Quick Looks At Some Cybils Nominee Books!

 Nominations are now closed for the annual CYBILS AWARDS for 2024. Finalists will be announced on January 1, 2025, with winners announced on Valentine's Day. The groups I'm judging this fall are nonfiction for two groups: elementary readers and  middle grade readers. Among both sets of nominees (about 150 titles!) there are picture books across the ages. 

You can imagine that I'm pretty preoccupied these days with thoughtful reading of those books in the bags that I haul to and from the library. (Bless those folks!) For the next few weeks here I plan to share some short notes about terrific discoveries along the way. I've also written comprehensive reviews (and even interviews) for many of the nominees in posts during the past year. Sharing my reactions to them in prior or upcoming posts does not constitute indicators of where they stand in the judging process, but so many of the nominees deserve your attention.

For this post, I'm all in on some distinctly fun and interactive titles, ones that work as front-to-back reads but also as resources and reference books.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, 2024

I'm guessing LITTLE KIDS FIRST BIG BOOK OF HOW from National Geographic Kids, written by Jill Esbaum, will become a family favorite.

Combine the vibrant visuals of anything from National Geographic with a flurry of "how...?" questions that seem universal in any kids' world with the superb writing of author Jill Esbaum and you'll realize why this is a winner of a choice for loads of kids. Think holiday gifting or birthday gifting to surprise young readers with the book they never knew they wanted, but will love. Adults in their lives will also love the many simply-stated but perfectly clear explanations for things anyone at any age may have wondered about!
Table of contents, index, sidebar terminology explainers, and more informational features make this a terrific addition to home collections and also as gifts to classroom libraries and teachers as holidays near.
This is the latest in a series of related titles you'll want to check out if you enjoy this HOW topic!

Another book based on "HOW" is HOW DO METEOROLOGISTS PREDICT THE FUTURE: A Science Book About Meteorology, written by Lisa Spencer and illustrated by Srimalie Bassani.

FLOWERPOT BOOKS, 2024

This is an amazingly entertaining picture book for direct instruction. Generally, even with nonfiction books, authors are cautioned not to come off as "teaching" but this fully embraces instruction, from the title onward to the back matter and even endpapers. The cartoon-style illustrations and occasional speech bubbles (always instructive, but with a light touch) lift what could have been overwhelming expository text into digestible segments that actually build understanding and engagement. Sidebars and labeled science diagrams lend to that understanding. 

Kids are seriously curious about weather and can devour this on their own, but the subject matter is often a part of classroom study, too. This is a resource that should not be missed (I would have loved to have it on my shelves while still in the classroom!).

It's one of the many nonfiction books for kids that adults will welcome as a source to answer a lifetime of their own questions about weather and forecasting.

Flowerpot Press, 2024

Finally, a quick note about a genuinely unique book, THE OBSERVOLOGIST: A Handbook for Mounting Very Small Scientific Expeditions, written and illustrated by Giselle Clarkson.

What an ideal and delightful book for anyone who watches and wonders about the world around us - the very small world around us. By framing the reader as a "giant" in such a perspective, readers realize quickly that this book invites/challenges them to take the time to observe AND to learn about the living things that so often go unnoticed.

Those 'Small Scientific Expeditions" can be as simple as turning over a rock or standing quietly near a puddle. The universal appeal of this book is that we;'ve all done these things, but not likely with the intention and planning and and safety notes and scientific guidelines;ines provided. All of these seemingly "spoil the excitement" elements are actually elevating the activities to a level of power and purpose and intention. Then author/illustrator provides images that are scientifically accurate and stunning while having a nearly comic appeal. You'll have to see it for yourself in order to recognize what I'm attempting to say. The images throughout are so very kid-friendly and yet the scholarly qualities expected of such a science topic are all there. If you've got a kid in your life who is buggy about bugs, this is the book for them!

Back soon with some other short notes about impressive titles from our nonfiction nominees!