In our featured blog review for today, read more about Fiction Picture Books finalist I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James: A love letter to African American boys about everything good they are and all of the great things they will become. It did not specifically name a race, but all of the gorgeous …
REVIEW: Rival Magic
Welcome to our first review of 2021! Happy New Year! Today’s blogger review looks at Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction finalist Rival Magic by Deva Fagan: This is a fine example of the sort of middle grade fantasy that one reads in just about a single-sitting, with interesting, likeable main characters, lots of delightfully magical twists and turns, and twists in …
The 2020 Cybils Finalists!
It’s January 1st, our favorite day of the year! (And not just because 2020 is over!) We have gotten the nominations, read the books, debated, and chosen ones to be finalists! It’s time to Celebrate!! Now, because we know you’re curious, we have some stats for you. We had 987 books nominated across all categories (that’s fewer than years past, …
Our Favorite Day is Coming! Tomorrow!!
The 2020 Cybils Finalists will be announced tomorrow! We can’t wait! However, there is first some business to take care of. One of the things we at the CYBILS have taken seriously this year is representation. We had diversity training for the board, the chairs, and the judges because we wanted to make sure everyone is aware of what good …
REVIEW: Tip and Tucker Paw Painters
Our highlighted blog review for today looks at Easy Readers nominee Tip and Tucker: Paw Painters by Ann Ingalls and Sue Lowell Gallion, illustrated by Andre Ceolin: I read Tip and Tucker Paw Painters for Cybils and your Kindergarten – 1st grade friends will enjoy this title. Not only will they be able to read it on their own (with …
REVIEW: Cinderella Is Dead
Today’s featured blog review looks at Young Adult Speculative Fiction nominee Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron: Forget everything you think you know about Cinderella and prepare to learn the truth. Cinderella is Dead takes place generations after Cinderella’s “happily ever after” with Prince Charming. Now the monarchy rules the kingdom based on their approved version of the Cinderella story. …
REVIEW: Your Place in the Universe
With this week’s once-in-several-centuries conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in the night sky–aka the Christmas Star–it seems appropriate to feature Elementary Nonfiction nominee Your Place in the Universe by Jason Chin as today’s blog review: A wonderful way to introduce young readers (and older ones too, I can vouch for it) to those fascinating subjects of astronomy and astrophysics, and …
REVIEW: Prairie Lotus
Our featured blogger review for today spotlights Middle Grade Fiction nominee Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park: This is a brilliant story that takes place in a town based off of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books, only it is told with eyes wide open to the discrimination that many different ethnicities faced in the times. Click here to read …
REVIEW: Shadow of the Batgirl
Today’s featured review looks at Young Adult Graphic Novels nominee Shadow of the Batgirl by Sarah Kuhn, illustrated by Nicole Goux: I was obsessed with watching this furtive, skittish girl warm up to the two women in this story who could help her so much if she gave them a chance. And of course I loved the library setting for …
REVIEW: Bo the Brave
The featured review for today looks at Fiction Picture Books nominee Bo the Brave by Bethan Woolvin: Kids are enamored of Woollvin’s subversive reinterpretations of classic fairy tales, and her art’s distinctive color schemes and shapes. Their parents and grandparents are (usually) amused too. Click here to read the full review from Round 1 judge Cecelia Larsen on The Adventures …