Cybils Finalists: Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books

The Cybils finalists have been announced, so at long last, I and my fellow round one judges in the Easy Reader/Early Chapter Book category  - Caroline Flory, Maggi Idzikowski, Mike Lewis, Kimberley Moran, Debbie Nance, and Melissa Taylor - are able to share with you our shortlists. These lists are the end result of hours of reading, reviewing, and discussing, and they represent the best-written books published this year that beginning readers will love to read. 

Easy Readers

• Extraordinary Warren: A Super Chicken by Sarah Dillard (Aladdin)
• Okay, Andy! by Maxwell Eaton (Blue Apple Books)
• Clara and Clem Under the Sea by Ethan Long (Penguin USA)
• Pigsticks and Harold and the Incredible Journey by Alex Milway (Candlewick Press)
• The Ice Cream Shop: A Steve and Wessley Reader by Jennifer E. Morris (Scholastic)
• Inch and Roly and the Sunny Day Scare by Melissa Wiley (Simon Spotlight)
• My New Friend Is So Fun! by Mo Willems (Disney-Hyperion)
  

Early Chapter Books

• Violet Mackerel's Possible Friend by Anna Branford (Atheneum)
• The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure by Doreen Cronin (Atheneum)
• The Lion Who Stole My Arm by Nicola Davies (Candlewick Press)
• Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon (Dial Books)
• Lulu and the Rabbit Next Door by Hilary McKay (Albert Whitman & Company)
• Like Carrot Juice on a Cupcake by Julie Sternberg (Abrams Books for Young Readers)
• Lulu's Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst (Atheneum)

View this list, along with our blurbs, on the Cybils website. 

Starting today, these books will be handed over to the round 2 judges: Narineh Ferderer, Amanda Furman, Catherine Nichols, Mia Wenjen, and Matthew Winner. They will choose one winner from each subcategory, which will be announced on February 14. 

LibraryAdventure.com: Meet Shelley Harris, Children's Librarian, plus Cybils Nominations

Today I'm at The Library Adventure interviewing Shelley Harris, a children's librarian in Oak Park, Illinois.

Also, Cybils nominations are now open! Anyone can nominate, and each person is entitled to one nomination in each category. Visit cybils.com to throw your favorite titles into the ring!

Cybils Announcements and Readerkidz Guest Post

In addition to my regular post for today, I have two more things to share.

The first is that my guest post, Picture Books for Greeting Friends Around the World, is up at ReaderkidZ.com. The three titles I suggest are all timely reads for the International Day of Peace, coming up on September 21.

The other is big news - the 2014 Cybils judges have been announced. This is especially exciting for me, as I have taken on the role of organizer for the Easy Reader/Beginning Chapter Book Category. I'll be participating myself as a first round judge along with these lovely bloggers:

• Caroline Flory of  Under God’s Mighty Hand
  
• Maggi Idzikowski of Mama Librarian 
• Mike Lewis of No High 5 News
  
• Kimberley Moran of Books First in Maine
  
• Debbie Nance of Readerbuzz
  
• Melissa Taylor of Imagination Soup

The wonderful second round judges are

• Narineh Ferderer of Ready, Set, Read
  
• Amanda Furman of Maestra Amanda’s World
  
• Catherine Nichols of The Cath in the Ha
• Mia Wenjen of PragmaticMom
• Matthew Winner of The Busy Librarian

Nominations for the Cybils will open to the public on October 1, so start thinking of the best books of the past year and get ready to submit your favorite titles.

Cybils 2014 Call for Judges

This year, I am the chair of the Easy Reader and Early Chapter Book category of the Cybils (Children's and Young Adult Bloggers Literary Awards). If you blog about children's or YA literature, you can apply to judge in my category - or any of the other Cybils categories - starting today, August 18.  

Click here for the application.

Cybils also has a brand-new website, where you can read FAQs, see the finalists and winners from last year, and find out more about the team of organizers, as well as the specific duties of judges. The application period will end on September 1, and judging panels will be announced on September 15. Nominations for titles to be considered for the awards will open on October 1.