier this …
REVIEW: Written and Drawn by Henrietta
Today’s book review features a nominee in the Easy Readers category, Written and Drawn by Henrietta: TOON Level 3 by Liniers. This TOON Books title was nominated by Fiction Picture Books category chair Terry Doherty and reviewed by Easy Readers/Early Chapter Books chair (and Round 1 judge) Katie Fitzgerald–so naturally I was intrigued. Katie, a former children’s librarian near Washington, …