Gearing up for the Cybils: Best Children's Books of 2012

October 1, 2012 the nominations open for the Cybils awards: Children's and Young Adult Blogger's Literary Awards. FAQs Anyone can nominate their favorite children's  books released between Oct. 16, 2011 and Oct. 15, 2012. You don't have to be a blogger, author, illustrator, editor, teacher, librarian, big cheese, or anything special. Just know a book you and your children loved! There is only two weeks when you have an opportunity to put in your two cents. What are your favorite children's books this year?

Categories are:

• Book Apps
  
• Easy Readers/Short Chapter Books
  
• Fantasy & Science Fiction
  
• Fiction Picture Books
  
• Graphic Novels
  
• Middle Grade Fiction
  
• Non-Fiction Picture Books
  
• Non-Fiction: Middle Grade & Young Adult
  
• Poetry
  
• Young Adult Fiction

I have the privilege and joy of being a round two judge for Middle Grade Fiction. Round one judges will narrow the long list of nominated titles down to the top five. Then my committee has to chose just one winner. It's a tough job but someone's got to do it!

I am making my own lists of books that I want to read and consider, because I only get one chance to make my own nomination in each category. Here is my GoodReads list of 2012 Middle Grade Fiction. Most of them I haven't read yet. What would you add to this list? Have you read anything you and/or your kids absolutely loved? The thing that is most unique about this award is that it focuses on KID APPEAL. That means we want to highlight the very books that kids themselves love the most. What holds your child's attention and makes them beg for just one more chapter? One more book? Five more minutes before the lights go out? Those are the books we want to celebrate. So get your list together and check it twice!!