Check out our Halloween-themed Cybils post on our Substack!
We’re Taking a Break… Sort Of
Since you’ve been living in the same world we have, you know that books and stories have turned into the toxic rope in an aggressive cultural tug-of-war. Though the American Library Association reports that 92% of parents and 90% of voters feel that libraries are a positive, essential part of American life, the federal government has slashed library funding, gutting …
#CYBILSAWARDS Backlist Book List: Memorial Day Edition
Memorial Day weekend is our unofficial leap into summer each year. Memorial Day itself is bittersweet, as we remember those who have died in service to our country and also celebrate their memories as fathers, sons, brothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, and sisters. To mark the occasion this year, we went into the CYBILS Awards database to find books that share …
Backlist BookList: Indian and Pakistani Stories for AAPI Month
Usually, when we think about AAPI Heritage Month, we think East Asia – Japan, China, Korea – but India is part of Asia as well, and I have noticed an uptick in Indian and Pakistani stories over the past few years. Everything on this list is taken from the most recent cycle. I thought this month would be a good …
#CybilsAwards Backlist Book List: Dance and Movement!
Tiny Dancer by Siena Cherson Siegel, illustrated by Mark Siegel Atheneum Books for Young Readers 2022 Graphic Novels Nominee Pirates Don’t Dance by Shawna J. C. Tenney Sleeping Bear Press 2022 Fiction Picture Books Nominee World of Reading: Mother Bruce Ballet Bruce by Ryan Higgins Disney-Hyperion 2022 Easy Reader Finalist Merci Suárez Can’t Dance by Meg Medina Candlewick Press 2021 …
#CybilsAwards Backlist Book List: Novels in Verse
Happy Poetry month! In honor of our first-ever Novels in Verse award this year, I thought we’d highlight all the novels in verse that have been finalists over the past 10 years of the award. There are a lot of amazing books here; I hope you find a new one to read this month! Wave by Diana Farid, illustrated by …
Backlist Book List: Gardens
I know it’s a little early to be thinking about gardens most places,but my tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are coming up, meaning other flowers, fruits, and vegetables are not far behind. So, i thought, this close to the Spring Equinox, why not celebrate gardens and growing things? Enjoy! Hello, World! Garden Time by Jill McDonald Doubleday Books for Young Readers …
Backlist Book List: Latinx Voices
I realized, at some point last fall, that because of the way the Cybils falls, we miss commemorating Hispanic Heritage month, pretty much every year. I decided to make up for that, and celebrate some of our fantastic Latinx books, this month. It’s not a true “backlist” since I’m only pulling from books in the 2022 nominations. Hopefully, as time …