Happy New Year 2010 and the Cybils Short List!

January 1st brings a fun treat for enthusiasts of children's literature- the CYBILS shortlists! (CYBILS=Children's and Young Adult Blogger Literary Awards). These short lists are assembled by smart conscientious book lovers who read all of the books nominated in their category and come up with a great little lists to take with you to the library or book store.

All genres are covered by the CYBILS, from picture books to young adult novels, fiction and non-fiction, poetry and graphic novels. You can find all the short lists HERE.

I was thrilled to see Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry chosen to be part of the Middle Grade Fiction list- a great quiet novel set in rural Oregon about a boy with deep faith who must help his grandparents care for the family farm when his father is deployed to Iraq.

I also loved seeing TWO Laini Taylor books, Silksinger (Middle Grade Fantasy) and Lips Touch (YA Fantasy). Laini's ability to world-build a completely different reality blows my mind. I don't know how she does it, her books are brilliant. (*two additional interesting Laini Taylor Facts: (1) the amazing illustrations are the work of her very talented husband, Jim DiBartolo and (2) they have a beautiful daughter with my favorite girl name in the universe: Clementine!)

Last but not least, I loved seeing that Claudette Colvin, Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose made the middle grade non-fiction pick. I read this one over Christmas break with my boys and believe it is a book that should live in on a bookshelf in eveyone's home. I will most definitely be reviewing it in a Monday Book Review.

There are so many on these lists I haven't read, 2010 will be a busy year of more great books. The Ultimate Decision from the short lists will be made mid-February, so stay tuned!

Whether you say *Twenty-Ten* or *Two-Thousand and Ten* (we voted over sushi last night 5 to 0 that we are a *Twenty-Ten* household), may countless blessings cover you and yours in the New Year! Hooray!