Today’s featured review was posted on YA Books Central a few months ago by category organizer and Junior/Senior High Nonfiction judge Karen Yingling, a middle school librarian who also blogs at Ms. Yingling Reads. Ms. Yingling reviewed Senior High Nonfiction finalist The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix: The Faithful Spy is very …
REVIEW: The Prince and the Dressmaker
Our featured review for today comes from Cybils veteran and Graphic Novels Round 2 judge Kim Baccellia, an author and blogger who is also a staff reviewer at YA Books Central. Last year, she reviewed Young Adult Graphic Novels finalist The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang: Lush illustrations set in Paris are the backdrop where two very unlikely …
Regarding Baby Monkey
It has been brought to our attention that one of our finalists, Baby Monkey, Private Eye, has racial representation issues. Significantly, anthropomorphized monkeys have been used throughout United States history as a tool of white supremacy, to demean and dehumanize African-Americans and justify slavery, Jim Crow, and continued racial injustices. While we are sure that Baby Monkey, Private Eye was …
REVIEW: Peek-a-Who?
We’re returning to the Board Books category for today’s featured review, which introduces finalist title Peek-a-Who? by Elsa Mroziewicz. The reviewer is Ami Jones, a Round 1 judge, youth services librarian, and, amazingly, a recent kidney donor, who blogs at A Mom’s Spare Time. About the book, she said: Normally when patrons ask me where the “lift the flap books” …
REVIEW: Inkling
Our featured blog review for today comes from Round 1 judge Dr. Cheryl Vanatti, an education specialist and former teacher in Florida who blogs at Reading Rumpus. One of the books she recently reviewed was Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction finalist Inkling by Kenneth Oppel: Inkling is a master class in personification. Taking an ink blot and not only giving it …
REVIEW: The True Tale of a Giantess
Today’s featured finalist review is from the Elementary Nonfiction category: The True Tale of a Giantess: The Story of Anna Swan written by Anne Renaud and illustrated by Marie Lafrance. The author of the review is Round 1 judge Ellen Zschunke, an elementary school librarian and Cybils returnee who blogs at On The Shelf 4 Kids. When she reviewed this …
REVIEW: Fox the Tiger
Happy Friday! Today’s featured title is Easy Readers finalist Fox the Tiger (My First I Can Read) by Corey R. Tabor. The review was written by Round 1 judge Jennifer Miller, a reviewer, writer, and specialist in children’s books who blogs at Raise Them Righteous. In her recent review, she wrote: Fox the Tiger is a sweet story perfect for …
REVIEW: Darius the Great Is Not Okay
Our featured review for this Wednesday comes from Round 1 judge Adrienne Gillespie, a current 6th grade teacher and former school librarian who blogs at Books and Bassets. A few months ago she reviewed Young Adult Fiction finalist Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram: It was a perfect read for a weekend. I got lost on Darius’ …
REVIEW: Pitch Dark
Today’s featured blog review comes from our very own Cybils blog co-editor (and Young Adult Speculative Fiction judge) Melissa Fox, a bookseller and mom who blogs at The Book Nut. She recently reviewed YA Speculative Fiction finalist Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda: I really liked this book. A lot. But I have NO idea how to describe it succinctly. See, …
REVIEW: Can I Touch Your Hair?
Our featured blog review for today looks at Poetry finalist Can I Touch Your Hair?: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship written by Irene Latham and Charles Waters and illustrated by Sean Qualls and Selina Alko. Round 1 Poetry judge, editor, and longtime Cybils participant Anastasia Suen posted a wonderful author guest post on her blog early last year. Co-author …