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The winners of the Cybils (Children's and Young Adult Blogger Literary Awards) were announced today. I know how hard it was to come up with a shortlist; I can only imagine the challenge each judging panel had in determining a winner. Congratulations to all winners and kudos to all of the finalists, for they were all fine, fine books.

In the nonfiction categories:

NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK

Lightship
Written and
Illustrated by
Brian Floca
Richard Jackson Books/Atheneum

The fog seems to waft off the page in this delightful look at the work and life aboard the lightship Ambrose -- a floating lighthouse anchored offshore. The writing is rich and engaging without talking down, and humour permeates both text and illustration. Floca's detailed watercolour illustrations and deceptively simple text sprinkled with sensory language have readers practically feeling the dampness, tasting the sea air, and tilting with the deck. [copied from my earlier post about the finalists]


MIDDLE GRADE/YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION BOOK

Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood
by Ibtisam Barakat
Farrar, Straus and Giroux

For a description of this book, see the Cybils announcement blog entry here.



Hop on over to the Cybils blog to check out the winners in the other categories: Poetry, Fiction Picture Book, Middle Grade Novel, Young Adult Novel, Graphic Novels, and Fantasy & Science Fiction.
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Okay, folks, it's time for the most talked-about awards of the year! No, not the Oscars, silly. It's the Cybils!

And the winners are:

Fantasy/SF
Elementary/MG: The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex
YA: Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Picture Book (Fiction): The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice N. Harrington; illustrated by Shelley Jackson

Graphic Novels
Elementary/MG: Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, illustrated by Giovanni Rigano and Paolo Lamanna
YA: The Professor's Daughter by Joann Sfar; illustrated by Emmanuel Guibert

MG: A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

Nonfiction
YA/MG: Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood by Ibtisam Barakat
Picture Books: Lightship by Brian Floca

Poetry: This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

And last but certainly not least:

YA: Boy Toy by Barry Lyga

Congratulations to all the winners! Check out the Cybils Website for more information on these marvelous books.

Since I was a judge in the YA category, I will be posting reviews of the books in the next few days. Watch for Boy Toy today, and the rest in no particular order.

Cybils ladies, thank you for a wonderful year. I had a great time and I'm hereby submitting my name for next year.

The awards are up, a valentine for kidlit from the bloggers who love them. It's nice to see a number of books I actually read made it. You can read my take on the non-fiction picture book award winner, Lightship, as well as the middle grade fiction winner, A Crooked Kind of Perfect. The Awards are over here. You should see what this chucklehead has to say about the graphic novels. Sheesh!

After serving as a judge, and engaging in lively and passionate discussions with my fellow judges in the Fiction Picture Book category of the 2007 Cybils, I'm proud to announce The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice N. Harrington and illustrated by Shelley Jackson has been crowned the winner! With a vivid, expressive voice, brilliant use of energetic images, a lot of spunk, and a heartwarming surprise ending, The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County is sure to capture your heart.

The nominating panel gave us a tough job, with seven amazing titles to choose from, each covering widely varied topics and styles, but all exceptionally well done picture books.

Congratulations to all the 2007 winning authors and illustrators!
See sidebar.

Special thanks to all the panelists, judges, and especially the organizers, for making this all happen!

Announcing the 2007 Cybils winners! 


YA novel:
Boy Toy by Barry Lyga


Midgrade novel:
A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban (lurban)  (yay, Linda!!!!!!)


Poetry:
This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness by Joyce Sidman, illus by Pamela Zagarenski


Fiction Picture Book:
The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice N. Harrington, illus by Shelley Jackson


Nonfiction Picture Book:
Lightship by Brian Floca


Nonfiction midgrade/YA:
Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood by Ibtisam Barakat



Graphic Novels:

Elementary/midgrade:
Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, illus by Giovanni Rigano and Paolo Lamanna

Young Adult:
The Professor's Daughter by Joann Sfar, illus by Emmanuel Guibert



Fantasy/Science Fiction:

Elementary/midgrade:
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex

Young Adult:
Book of  a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Congratulations to all the winners!!  You can read more about the judges' choices here.

