Welcome to today’s featured blog review, courtesy of Round 1 judge Debbie Tanner, a librarian who blogs at The Book Search. Earlier last year, she posted a review of Middle Grade Fiction nominee The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet: It’s set in World War 2 and I really loved that it tells the story of what it was …
REVIEW: The Grand Escape
Cybils veteran Karen Yingling of Ms. Yingling Reads is our featured blogger for today–besides being a middle school librarian and book reviewer for School Library Journal, she’s also been a category organizer for Cybils and is a Round 2 judge for Junior/Senior High Nonfiction. Recently, she reviewed Senior High Nonfiction finalist The Grand Escape: The Greatest Prison Breakout of the …
REVIEW: Escape from Syria
Our featured review for today was posted at Quill & Quire, a children’s lit website sponsored by Canada Council for the Arts, by our Round 2 Graphic Novels judge Ardo Omer, who is a podcaster at Put a Blurb On It. In the written review of Elementary/Middle Grade Graphic Novels finalist Escape from Syria, written by Samya Kullab and illustrated …
REVIEW: Julián Is a Mermaid
Today’s featured review comes from Round 1 Board Books/Fiction Picture Books judge Nicole Levesque, a 4th grade teacher in Maine who blogs at Bluestocking Thinking. One of the books she reviewed for an installment of “It’s Monday! What are you reading?” last year was Fiction Picture Books finalist Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love, which Nicole read to her …
REVIEW: The Hyena Scientist
Our featured review for today looks at Middle Grade Nonfiction finalist The Hyena Scientist (Scientists in the Field Series) by Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop. Nic Bishop’s books are definitely a perennial favorite around here, and in her review on the Growing With Science blog, Round 1 judge Roberta Gibson explains why this title ended up as a finalist: Rather …
REVIEW: Owen and Eleanor Move In
Today we’re happy to present our first finalist review of the New Year! Our featured review is from Cybils organizer and judge Jennifer Wharton, who is on the Round 1 panel for Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books this year. On her blog Jean Little Library, she looked at Early Chapter books finalist Owen and Eleanor Move In (Owen and …
The 2018 Cybils Finalists!
It’s January 1st, our favorite day of the year: The day in which all round one panelists breathe a huge sigh of relief (and we express our heartfelt thanks!), and which everyone (from the authors and illustrators to the fans to the round two judges) eagerly watches to see what’s made the cut. First off — because we know you’re …
REVIEW: After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)
Welcome to our last finalist review of the Cybils season before we announce the winning titles on Wednesday! (Be sure to visit the Cybils blog on Feb. 14th for the full list of 2017’s winners in each category.) Today’s featured finalist is from the Fiction Picture Books category: After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan …
REVIEW: Armstrong and Charlie
Today’s featured reviewer is Round 1 judge Sarah Sammis, a Cybils veteran who blogs about books for children, teens, and adults at Puss Reboots. A couple of months ago, she reviewed Middle Grade Fiction finalist Armstrong and Charlie by Steven B. Frank, a historical fiction story set in Los Angeles: The plot takes place in two neighborhoods — Laurel Canyon …
REVIEW: Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team
Elementary school librarian, School Library Journal reviewer, and Round 1 judge Heidi Grange wrote today’s featured blog review. She blogs at Geo Librarian, and a few months ago she reviewed Junior High Nonfiction finalist Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin: While the book focuses on football and the impact that the Carlisle Indian …