In recent years there has been an upsurge in nonfiction that’s great for reading aloud to preschool and kindergarten-age kids, either one-on-one or in classrooms and storytimes. Here are a few great read-aloud titles that Cybils has taken note of. Feathers: Not Just for Flying by Melissa Steawart: The 2014 Finalist and Winner in the Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction Category is a great read-aloud. Simple sentences make …
Review: Popular: Vintage Wisdom for the Modern Geek
Today’s review is by our YA Non-Fiction chair, Stephanie, who regularly blogs at Love. Life. Read. She reviewed YA Non-Fiction finalist Popular: Vintage Wisdom for the Modern Geek, by Maya Van Wagenen, writing: This memoir is often times hilarious, filled with trials and triumphs as Maya applies 1950’s advice to her modern life in the twenty first century. Highly readable and enjoyable, this …
Review: Handle With Care
Today’s review is from Carrie, who blogs at the Indianapolis Public Library Kids’ Blog, which is a blog highlighting books that they think kids will like. The reviews are directed at the kids who will be reading the books, so they are short and to the point. Carrie recently reviewed the Elementary/Middle Grade Non-Fiction finalist Handle With Care: An Unusual …
Revew: Be a Changemaker
Today’s review is YA Non-fiction finalist Be a Changemaker, by Laurie Ann Thompson, reviewed by judge Louise over at The Nonfiction Detectives where she blogs with Book App chair Cathy. Louise wrote: I found this “how-to handbook” very useful. Thompson uses simple, direct language to explain how to take something you are passionate about and turn it into a reality. Readers will …
Review: Feathers: Not Just For Flying
Today’s review comes from Carol, a round one Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction panelist, who blogs at Carol’s Corner. She reviewed finalist Feathers: Not Just for Flying, by Melissa Stewart, writing: Great for a lesson on birds, animal adaptations, metaphor, or capturing information on illustrations! Or just plain reading and enjoying! Read the rest of the review here.
Review: The Port Chicago 50
Today’s review of the National Book Award nominee, and Young Adult Non-fiction nominee The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights, by Steve Sheinkin comes from round one panelist Danyelle. She blogs at Bookshelves in the Cul-de-Sac and did a nonfiction round-up over the summer. About The Port Chicago 50, she writes: Sheinkin is one the best writers …
Review: Dare the Wind
Round one panelist Sondy, blogging over at Sonderbooks where she blogs about a wide range of books, has our review today of Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction nominee Dare the Wind: The Record-breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud, by Tracey Fern. Sondy writes: How wonderful! A nineteenth century young woman navigated clipper ships for her sea captain husband and actually …
Review: I am Malala
Today’s review of the day comes from Aaron, who blogs at Coffee for the Brain, which is a fantastic blog name. A teacher and Cybils YA Nonfiction round one panelist, Aaron is a busy guy, but has managed to find time to read the children’s edition biography of the Nobel Peace Prize winning Malala Yousafzai, I am Malala. He writes: Malala …
Review: Viva Frida
A first-round Elementary/Middle Grade Non-fiction panelist, librarian and parent, Ellen, still manages to find time to blog at On the Shelf 4 Kids. She recently read nominee Elementary/Middle Grade nonfiction nominee Viva Frida, by Yuyi Morales. She writes: I like the way the visuals flow through Frida’s boisterous life and into a dreamlike state. Much like the wounded deer she often …
Review: The Family Romanov
Blogging at The Fourth Musketter , librarian and Young Adult Nonfition panelist, Margo specializes in historical fiction for young people. She reivews Young Adult Nonfiction nominee The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia, by Candace Fleming, writing: Fleming expertly weaves together the intimate life of Russia’s last czar and his family with the saga of the revolution brewing …