I'm honored to have been part of the YA Nominating Committee this year. Children's lit is an awesome art form!

Now go read!!

The winners of the 2007 Cybils Awards have been announced! Yeah Winners! And many thanks to the brains and beauty behind it all -- Anne Levy and Kelly Harold, our organizers.

In as much as I was a member of the YA nominating committee (oh happy days of having piles of books around the house waiting to be read; the cupboards are bare at present) I was of course very keen to see who they were going to chose. My money was on Sherman Alexie, but no. It was Boy Toy, by Barry Lyga.

I almost wasn't able to read this book. I thought about quitting several times. The plot--a 12 year old boy seduced by his teacher, and his road to recovery--was almost too much for me. In large part this was because the boy himself did not realize for a considerable part of the book the extent to which he had been abused. He refuses to testify against the teacher in court, for instance, because he doesn't see her as the horrible abuser that she is. I kept imagining my own boys, in a few years, reading this, and not realizing how awful it was that this boy was in love (which is how he thought about it at first) with this beautiful teacher, the stuff of adolescent dreams, and that she was taking him places no 12 year old should be going. As one reads on, it becomes clear that this is a Bad Bad thing, and so I, as a reader, started feeling a bit better, but still. This is not a book for 12 year olds. Or their parents.

But for older teens, yes, it is a very good book indeed.

I love Valentine’s Day. As a child whose birthday was so close to Valentine’s Day, my mother often made me a heart shaped cake. Then there were the giving and receiving of Valentines as school and the excitement leading up to it. That has not changed at school, students have been wild with excitement this week. A kindergartener told me “Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving!”she was so filled with anticipation. Her classmates quickly corrected her.

So today here are two other reasons my heart sings:

It is my 16th wedding anniversary. You might have thought my anniversary was two days ago. I arrived home to a wonderful bouquet of roses. I was told that he was worried they would run out of them. I think maybe he caught the some of the kindergartener’s anticipation.

Today the CYBILS Awards were announced. These are the top books in children’s and young adult literature as determined by a dedicated community of kidlitosphere bloggers.  I sat on the poetry committee for the second year. I do not know if this is  true in all categories but in the poetry category, the quality level was incredible this year. But This is Just to Sayby Joyce Sidman was truly an amazing adventure and collection of poems. I hope you will run out and buy it immediately.

So capture that child like spirit and let your heart sing today. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Today the Cybils are announced and I couldn’t be happier. My role was completed a while ago, when I worked with my fellow judges to narrow down more than a hundred nominated picture books into seven worthy contenders. Then we — maybe a bit reluctantly — turned over our suggestions to the next panel of judges for their consideration. And a similar scenario played out over the other nine categories

The big day has arrived at last! The 2007 Cybils winners have been announced! Check out all the winners at the Cybils blog.

A big thanks to the two fine ladies who are responsible for the establishment of these "kidlit" blogger awards: Kelly Herold of Big A, little a and Anne Boles Levy of Book Buds.

Happy Valentine's Day to you, Kelly and Anne!!!

I'm surfacing momentarily from the German Invasion to make sure you take a minute to check out this 2007 Cybils winners. They've picked out a heap of fine books, including one I nominated myself. (Ok fine, it's not as if it wouldn't have been nominated, but hey, I still got there first!)

As a judge on the YA panel, I'd like to say that I'm thrilled to bitsy little pieces with our choice -- a book I never would have picked up if not for this prize. (No, I'm not going to tell you what it is. Go visit the real live Cybils blog to pay homage yourself.) Many thanks to my co-panelists, the most articulate, reasonable, and agreeable bunch of bookhounds I ever could have hoped for.

No, Miss Spitfire didn't win in the middle grade category. But go look at what did. How can you possibly argue with that little darling? I'll even go so far as to say, "I knew it!" Matter of fact, it's exactly the book I was hoping to lose to. Go sistah, go!

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Currently reading:


Leepike Ridge
by N.D. Wilson

The Cybils have been announced, and This Is Just to Say, by Joyce Sidman, won for poetry. Yea! This is one of my top two favorite poetry books of 2007 (and now both have won major awards, hint, hint). It was fun being on the nominating committee for the Cybils, and I'm so pleased that this book won the top honor!



