Deb Nance of Readerbuzz is a veteran of the Cybils and a Round 1 judge for Nonfiction Picture Books this year. She's a Texas librarian who's been blogging since 2008 about books she's loved--not just reviews, but also booklists, read-alikes, and more. Fun fact: She was first an NFPB panelist back in 2008!

Last month, she reviewed Cybils NFPB finalist Nic Bishop Snakes, by Nic Bishop--who will be a familiar face to anyone keeping up with Cybils over the years. In fact, in 2009, he won a Cybils award for his title Nic Bishop Frogs. The latest volume promises fascinating facts about snakes accompanied by striking photos. In her review, Deb said:

[T]his is another bell ringer of a book. Bishop is a great photographer whose photos of snakes surprise and startle us on every page.

Did you see our fabulous list of finalists yet? Yes? Well, have you noticed all the love we've been getting from the honored (and honorable!) finalist authors and illustrators? We did one post about it already, and here are a few more lovely tweets we wanted to share:

• Stefan Bachmann (@Stefan_Bachmann), SFF finalist, says: Woah, so The Peculiar is shortlisted for the Cybil Award. @medinger, thanks so much for nominating it!!!! :D http://www.cybils.com/2012-finalists-fantasy-science-fiction-middle-grade.html …
  
• Nosy Crow Apps (@NosyCrowApps), finalist for Book Apps, says: Starting the New Year with good news-Rounds: Franklin Frog is a Cybils Award finalist! Farewell 2012, hello Cybils
  http://nosycrow.com/blog/happy-new-year-and-some-resolutions
• Andrea Host (@dragonflyautumn), another finalist for SFF, says: Just picking myself off the floor after being knocked over with that feather. Cybils finalist! http://www.andreakhost.com/2013/01/the-season-of-compliments.html?spref=tw … #wowzaindeed
  
• Kate Messner (@KateMessner), a finalist for Easy Readers/Early Chapter Books, says: Honored & delighted to find that MARTY MCGUIRE DIGS WORMS is a #Cybils Award finalist for early readers/chapter books! http://www.cybils.com/2012-finalists-easy-readersearly-chapter-books.html …
  
• Betsy Thompson (@artandillobetsy), the illustrator for an NFPB finalist, says: Just in from Blue Apple: Eggs 1, 2, 3: Who Will the Babies Be? is a finalist for a Cybils Award! http://www.cybils.com/2012-finalists-nonfiction-picture-books.html … #betsythompsonstudio
  
• The illustrious Disney Hyperion (@DisneyHyperion), even gave us a shout-out: Congrats to #Cybils finalists CHLOE AND THE LION, ONE SPECIAL DAY, ANNIE SULLIVAN AND THE TRIALS OF HELEN KELLER, and CODE NAME VERITY!

Cybils veteran Andi Sibley is our feature reviewer of the day. She's a Round 1 judge for Middle Grade Fiction and a blogger (since 2006!) over at A Wrung Sponge, where she reviews books, software, and electronic resources for children and young adults with a particular interest in multicultural and diverse books. Fun Fact: She's also a Poetry Friday regular, and if you haven't seen her lovely photos that accompany her poems, you're missing out!

A couple of months ago, she reviewed Middle Grade Fiction finalist Wonder by R.J. Palacio, the story of a boy with a severe facial deformity about to start classes at a mainstream school for the first time. However, rather than being simply difficult or depressing, it's a memorable and lovely story--as Andi said in her review,

It's a really wonderful book that stays with you. The more I think about it the more I get out of it. I can see this one being on everyone's list for a long time.

In the wake of our announcement of the Cybils finalists a couple of days ago, a number of triumphant tweets have come to our attention. Frankly, we're tickled pink at the kind words that we've been getting from authors and illustrators. Here's just a small sampling:

• Mac Barnett (@macbarnett), FPB finalist, says: Oh, thank you—it was a a surprise and delight starting the year off with that news.
  
• Peter Brown (@itspeterbrown), also an FPB finalist, says: Yessssssss! (Fist pump) Thanks @MotherReader !!!!
  
