Cybils Finalists: Easy Readers / Early Chapter Books

Happy New Year! Today is not only my two-year blogging anniversary, it's also the day Cybils finalists are announced. I had a great time serving on the easy reader / early chapter book panel again this year, and I'm very pleased to share the list that Jeff, Mandy, Teri, Colby, Amanda, Katherine, and I selected as the best of our list of nominees.

Easy Readers

Two pairs of best friends, a trip to the Antarctic, and a small mouse so nice we chose her twice - these are the easy reader finalists!

	Bink and Gollie, Two for One by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee illustrated by Tony Fucile (Candlewick Press) Read my review.
	A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse by Frank Viva (Toon Books - Candlewick Press) Read my review.
	Penny and Her Song by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books- Harper Collins)
	Penny and Her Doll by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books- Harper Collins)
	Pinch and Dash Make Soup by Michael J. Daley illustrated by Thomas F. Yezerski (Charlesbridge)

Early Chapter Books
Taking charge, sleeping over, getting angry, brilliantly plotting, and saving the earth - meet the busy heroes and heroines of the early chapter book finalists!

	Ivy and Bean Make the Rules by Annie Barrows illustrated by Sophie Blackall (Chronicle Books) Read my review.
	Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover by Cece Bell (Candlewick Press)
	Sadie and Ratz by Sonya Hartnett (Candlewick Press) Read my review.
	Violet Mackerel's Brilliant Plot by Anna Branford illustrated by Elanna Allen (Atheneum - Simon & Schuster)
	Marty McGuire Digs Worms! by Kate Messner illustrated by Brian Floca (Scholastic) Read my review.

This list , complete with our blurbs, can be found on the Cybils site, along with the full list of Cybils finalists in all categories. Winners will be announced on Valentine's Day.  Congratulations, all!

Opinions expressed in the reviews linked above are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of my fellow panelists, or of the panel as a whole.