This book is phenomenal. If you haven't read it yet, order it from a bookseller and prepare yourself for a real treat. You can read reviews of the book here.

Congratulations, Joyce! And to all the other winners and finalists, too!

I first wrote about this book last March, and I'm delighted to be writing about it again -- this time to announce that those of us on the 2007 Cybils Nonfiction Picture Book judging panel have given author/illustrator Brian Floca our top prize.

Have a look at who else won this year's Cybils.

What is it about kids' books that gets us? For me, it's about peals of giggles and excited pointing. It's about the dog-earred, juice-stained, crayon-enhanced pages held together by reams of scotch tape and hope.

Cybils is a comfort zone for the similarly obsessed, where no one has to apologize for preferring the manga version of Shakespeare, and it's always okay to just look at the pictures. Even those who don't have kids--or who don't work with them--can curl up with a trashy teen romance or a goofy science fiction spoof. It's all good.

We had our fun reading and judging, and now it's your turn. The winners below are a gift from our hearts to you and the kids you love, even if you're just indulging an inner child.

--Anne Boles Levy, Editor

The winners' descriptions are courtesy of the judges in each genre. Where possible, we've included a link to the reader who originally nominated the book.

Fantasy and Science Fiction

Elementary/Middle Grade:

The True Meaning of Smekday
by Adam Rex
Hyperion
Nothing has been the same since the Boov invaded Earth and re- named it Smekland. But things get even weirder when twelve-year- old Gratuity Tucci embarks on a journey to find her missing mother--accompanied by her cat (named Pig), a fugitive Boov (named J.Lo) and a slightly illegal hovercar--and realizes that there's more at stake than just her mother's whereabouts. A terrific satire with a touching ending and spot-on illustrations by the author, the novel is heartwarming and hilarious at the same time. Gratuity's narrative voice as she struggles to define "the true meaning of Smekday" will draw readers in.
Nominated by jennifer, aka literaticat.

Young Adult:

Book of a Thousand Days
by Shannon Hale
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
On her first day as a Lady’s Maid, Dashti finds herself locked in a tower for seven years with her Lady, who is being punished for refusing to marry the Lord of a neighboring land. Thus begins a life-and-death battle against evil and time. Lyrically written and set in ancient central Asia, this novel retells a little-known Brother’s Grimm fairy tale with desperate, heart-wrenching emotion. Readers will be drawn in by the beautiful language and fighting spirit of Dashti, whose faith, spunk and ingenuity affect not only the darkness of her tower, but also the hearts and futures of kings.
Nominated by Sarah Miller.

Fiction Picture Books

The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County
by Janice N. Harrington; illustrated by Shelley Jackson
Farrar, Strauss & Giroux
Mama says “NO,” but this farm girl seems determined to keep right on chasing chickens, especially poor Miss Hen, the one chicken that always gets away. This lively story is told in the first-person voice of our full-of-the-devil young lady, using language that sings with the vernacular and cadence of true country storytelling. The illustrations are a perfect match in spirit, and they move the tale along with equal verve, using the rich texture of collage, skilled brush strokes, celebratory colors and charming whimsy. Best of all, we learn that even the wildest hearts are capable of warmth and growth.
Nominated by Megan.

Graphic Novels

Elementary/Middle Grade:

Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel
written by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin
illustrated by Giovanni Rigano and Paolo Lamanna
Hyperion
The comics format proves a good match for Eoin Colfer's tale of war between fairies and an obsessed young genius, already popular around the world in novel form. The energetic, manga-influenced drawings capture the book's technologically heavy action and many magical creatures. The book's creative team uses comics techniques from character profiles to changes in lettering to lead readers through the novel's shifting points of view and sympathies. A truly over-the-top adventure.
Nominated by Brandon.

