Well it has certainly been an exciting week around here! Highlights included an evening at the Polo Club listening to Dr. Nick Shaw talk about horse worms...



















receiving an M Award nomination (for Favourite Children's Author), learning that Trouble on Tarragon Island has been short-listed for a Willow Award (Saskatchewan Young Readers Choice Awards), and seeing the final layout of Behind the Scenes at the Racetrack (which we will see one, final time at blueline stage).

The Cybils panel has commenced judging the Fiction Picture Book category. Here's the list of finalists selected from the looong list of 111 nominees...


Emily's Balloon
Written and illustrated by Komako Sakai
Chronicle Books
A bittersweet glimpse into the mind of a toddler who has befriended a yellow balloon.


Learning to Fly
Written and illustrated by Sebastian Meschenmoser
Kane/Miller
A simple book with an important message, this is the story of a penguin who wants to fly and his friend who helps him. The humorous illustrations add to this message about dreams and friendship.


Scaredy Squirrel
Melanie Watt
Kids Can Press
An anxious squirrel, who is most comfortable staying in his familiar surroundings and sticking to his rigid daily schedule, is surprised when the unexpected occurs. The illustrations and the text features add to the humor.


Waiting for Gregory
Written by Kimberly Willis Holt; illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
Henry Holt and Co.
A young girl, living in the whimsical, imaginative world that only Gabi Swiatkowska can create, anticipates with great excitement the birth of her cousin, only to grow increasingly confused by her family's peculiar responses to her questions about exactly how and when the baby will arrive.


Wolves
Written and illustrated by Emily Gravett
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
a clever book-within-a-book that uses expressive collage and mixed media to tell the tale of a curious rabbit who finds real-life adventure in addition to the information he expects when he checks out a library book about wolves.

I must say, we are having a good discussion about what makes a great picture book! Selecting a winner from this list is not going to be easy!