• Small Planet Digital (@smplanetdigital), a Book Apps finalist, says: Woohoo! “@MaryAnnScheuer: Hooray! DRAGON BRUSH is a #Cybils finalist! - it's a magical #bookapp for kids (4-8) http://greatkidbooks.blogspot.com/2013/01/dragon-brush-magical-book-app-set-in.html …”
  
• J.J. Johnson (@JJJohnsonAuthor), a YA Fiction finalist, says: The Theory of Everything is a Cybils Award FINALIST! ***Happy Snoopy Dance*** "Johnson deftly blends humor and... http://fb.me/t21zCRrR
  
• Elizabeth Wein (@EWein2412), another YA fiction finalist, gives us some kudos: @thereadingzone @cybils you did a beautiful job too - thrilled to be on the shortlist and love the other titles too!
  
• Kate Coombs (@KateCoombs13), a Poetry finalist, says: HOORAY! My poetry collection Water Sings Blue is a Cybils finalist! http://www.cybils.com/2012-finalists-poetry.html …

Our featured reviewer of the day is Debra Touchette, a Round 1 Judge for Graphic Novels and blogger over at (Library Lass) Adventures in Reading and the group blog Guys Lit Wire. A couple of months ago she brought us a review of Cybils nominee Drama by Raina Telgemeier, and today we're posting another of Debra's reviews to kick off the finalist reading period!

That review covers Middle Grade Graphic Novels finalist Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller, by Joseph Lambert. This Center for Cartoon Studies title is more than just another straightforward biographical piece about Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan. As Debra puts it in her review,

One of the great strengths of this book is the way Lambert depicts what it might have looked like in Helen's mind as she became more connected with the world, with the panels going from mostly black to filled with shapes and words as she learns to communicate, with Annie's help.

Dear Book Nerds:

You already know why you're here. It's not for the fab party, the football scores or to watch the ball drop. No, you won't find Cybilians indulging in those overly exhuberant displays of normalcy. Hanging out at the Cybils site is by far the best New Year's tradition, and here are just a few reasons why:

• You do not have to dress up. In fact, you do not have to dress at all;
• We will not try to corner you in an awkward conversation;
• We will not scream like banshees at overgrown boys in plastic armor tossing an animal hide at each other;
• There are no commercial interruptions, ever;
• You do not have to brave the cold, the crowds or the litter of Times Square;
• You will not throw up afterwards.

See? There is no need to be anywhere else today. Welcome to this year's Cybils short lists, brought to you by the hardest-working kidlit and YA book bloggers in existence.

 Book Apps

Easy Readers/Short Chapter Books

Fantasy and Science Fiction (Middle Grade)

Fantasy and Science Fiction (Young Adult)

Fiction Picture Books

Graphic Novels

Middle Grade Fiction

Non-Fiction: Middle Grade & Young Adult

Non-Fiction Picture Books

Poetry

Young Adult Fiction

Today's featured reviewer, Julie Jurgens, is a former early childhood teacher, current children's librarian, and no stranger to the Cybils. This year she's a Round 1 judge for Fiction Picture Books, but when she's not Cybil-ing, she's blogging about library services and materials for children and teens over at Hi Miss Julie! Fun Fact: She also plays music for kids at libraries, schools, and other places.

Earlier this year, Julie reviewed It's a Tiger!, an FPB nominee written by David LaRochelle and illustrated by Jeremy Tankard. This dynamic read-aloud picture book got a starred review from School Library Journal; in her review, Julie said:

The bold illustrations and clear, dynamic text make this book perfect for storytime. Toddlers and preschoolers alike can RUN from the tiger, climb the ladder to make an escape, tip-toe past snakes, and jump into a flower bed (that is hiding a tiger that they must run from).

Our featured reviewer for the day is a Cybils veteran instantly recognizable to many in the kidlit and book blogging community: Sherry Early, who blogs at Semicolon. Besides being a Round 1 judge this year for MG Fantasy and Sci-fi, she provides via her blog an astounding array of resources on books, kidlit, homeschooling, Christianity, and much much more. Fun fact: She herself is a homeschooling mom--of EIGHT children!

A few months ago, Sherry reviewed Cybils MG SFF nominee Benjamin Franklinstein Meets Thomas Deadison by Matthew McElligott and Larry Tuxbury, the latest book in a series that promises crazy scientific gizmos, undead geniuses thwarting evil, and plenty of silly mayhem. In her review, Sherry said: 

This series is easy to read and just fun, nothing heavy or serious, just a simple story about an evil-emperor who tries to take over the world by hypnotizing everyone with scientifically altered light bulbs.