Young Adult:

The Professor's Daughter
written by Joann Sfar; illustrated by Emmanuel Guibert
First Second
In late Victorian London, the frustrated daughter of an archaeologist and the repressed son of an Egyptian pharaoh fall in love. That he's been dead for many centuries is the least of their problems. The twisting, fast-paced story that follows takes readers to many landmarks of classic English adventure tales, from the British Museum and Scotland Yard and into the private study of Queen Victoria herself. While the panel layout is the same on nearly every page, the scenes inside those boxes jump from slapstick action to tender reminiscences to deadly danger.
Nominated by Liz B.

Middle Grade Novels

A Crooked Kind of Perfect
by Linda Urban
Harcourt Children's Books
A genuinely funny middle-grade reader; how nice to read a book that isn't depressing or heavy, yet has its own emotional weight. This book is guaranteed to make even reluctant readers smile, with sufficient details to hold the interest of more advanced readers too. If the point of the Cybils is to balance kid-friendly qualities with literary panache, then Urban's first novel has that. And while some may protest that it's not a terribly deep story, it has heart, love, a good storyline, and characters you can get behind. Readers are bound to fall in love with its stunning voice, the amazing details that Urban shares of 11-year-old Zoe's life, and the lovely relationships that occur between Zoe and her music teacher, her Dad and Mom, and her friends.
Nominated by Kelly Fineman.

Nonfiction MG/YA books

Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood
by Ibtisam Barakat
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Tasting the Sky is beautifully written and conveys the fear, confusion and tumult of war, but it's also an excellent memoir of childhood in any culture: the broad injustices, the importance of trivial things, the mysteries of the adult world. The setting is both vital to the story--in terms of the war and the political situation--and strangely unimportant, when it comes to classic childhood themes of sibling rivalry, loss of a pet and going to school. The committee felt that Tasting the Sky had the best balance between high literary merit and kid appeal; the story is timely, and one kids will relate to and enjoy reading. Barakat's narrative is gripping and remarkably devoid of anger and hate. We were impressed how she kept the narrative through her young eyes, choosing not to zoom out and give an overview of the situation to reassure the reader about the bigger picture or what lay ahead. Barakat never does, and the reader is left to experience events from the height of a three-year-old, frightened and unsure.
Nominated by Brooke.

Nonfiction Picture Books

Lightship
by Brian Floca
Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books
Gin rummy, wave-tossed trips to "the head," and a cat that can't get used to the deck-shaking horn are among the intriguing details in Floca's nuanced, well-rounded view of life on board this now-retired Coast Guard vessel. The story he tells is simple yet captivating because a lightship is likely nothing you've ever heard of and you just keep on turning the pages to find out more about this curious ship. Floca's art--rich in variety and intricately detailed-- complements the humor in his spare, poetic text. Shine a light and gather a crew for this fabulous read-aloud.
Nominated by Susan Thomsen.

Poetry

This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness
by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
Houghton Mifflin
Everyone messes up. The characters in Sidman's original, funny, and heart-wrenching book certainly do. But in individual poems spoken in utterly believable and age-appropriate voices, by turns hilarious and piercing, this collection offers poems of apology and response that build to an overarching story that will knock your emotional socks off. Kids can read this book straight through like a short story, flip back and forth between the poems of apology and response, study the form and style of a favorite poem, follow one of the appealing, diverse characters, or lose themselves in the expressive and clever illustrations. And if they are suddenly overcome by the urge to write their own imperfect, but perfectly honest, poems after reading this book, it will be with the blessing of poets like Sidman, who understands that poetry is for everyone, and especially for those who mess up.
Nominated by Liz in Ink.

Young Adult Novels

Boy Toy
by Barry Lyga
Houghton Mifflin
Lyga's Boy Toy is a story that everyone thinks they understand: Teacher Has Affair With Student. However, this book guides readers beyond sensationalism and straight into empathy, challenging expectations and assumptions on every page. Lyga's prose is unflinching and the result is heartbreaking and unforgettable.
Nominated by Teen Troves.

Happy Valentine's Book Giveaway Day!  In the spirit of sharing the book love, I held a contest on my blog to give away a signed ARC of Linda Sue Park's incredible MG novel Keeping Score. 

And in the spirit of entertaining my children, we devised a fun, Valentine-loving way to pick a winner.

First, I wrote the names of everyone who entered on little foam heart stickers.  If you entered, you're on one of these.  I promise.



