More on NFPB for the Cybils

Nominations for the Cybils will close in two short days. The winning books will be selected from all the titles nominated by YOU (the general public) and must combine quality and "kid appeal." Here's a discussion of kid-friendly from the Cybils site.

There are many books that still haven't been nominated in the category I am privileged to be judging. I mentioned a few titles in a post last week. Since then, some of the titles have been nominated, while others are still waiting. I've also seen some additional books in the days in between, so here are some other suggestions if you are still waiting to nominate a book.

Okay, let's talk about kid appeal. My son is crazy about books and stories that mention skivvies and other "unmentionables." Yup, he's 7! This book is right up his alley. It's called Underwear: What We Wear Under There, and it's written by Ruth Freeman Swain and illustrated by John O'Brien.

Steve Jenkins and Robin Page never fail to capture the attention and imagination of their readers. They have two books out this year that are both fine suggestions for this category. They are Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World and How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly?

Speaking of kid appeal, how about a book on dirt? That's right, dirt. The Dirt on Dirt, written by Paulette Bourgeois and illustrated by Martha Newbigging, covers the lowdown on dirt while providing lots of great activities. If you want to learn more about this one you can read my review.

In the category of biography there are lots of great titles still available. What kid wouldn't enjoy reading the biography of the man who gave us The Wizard of Oz? The Road to Oz: Twists, Turns, Bumps, and Triumphs in the Life of L. Frank Baum, written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, provides a fine introduction to the author. If you have a kid interested in exploration and extremes, you can't get much more extreme than the North Pole with the biography of Matthew Henson. It is called I, Matthew Henson: Polar Explorer, and it is pure poetry written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Eric Velasquez. You can read my review of this one too! Finally, I've been hearing great things about Manjiro: The Boy Who Risked His Life for Two Countries, written and illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully. It's the story of young Japanese boy who was shipwrecked in 1841 and ultimately rescued by an American whaling ship.

I'm still partial to science, as anyone reading my Nonfiction Monday entries can tell. William and I loved Wild Cats: Past & Present. (This one fits in the middle grades/YA nonfiction category.) The one book we can't wait to see just came out. It is called Our Three Bears and is written by Ron Hirschi with photographs by Thomas Mangelsen. In it readers can learn more about black, grizzly, and polar bears.

Now that you have some ideas, won't you please go and nominate an outstanding title for the Cybils? Most of the books mentioned here fit in the category of nonfiction picture books, though at least one meets the criteria for middle grades/YA nonfiction. There are also 6 other categories for which you can nominate books. They are:

• Easy Readers
• Fantasy and Science Fiction
• Fiction Picture Books
• Graphic Novels
• Poetry
• Young Adult Fiction

So, what are you waiting for? Head on over and nominate a title today! Don't forget, that nominations close on October 15th.