One of our Round 1 judges for Easy Readers and Short Chapter Books this year is Katherine Sokolowski, who blogs at Read, Write, Reflect. She's a 5th grade teacher who uses blogging as a way to reflect on issues of teaching and literacy--and, of course, as a space to review books. Fun fact: She started blogging in 2011 and her first book review was on Kate Messner's Eye of the Storm.

One of the books she and her son enjoyed this year was Cybils short chapter book nominee Iva Honeysuckle Discovers the World, written by Candice Ransom and illustrated by Heather Ross. It's the story of eight-year-old Iva Honeycutt, who combats summer boredom by coming up with an explorer alter ego to go out and look for treasure. In her review, Katherine says:

Iva dreams of being great – of exploring and discovering things just like her Great-Grandpa. But things start to go awry and Iva has to rethink her choices. I thoroughly enjoyed Iva and think many of my students will as well.

Mary Ann Scheuer, our intrepid Book Apps Category Chair, is today's featured reviewer. A school librarian in Berkeley, CA, she's blogged at Great Kid Books since 2008, posting about fiction and nonfiction titles--and, of course, book apps--for kids aged 4-14. Fun fact: she's got a particular interest in books for tweens, and has compiled all her tween reviews on one fabulous page.

Earlier this year, she reviewed some book apps including Cybils nominee Leonard by Ink Robin, Inc., about an imaginative boy who moves from the city to the country and ends up having to explore his environment and make new friends. In her review, Mary Ann says:

Leonard's imagination saves the day, as he soars into outer space, explores the jungle, squishes bugs through the house. The interactive features are just enough to surprise kids, but never overwhelm the story.

Our featured reviewer of this wintry Friday is Cybils veteran Sarah Gross of The Reading Zone, one of our Round 1 judges for YA Fiction. Sarah is currently a high school English teacher passionate about finding great books to share with her students. Fun fact: She is the brains behind the ARCs Float On project, which aims to connect bloggers who have review copies to spare with classroom teachers in need of books.

One of the Cybils YA Fiction nominees that Sarah reviewed this year was Boy21 by Matthew Quick, a novel of basketball, tragedy, redemption and friendship that is not only a great guy book and sports novel but also just a good read overall. As Sarah says in her review,

this is a book about life.  Smart, funny, raw, and touching, it’s a book I can confidently recommend to all of my readers, from reluctant to voracious.  The characters are real and their lives are not perfect.

Today's review comes from our very own Poetry Category Chair, Jone MacCulloch. Jone blogs at Check It Out, and she's a library media specialist in Washington state. She's also an avid reader, photographer, poet, and frequent participant in Poetry Friday. Fun fact: for four years running, she's organized the Postcard Poetry Project, in which participants receive a student-written poem on a postcard in the mail.

Earlier this month, Jone reviewed Cybils poetry nominee Nasty Bugs, written by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Will Terry. As you might expect, this book features poems about those creepy crawly critters that gross us out the most: lice, cockroaches, you name it. But the kids love it--as Jone says in her review,

Even though the topics are making me itch as I type, engaged second graders laughed and giggled, eewed and itched.

Jessica Tackett of the blog Her Life With Books is today's featured reviewer--a Round 1 judge for MG/YA Nonfiction, she is also a fledgling librarian who enjoys reading children's and YA lit as well as, occasionally, writing it. Being all librarian-y, her blog features a wonderfully orderly list of reviews by genre for your reading edification. Fun fact: Jessica also has an MA in Children's Literature.

Last month, Jessica reviewed NFMGYA nominee Chuck Close: Face Book by the artist himself, Chuck Close. If you don't know Chuck Close, he is one of those rare birds--a famous painter who became famous in his lifetime and is in fact (obviously) still alive. He overcame a number of physical limitations throughout his career, and he paints--what else--faces. HUGE ones. About the book, Jessica says:

This book is structured around a school “fieldtrip” – a group of children visiting Mr. Close in his studio and, after studying his life and his work, asking him some rather astute questions.

Ellen Zschunke of the blog On the Shelf 4 Kids is today's featured reviewer. She's an elementary school librarian in Pennsylvania, and blogs not only about books (especially NFPB, where she's a Round 1 judge), but also about library projects and curriculum. Fun fact: She's also a coordinator for her school's TV studio!