Then we stuck all the hearts to the dartboard in the basement. 



Then the kids closed their eyes and took turns shooting darts at you. 

You can be assured that it was done fair and square, even at great risk to our personal property.  E almost threw a dart through the door window you see next to the dartboard.  When I suggested that she open her eyes and just try to hit the board, she vehemently refused.  She would NOT compromise the integrity of the random selection process.

This took longer than I thought it would.  Bedtime was late. There were many near misses.  Many darts that just grazed the edges of some of your names.  But we were looking for a true piercing of the heart, Cupid style.  Finally, J was successful.



Can you read this?



How about now?



Congratulations, newport2newport!  Please email me your address, and I'll mail out your signed ARC of Keeping Score.  Happy  Valentine's Day, everyone, and thanks for entering!

Edited to add a special LJ "Sharing the Love" note...  newport2newport has requested that her prize be sent along to whiskersink to help her recover from a knee injury (and I know it will help!).  So, whiskersink, please send me your address, and newport2newport....thanks.  Your kindness this morning made me smile a huge smile. I love this community. 

~K

Tomorrow, bearing unforseen catastrophe, the results of the Cybils will be announced! But in the meantime, you can head over to the site to vote for your favoirtes (here). Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree, by Lauren Tarshis, is currently leading the Middle Grade catagory, which pleases me greatly.

The winners of The 2007 Cybils Awards will be announced on Thursday, February 14th.

Who do YOU think is going to win? Cast your vote at The Cybils blog - but please note that these polls are just for fun, to see which titles readers think will be the winners. You are not actually casting votes for the win. These polls will have no influence on the judges' decisions.

Which book do YOU think will win in the Young Adult Fiction category?

Which title do YOU think will win in the Fiction Picture Book category?

More polls to come as the week progresses. Stay tuned!

As an artist, he says that his work in children’s picture books is only a small part of what he does; however, because the books are for children, people may view his work as being of less value. His fine art is powerful and children’s books engaging and, at age 30, a sign of even greater things to come.

On this edition of Just One More Book!!, Mark speaks with author, illustrator and artist, Oliver Jeffers about storytelling through illustration and words, connecting logic and emotion, and inspiring conversation through creative works.

Oliver Jeffers’ book, The Incredible Book Eating Boy is a Finalist in the Fiction Picture Book category of the 2007 Cybils awards.

Books mentioned:

• How to Catch a Star
• Lost and Found
• The Incredible Book Eating Boy (on JOMB)
• The OAR Book Project

Photo: Christopher Heaney (from Contemporary Writers)

Over at the Cybil's site, they are doing polls of the short lists for each book category - just for fun, of course. Today is the poetry poll. I probably don't really have to mention which title I voted for.

Sometimes I try to make soup out of all the leftovers in the refrigerator.  Today's post is blog soup -- all the little notes I've been meaning to mention but haven't had time. 

One of my favorite indies, Flying Pig Books in Shelburne, VT,  was nominated for the Lucille Micheels Pannell Award honoring bookstores that "excel at inspiring the interest of young people in books and reading."  If you've ever been to see Josie & Elizabeth at Flying Pig, you know  their children's section is fabulous, and they have a steady stream of guest authors (I'll be there on April 5th!). The nomination is a well-earned honor!  (Congrats are also in order for winning stores, Books & Books of Coral Gables, FL and Wonderland Books of Rockford, IL. The descriptions of these stores make me want to visit them all.)
      
Laurie Halse Anderson (halseanderson ) and her husband are training tirelessly for the Lake Placid Half Marathon.  They're running with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training to raise money for cancer research.  Even if you only run when being chased, you can click here to contribute to their efforts.

I've been waiting and waiting and waiting...and this Thursday, the Cybils Award Winners will be announced.  I served as a panelist for MG fiction, and I can't wait to see what one of our eight finalists the judges choose.

Kerry Madden (mountainmist) is having a cool school picture contest on her blog, and she's giving away signed copies of Jessie's Mountain.  Here's your opportunity to profit from that 3rd grade school photo where your collar was tucked in and your hair looked like devil horns.

