Today’s review is actually an interview with the author of Poetry nomination Finding Treasure: A Collection of Collections (Amazon, IndieBound). Poetry panelist Matt Esenwine, who blogs at Radio, Rhythm, & Rhyme, recently interviewed Michelle Schwab about her book. She said this about the collection: Carmen Saldaña did such an amazing job with the illustrations in Finding Treasure that I’m in love with …
REVIEW: Genesis Begins Again
Today’s review comes from Middle Grade Fiction Round 1 panelist Julie, who blogs at Reading by the Pond. Of Middle Grade Fiction nominee Genesis Begins Again (Amazon, IndieBound), she writes: This was really something. A glimpse into color – and variations of color and how they impact our perceptions – of ourselves, of others. You can read the full review here.
REVIEW: Born Just Right
Today’s review is of Junior High Non-Fiction nominee Born Just Right (Amazon, IndieBound). Our reviewer is Beth, a Junior/Senior High Nonfiction round 1 panelist, who blogs at Library Chicken and recently did a round-up of a whole bunch of Cybils nominees. About Born Just Right, she wrote: This memoir from a tween girl with a truncated left arm reads as very …
REVIEW: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy
Today’s review comes from Graphic Novel Round 1 panelist Stephanie who blogs at Lispy Librarian and vlogs (!) here. She reviewed middle grade graphic novel nominee Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy (Amazon, IndieBound). About the graphic novel she said: It’s super cool; I loved it! It took me two days to read it because it’s super emotional […] I’m so …
REVIEW Peek-a-Bruce
Today’s review comes from Fiction Picture Book chair, Deb Nance, who usually blogs over at Readerbuzz. She has a brief review over at Goodreads of board book nominee Peek-a-Bruce (Amazon, Indiebound), where her conclusion is: Kids can’t help loving grumpy Bruce and the ever-jolly ducks. (Truth, that.) Read the full review here.
REVIEW All the Impossible Things
Today’s review of Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction nominee All the Impossible Things (Amazon, Indiebound) comes from round 1 panelist Jennifer, who blogs at RaiseThem Righteous. She writes: All the Impossible Things (2019) swept me away like a discarded paper bag on a windy day. It’s a beautiful story that is skillfully written and carefully paced with brave characters who love each …
REVIEW 16 Words: William Carlos Williams and “The Red Wheelbarrow”
Today’s review comes from first round Poetry judge, Anastasia Suen, whose blog features a kidlit book of the day, among other offerings! She recently interviewed Lisa Rogers, the author of Elementary/Middle Grade Non-fiction nominee 16 Words: William Carlos Williams and “The Red Wheelbarrow” (Amazon, Indiebound). I thought this snippet was interesting: Through a great deal of research and interviews with …
REVIEW Yasmin the Chef
Hi and welcome to the first of this year’s Highlighted Reviews of Nominated BooksTM! We start this year with Kelly Karsner Clarke, who blogs over at Kidlit Underground. She recently reviewed Easy Reader nominee Yasmin the Chef (Amazon, Indiebound), writing: At 25 pages of text, divided into three chapters, YASMIN THE CHEF as a standalone has the readability of a picture book …
REVIEW: H Is For Haiku
Welcome to our last featured blog review of the Finalist judging period! Today’s featured review comes from longtime Cybil-ite, former category organizer, and Round 2 judge Jone MacCulloch, who blogs at Check It Out. A few months ago, she reviewed Poetry finalist H Is For Haiku: A Treasury of Haiku from A to Z, written by Sydell Rosenberg and illustrated …
REVIEW: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
Happy Friday! The featured finalist review for today on the Cybils blog is a book from the Middle Grade Fiction category: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty. Round 2 judge Jaymie Dieterle, a former elementary school librarian who blogs at The Neverending TBR, reviewed this book last year: Crummy things happen at school. People don’t understand Lucy’s compulsions …