Recently, she reviewed Cybils nonfiction picture books nominee Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by Robert Byrd. You might think you know all there is to know about Ben Franklin, but this book holds some surprises. For instance, did you know he was the postmaster of Philadelphia? That he invented swim fins? In her review, Ellen says the author

does a great job highlighting information about Ben Franklin and including apt, but bright illustrations.  He describes his process and documents his sources well.

Ourintrepid Middle Grade Fiction category chair, Karen Yingling, is today's featured reviewer. She blogs at Ms. Yingling Reads, where she reviews books for middle school students (both MG and YA), particularly boys. Her reviews are helpfully divided into adventure, fantasy, historical, humor, and sports. Fun Fact: she's got a great list of websites about boy books, if you're looking for reads that appeal to the guys in your life.

Middle Grade Fiction nominee Caddy's World by Hilary McKay is one of the books she reviewed recently in a post titled "Dysfunctional English Families," which made me giggle. It's the latest in the Casson Family books, which include Saffy's Angel and Indigo's Star, and it's a prequel. In her review, Ms. Yingling says:

The new covers are rather attractive and might reignite interest in this older series (the first book came out in 2001), and long time readers who like problem novels will find the back story of favorite characters enjoyable.

We love it when our Cybils panelists post about what it's like to volunteer as a judge. A couple of weeks ago, we linked to a post by Round 1 YA Fiction panelist William Polking about what it's really like behind the scenes. This week, we've got a post from YA Fantasy and Sci-Fi blog's Aurora Celeste about how being a Round 1 judge is different from Round 2--having been in both of those roles, all I can say is boy, howdy. As Aurora puts it in her post, free books are only fun for a while...

Go check it out!

Mama Librarian--aka Maggi Idzikowski--is a Cybils regular and a Round 1 panelist this year for Graphic Novels. She posts reviews on Goodreads as well as on her blog, where she and her kids rate books according to awesomeness, wordsmithing, personages, mesmerizitude, illustrations, and factfulness. Fun fact: She's also a member of The Newbery Project blog, which aims to read and review all the Newbery Award winners.

This fall, Maggi reviewed YA graphic novels nominee Friends With Boys, by Faith Erin Hicks, which is a funny coming-of-age story with a supernatural twist. She gave it 4 out of 5 stars and said in her review:

I appreciate that Hicks uses familiar tropes of high school relationships without letting her characters become cardboard stereotypes. The relationships between Maggie and her brothers and the larger school community are complex and interesting.

Rebecca Reid blogs, appropriately, at Rebecca Reads, and she's also a Round 1 judge for this year's Fiction Picture Books category. On her blog, she posts not only about children's literature from board books through young adult, but also nonfiction and classics. She also posts about homeschooling and other reader-ly topics. Fun fact: her favorite reads range from Winnie-the-Pooh to Crime and Punishment.

She's been posting tons of Fiction Picture Book reviews for this year's Cybils, and one recent post looked at I'm Bored, written by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi. Yes, it's another celebrity picture book--but Mr. Black is a comedian, and this book certainly is funny. According to Rebecca:

In this book, a bored little girl begins a conversation with a potato, in which she finds she must convince the potato that no, kids are not boring. Ohi’s illustrations are digitally rendered and they bring the girl’s world to life.

Paula Willey of the blog Pink Me is a longtime blogger, Cybils regular, reviewer of apps for School Library Journal, public library employee, school library consultant, mom, and pink-haired science fan. On her blog, she reviews a wide range of titles, from picture books to YA, and she's particularly knowledgeable about nonfiction. Fun fact (besides the pink hair): she teaches Circus Arts like hula hooping to elementary school children.

Early this year, she reviewed the Book App nominee The Artifacts, developed by Slap Happy Larry, for School Library Journal's Touch and Go blog. This is one of those rare (but hopefully, becoming less rare) apps that appeals to teen and tween readers. Protagonist Asaf, age 13, is a finder of treasures in trash. According to Paula's review:

The narration of this 21-page story is automatic, but in order to find dialogue and explore Asaf’s thoughts and surroundings, readers must experiment with tapping and tilting, stroking and shaking. Not all enhancements are intuitive, giving the app experience a welcome exploratory quality.

If you don't know Leila Roy and her blog Bookshelves of Doom, then perhaps you're new to the Kidlitosphere, or seriously missing out. Leila has been a Cybil-ite from the first year, and she posts primarily about YA books and related news, as well as being a reviewer for Kirkus. Fun Fact: she also makes really cool bookish handmade items, available on Etsy.

