Today’s featured review can be found on Literary Hoots, the blog of Round 2 Fiction Picture Books judge Emily Andrus. Emily is a stay-at-home mom and children’s librarian who posts book reviews, library musings, booklists, literacy info, and more. A few months ago, she reviewed Fiction Picture Books finalist They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel: “This book has been …
REVIEW: The Infamous Ratsos
One of our Round 1 judges this year in Easy Readers/Early Chapter Books is Kristi Bernard, who is well known around the Kidlitosphere as a longtime proponent of diversity in children’s books on her blog Kristi’s Book Nook. Last month she reviewed Easy Reader finalist The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Matt Myers. About the book, Kristi said: …
REVIEW: A Study in Charlotte
Our featured blog review for this January Monday comes courtesy of Round 2 YA Fiction judge Jessica Holland, who is a freelance fiction editor, writer, curriculum developer, and blogger at Tales Between the Pages. This past year, she reviewed YA Fiction Cybils finalist A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro: “Just when you think she’s a carbon copy of Sherlock, …
REVIEW: The Goblin’s Puzzle
Round 1 Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction judge Sherry Early wrote our featured review for today–she’s a homeschooling mom and longtime Cybils judge (and, one could add, a fixture of the Kidlitosphere) who blogs at Semicolon. In the fall, she reviewed Cybils EMSF finalist The Goblin’s Puzzle: Being the Adventures of a Boy with No Name and Two Girls Called Alice …
2016 Finalists: What’s Being Said
We love all the reactions we’re seeing on Twitter about the winners, and thought we’d share some of our favorites! Masters of Disguise, Floodwaters & Flames, Plants Can't Sit Still & Sachiko are all @cybils finalists! 🎉 https://t.co/XzPuRIcXc3 — Emily Harris (@emily_harris) January 1, 2017 WOO-HOO! Weekends w/Max & his Dad is a @cybils Early Reader/Chapter Book finalist along with …
REVIEW: Fresh Delicious
Our featured finalist review for today comes from Round 1 Poetry judge Carol Wilcox, a reading coach and literacy intervention teacher (and Cybils veteran) who blogs at Carol’s Corner. A couple of months ago, she reviewed Poetry finalist title Fresh Delicious: Poems from the Farmers’ Market by Irene Latham, illustrated by Mique Moriuchi: “I was talking with a group of …
REVIEW: In the Shadow of Liberty
Happy Cybils Round 2 and Happy 2017, everybody! If you haven’t had a chance to check out our finalists announcement, go have a look. From this point forward, we’ll be featuring reviews of finalist titles (and, to avoid any conflicts, the reviews were all written prior to the announcement of the shortlists). Today’s featured review looks at Young Adult Nonfiction …
The 2016 Finalists
I feel intimidated writing this  post this year; it’s usually the domain of our illustrious co-founder and overlord, Anne Levy. But 2016 has been a hard year for everyone, and that includes Anne. So I’m writing this in her stead. Thank you for being understanding! A few numbers, to begin with: We had 1163 books nominated, across all categories.  Out …
It’s Almost Time!
I don’t know about you, but this whole fall went super fast for me. So when I looked at the calendar and realized it was almost January 1, I couldn’t believe it. Already?! Yes, already. Tomorrow, bright and early (well, if you live in the Pacific Time Zone), we’ll announce this year’s shortlists. So very exciting!
REVIEW: Allie, First at Last
What if it felt like everyone in your family was a winner except you? Allie Velasco, the protagonist of Allie, First at Last by Angela Cervantes, comes from an exceptional family–and now it’s time for her to prove herself, too. This Middle Grade Fiction nominee was reviewed by Round 1 judge (and Cybils veteran) Sarah Sammis of the blog Puss …