Speaking of contests, don't forget that I'm giving away a signed ARC of Linda Sue Park's Keeping Score.  Check out this post for the details. You have  until 6pm EST on Wednesday to enter.  The winner will be announced on Valentine's Day.

And finally, have you checked out Nonfiction Mondays?  I love the idea of a blogging day devoted to nonfiction.  I missed today's roundup, but I'll be participating next Monday.  I hope you'll stop by to check out my interview with Jim Murphy, award-winning author of fantastic non-fiction titles like The Great Fire, Blizzard,  An American Plague, and most recently, The Real Benedict Arnold.

Less than three days left until the Cybils winners are announced! The winners will be posted on Valentine's Day, February 14: this Thursday! Look for them on the Cybils blog. I'm so excited and I can't wait to see all the winners! What a great Valentine for book lovers.

While we're waiting, here's a few more reviews of Fantasy and Science Fiction nominees by members of the nominating committee:

• a. fortis reviewed What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy by Gregory Maguire
  
• Traci reviewed Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
  
• Sheila reviewed Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George
  
• Sheila reviewed Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey
  
• a. fortis reviewed Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst
  
• a. fortis reviewed Extras by Scott Westerfeld
  
• Sheila reviewed Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

I love the Cybils Fantasy and Science Fiction shortlist. It's a beautiful list of ten amazing books that I think all deserve to be on the list. But, to come up with the list, we all had to make compromises, and each of us on the nominating committee had to sacrifice some of our favorite books. While we're waiting for the announcement of the winners on February 14, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite Fantasy and Science Fiction Cybils nominees that didn't make the shortlist:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
by J. K. Rowling
I know that a lot of people thought that there were problems with this book: too much time in the tent, and the darn epilogue that either was unnecessary or didn't go far enough, depending on your point of view. But, I loved it. It affected me so strongly that I had some kind of post-reading emotional reaction. For days after I finished it, I was moody, irritable, and weepy. Part of that was just because it was the last book in the series, but part of it was a reaction to the powerful themes, events, and character development. Camping notwithstanding, I really thought this was one of the best books of the year.


Alfred Kropp: The Seal of Solomon
by Rick Yancey
This is a fast-paced book with an "everyman" hero and a healthy dose of humor. With fast cars and demons from hell, it's a great book for reluctant readers who love action movies. Read my review of The Seal of Solomon.



Wildwood Dancing
by Juliet Marillier
Based loosely on the fairy tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, this book is no fairy tale: it's a richly textured, fully developed fantasy that draws on Transylvanian folklore. Jena is a strong heroine, fighting to protect her family and all she loves in a world where women are powerless. Read my review of Wildwood Dancing.



Through the Eyes of a Raptor
by Julie Hahnke
When American Kelly MacBride's mother dies, she's sent to live with her grandmother in Scotland. Kelly is a stranger in a strange land, as she learns to adjust to the customs of her new land. But things are stranger than she realizes at first, as Kelly begins to suspect that there are supernatural forces at work.

I'll admit it: this book caught me by surprise. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. I found it a well-written novel which drew me in and held my interest. I engaged with the main character and felt her pain over the loss of her mother. I liked the fact that it kept surprising me, and that good and evil aren't always clear-cut or black and white. I hope to publish a longer review soon.


Dragon Slippers
by Jessica Day George
The best thing about this book is the dragons: each dragon has a distinctive personality, and you can't help but like them. This is a must read for dragon lovers. Read my review of Dragon Slippers.


First Light
by Rebecca Stead
Although superficially similar to City of Ember, First Light is very different in a lot of ways. It's a compelling, character-driven story about two children facing challenges in the context of their environment. Read my review of First Light.


What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy
by Gregory Maguire
This was another book that caught me by surprise. I didn't have any interest in reading a book about a tooth fairy, but once I started, I was totally captivated by the twin stories: one of a family trying to survive a natural disaster, and the other of a lonely skibbereen seeking his place in the world. Read my review of What-the-Dickens.

Only a couple of days to go till the winners are announced - in the meantime, instead of biting your nails, hop over to the Cybils blog and vote in their polls for your favorites in each category…