One of her reviews for Kirkus earlier this year was YA fiction nominee Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield. Just when Becca's leaving her small town behind, she finds the body of an unfamiliar girl on the side of the road. Leila says it's a well-written book with a lot of crossover potential:

Rosenfield alternates between Becca’s memories of that summer and the story of Amelia’s last few days to ultimately reveal the truth, and in so doing, shows the parallels between these two very different girls and their experiences.

Carol Wilcox, who brings us today's featured book review, is another Cybils regular. A literacy coach and reading intervention teacher, she's been blogging at Carol's Corner since 2007, and in addition to posting a variety of reviews, she also participates in Poetry Friday. Fun fact: her very first blog post mentions wanting to be a judge for Cybils!

Recently, she reviewed a couple of Cybils poetry nominees that both teach and entertain--one of them was Take Two!: A Celebration of Twins by J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen, illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Whether you have twins, are a twin, or just know a twin or two, this one's sure to amuse. In her review, Carol gave a brief description of the contents:

There are sections  about "Twins in the Waiting Womb," "Twinfants," "How to be One," and "Famous Twins." And each two page spread includes at least one twin fact.

Psst! Hey! You! Have you been checking out our book review posts? Or our nominations lists? You might notice that every book has a link to Amazon. Because we're an Amazon affiliate, every purchase you make through a Cybils link means we get a dribble of cash to use for our prizes and other materials (like flyers and bookmarks).

And we mean EVERY purchase. That's right--you don't have to just buy a Cybils-nominated title. You can click through from one of our posts and then buy a iPad or a jacuzzi or a private island. The bigger the purchase, the more of a commission we get. So please, please consider doing some of your Amazon holiday shopping after clicking one of our links! Or, you can give US a holiday gift and click that donate button at the top of the right-hand sidebar. The Cybils thanks you--you help keep us going!

Instantly Interruptible! It's a fab blog name, and it's where today's featured book review comes from, courtesy of Julie Azzam, a Round 2 judge for Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books. Her online home is "A Bookworm Mom's Blog about Parenting and Children's Books"--she's a mom, a lit Ph.D., and she posts a variety of reviews and interviews as well as other items of interest. Fun fact: she's had an interview with Cybils winner (and past judge) Tom Angleberger published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Earlier this month, Julie reviewed Easy Reader nominee Fly Guy #12: There's a Fly Guy in My Soup by Tedd Arnold. Fly Guy is a hilarious series that's great for kids featuring--who else--a fly and his antics. In her review, Julie said:

If you have a reluctant reader at home, or if you're just looking for a fun read that's guaranteed to generate laughs--I mean it, tons of uncontrollable giggles--then you've got to read Fly Guy's latest escapade.

Today's review comes from Cybils regular Emma Carbone, of the wonderfully named blog Miss Print. She's a Round 2 judge for YA Fantasy and Sci-Fi, and on her blog she reviews various YA books as well as doing a weekly Chick Lit Wednesday post from a feminist perspective. Fun fact: she also loves making book lists, and has a number of great ones here.

Earlier this year, Emma reviewed YA SFF nominee Cinder by Marissa Meyer, the first book in the Lunar Chronicles and...a Cinderella retelling about a Cyborg? Yes, you read that right. In her review, she says:

There are a lot of retellings of Cinderella in the world. Meyer brings a fresh eye to this popular fairy tale adding an utterly original spin to a familiar story. Filled with nods to the original story (most notably Cinder’s mechanical foot), Meyer also excellently evokes the hectic, crowded city of New Beijing.

Many, many of our bloggers provide lists of favorite books for your holiday shopping enjoyment, but in my opinion none is quite so much fun as MotherReader (and FPB category chair) Pam Coughlan's annual Ways to Give a Book list.

This year, she's put up an updated list of 150 Ways to Give a Book with book recommendations paired with related gift ideas - like Ladybug Girl with wings and antenna - and all with links for easy purchase. There are also ways to wrap a book, ideas for related outings, and gifts for book-loving adults from Etsy. It is really, really cool and helps support the MotherReader website.

Of course, don't forget that every book we post to the Cybils site--whether it's in a review or simply on the list of nominations--also links to Amazon, where every purchase made post-click means a dribble of money into the Cybils fund. So please consider your blogging friends when it comes time to do your holiday shopping!