Beach Tail, A by Karen Lynn Williams Boyds Mills Press Nominated by: Jessalynn Pinsonault While following his father’s direction to stay close to the lion he drew in the sand, a young boy makes the tail longer and longer as he explores the shore. Finding himself far away from the beach umbrella, the boy figures out how to get back …
2010 Finalists: Poetry
Borrowed Names: Poems About Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madam C.J. Walker, Marie Curie, and Their Daughters by Jeannine Atkins Henry Holt Nominated by: Jenny Moss This collection of extended poems for young adults reads as if it’s a novel–a skillful blend of verse, plot, and character development–offering readers a fresh understanding of the complex emotional depths shared by mothers and daughters. …
2010 Finalists: Fantasy & Science Fiction (Young Adult)
Brain Jack by Brian Falkner Random House Children’s Books Nominated by: Hallie Tibbetts When Sam Wilson hacks into the computer system of one of America’s largest companies, he has no idea that his actions will bring about, in the words of The Washington Post, a “National Disaster.” Or, for that matter, that he will get caught. An action-adventure containing shades …
2010 Finalists: Fantasy & Science Fiction (Middle Grade)
Call, The (The Magnificent 12) by Michael Grant Katherine Tegen Books Nominated by: Ben Michael Grant has crafted a great beginning to a new series that is guaranteed to leave you wanting more action, more plot development, more laugh-out-loud humor and the next book in the series. The Call follows a 12-year-old boy named Mack who is just a “medium” …
2010 Finalists: Easy Readers & Early Chapter Books
Easy Readers Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa: Spring Babies by Erica Silverman Harcourt Nominated by: Madigan McGillicuddy In this endearing sixth episode of the series, Cowgirl Kate and her horse, Cocoa, meet and discover baby animals on their farm. Told in four short chapters, the stories are empowering and gently dramatic. The two friends go on a night watch to see …
REVIEW
Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework
Sharon Hrycewicz, one of our Round II judges on the Easy Readers and Short Chapter Books panel, credits Anne of Green Gables for giving her a lifelong love of books and an eventual career as a children's librarian. On her blog, Reading Chick, she reviews a range of books for kids, with a special focus on audiobooks. One of the …
REVIEW
Finally by Wendy Mass
The blog EVEREAD (simply called "a book blog") has been a part of the Cybils for a few years now, and this year two of EVEREAD's bloggers–Ashley Bair and Alysa Stewart–are co-occupying a spot on the Middle Grade Fiction Round I panel, very fitting since they're voracious readers (and bloggers) of all sorts of middle grade books. One of the …
REVIEW
Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins
Melissa Wiley of Here in the Bonny Glen is amazing for so many reasons. She's been blogging since 2005, she's a homeschooling mother of a surprisingly large number of adorable children, she's a children's author in her own right, and she's the one who holds the honor of having coined the term "kidlitosphere." And she's a lovely person. No wonder …
REVIEW
Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age by Cheryl Bardoe
Carol Wilcox is a literacy coach and reading intervention teacher in Colorado who has been an enthusiastic Cybils participant for the past few years. On her blog Carol's Corner, she reviews a wide range of titles for children and adults, and regularly participates in Poetry Friday. This year she's a Round I judge for Nonfiction Picture Books. What better time …
REVIEW
Yummy by G. Neri
Longtime Cybils regular David Elzey blogs about children's literature at the excelsior file and about books for teen guys at Guys Lit Wire, but he's also a writer in his own right (er, no pun intended). This year he's a Round II judge on the Graphic Novels panel. This fall, David reviewed Graphic Novels nominee Yummy: The Last Days of …