It has been my joy and honor to take part in CYBILS AWARDS Round One evaluations for many years. This year I worked in a new category (to me) but one that I know and love from my long teaching career. Our team read and considered dozens and dozens of books for the earliest (emerging) readers and for those who have acquired reading but are building independence and endurance for longer text. The following is a direct statement from CYBILS to describe the two book categories I worked with this year.
From CYBILS, found here:
"The Easy Reader / Early Chapter Book category includes the spectrum of titles for early children just learning to read and ranges from very basic books for emergent readers to longer, illustrated titles for kids who are not quite ready for kids who are not quite ready to read middle-grade novels on their own.
For easy reader nominations, we look for leveled readers with controlled vocabularies. These are books designed for kids to build vocabulary (e.g., "sight words") and practice their reading. Often they are parts of series with reading-related titles, such as “Step into Reading” or “I Can Read” and they can usually be identified by their large type, simple sentence structure, and colorful illustrations on every page. Easy readers are typically 32-64 pages in length. Well-known easy readers include series like Bink & Gollie and Elephant & Piggie.
Early chapter books (also called beginning chapter books or short-chapter books) can be a little bit more difficult to identify. Many books have chapters (including a lot of middle-grade novels), but only books designed for developing readers belong in this category. Compared to easy readers, early chapter books are a bit longer (up to 160 pages or so), and they have fewer illustrations. Instead of full-color pictures on every page, they may have just a few black and white line drawings sprinkled throughout the text. What distinguishes them from novels is that beginning chapter books use large print, short chapters, and simple plots, and they rely heavily on dialogue. Popular beginning chapter books include the Princess in Black, Dory Fantasmagory, and Magic Tree House series."
To see ALL the CYBILS categories with clickable links to their descriptions, check HERE.
When I mentioned my role in these categories in early fall (HERE) I promised a post about ways I considered the appeal and merit of these books, with some references to their similarity and differences from picture books.The time has come! Many adults seem to think that picture books are 'easy readers", but that is far from the case. For thoughts and notes about that, and ways that it is my firm belief that quality picture books should be read and enjoyed at ANY age, check the post that launched this blog.
The key difference is that picture books are intended to be read by adults/older readers, and the storylines or concepts are delivered with equal (and necessary) weight through both text and illustrations. Well-loved picture books might be retold or share-read by young ones not yet able to read without support. picture books might also address established readers who can work independently, but the images and text are essential in partnership. Both of the categories above are intended for developing readers whose use of the text will have some picture support (much more at the earliest levels) but the text without an image would still function effectively. Also, some adult interaction and support may be involved, but it is not their intended delivery model. With the early chapter books, illustrations may be very few, and another major difference from picture books is the length of the text and complexity of story line. These are not intended for a single, short reading from beginning to end. They allow readers to sustain story elements over time and chapters, to predict coming events, and to use text context to explore new vocabulary and character depth.
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| SIMON SPOTLIGHT, 2023 |
What a terrific offering this is for earliest readers to launch themselves into a lifetime love of books. The two characters are irresistible, their similarities and differences are openly discussed, and the underlying truth is shared directly- do we really need to be the same to be friends? The structure of the opening prior to the main text allows the twosome to introduce readers to the ways in which understanding graphic/comic/speech bubble text calls on unique skills, not just from picture book or straight text narrative reading. The brief back matter provides age/interest level science related to the story elements and plot development.
The ability of this text and images to elicit emotional concern and connection while providing controlled vocabulary, sentence length, and story elements is as awww-inducing as the storyline and relationships themselves.
This new easy reader (series coming) will be a strong favorite for young readers!
For more information about the other CYBILS finalists in this category (and others), click HERE.
Next up, in just a few days, I'll celebrate the finalist title I wrote about for the other CYBILS category in our group: Beginning Chapter Books.
I had the great pleasure of meeting Kaz Windess at NCTE 2023 a month or so ago. She is as vibrant and tenderhearted and exciting as her books. Check them all out by clicking on her name.
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