The Cybils Shortlist

A group of dedicated bloggers have been hard at work on The Cybils, a loose acronym for Children's and YA Bloggers' Literary Awards. Since the close of nominations on November 20 they have winnowed down a very large list of books in eight categories to a series of top fives. To learn how the Cybils started, read the press release. Then check out the annotated list of finalists. Here is the list of finalists in each of the eight categories, with the items I have read in bold.

Fantasy and Science Fiction

Ptolemy’s Gate written by Jonathan Stroud
Okay, I LOVE the books in the Bartimaeus triology. This is a terrific end to the series.

Silver City by Cliff McNish

Beka Cooper: Terrier written by Tamora Pierce
Beka Cooper is a terrific heroine.

The Last Dragon written by Silvana de Mari

Pucker written by Melanie Gideon

Graphic Novels
Ages 12 and under

Amelia Rules, vol. 3: Superheroes by Jimmy Gownley

Babymouse: Beach Babe by Jennifer Holm and Matt Holm

The Baby-Sitters Club: Kristy's Great Idea by Ann Martin, Rina Telgemeier

Kat and Mouse by Alex De Campi; pictures by Federica Manfredi

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel by Siena Siegel and Mark Siegl

Ages 13 and up

American Born Chinese by Gene Yang

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley

Dramacon Vol. 2 by Svetlana Chmakova

Flight Vol. 3 by Kazu Kibuishi & others

La Perdida by Jessica Abel

Okay, so even though I talk with my students at length about the benefits of graphic novels as a part of the curriculum, particularly for reluctant readers, these just aren't books I pick up to read. Note to self - investigate graphic novels this year.

Middle Grade Fiction

A Drowned Maiden's Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz

Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Heat by Mike Lupica

Kiki Strike by Kirsten Miller

Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata

Non-fiction (Middle Grade and YA)

Escape! by Sid Fleischman

Freedom Walkers by Russell Freedman
You can hand me a book by Russell Freedman any day!

Immersed in Verse by Alan Wolf

Isaac Newton written by Kathleen Krull; illustrated by Boris Kulikov

Team Moon by Catherine Thimmesh

Young Adult Fiction

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I just finished this and found it hard to put down.

A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life by Dana Reinhardt

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

Fiction Picture Books

Emily’s Balloon - Written and illustrated by Komako Sakai

Learning to Fly - Written and illustrated by Sebastian Meschenmoser

Scaredy Squirrel - Melanie Watt

Waiting for Gregory - Written by Kimberly Willis Holt; illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska

Wolves - Written and illustrated by Emily Gravett

Non-fiction Picture Book

3-D ABC: A Sculptural Alphabet - written and illustrated by Bob Raczka

Aliens Are Coming!: The True Account Of The 1938 War Of The Worlds Radio Broadcast - written and illustrated by Meghan McCarthy
Fabulous illustrations and a great retelling of this event.

An Egg Is Quiet - written by Dianna Aston; illustrated by Sylvia Long

An Island Grows - written by Lola M. Schaefer; illustrated by Cathie Felstead
A terrific book for earth science!

Little Lost Bat - written by Sandra Markle; illustrated by Alan Marks

Poetry

Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow - written by Joyce Sidman; illustrated by Beth Krommes

Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich - written and illustrated by Adam Rex

Handsprings - written and illustrated by Douglas Florian
I haven't read this, but as somone who's read Zoo's Who and Insectlopedia, I'll be sure to check this one out.

Jazz written by Walter Dean Myers; illustrated by Christopher Myers
A wonderful piece by father and son that celebrates this American artform.

Tour America: A Journey Through Poems and Art
written by Diane Siebert; illustrated by Stephen T. Johnson

Overall, 484 books were nominated to produce this list of 45 finalists. I have only begun to skim the surface of this shortlist, so I'd better get cracking. I will be guiding an independent study this semester with a student who wants to become a school librarian. Any guesses as to what she'll be reading?!

Thanks to all the Cybils panelists for this fab selection of books.