Illustration by Mark Tuchman

For some, March Madness means watching college teams fighting to the finish in a yearly basketball tournament. But for kid lit fans, it hearkens the return of School Library Journal’s fifth annual Battle of the Kids’ Books (BOB). The online elimination contest that pits 16 of 2012’s best children’s and teens’ books kicked off today, March 12, with celebrated YA author Kenneth Oppel’s verdict: R. J. Palacio’s middle grade novel Wonder (Random) versus Steve Sheinkin’s distinguished Bomb (Roaring Brook/Flashpoint).

Oppel and many of the most popular authors writing for kids, comprise a panel of judges that will decide the contenders’ fates in a winner-take-all competition. The authors will read two books, and after close analysis will determine which title advances to the next round. This stellar group includes James Patterson, Franny Billingsley, Marie Lu, and Thanhha Lai. The judges have no easy task before them. They must decide between nonfiction and fiction, children’s and teen, historical fiction and contemporary works.

Fans can follow and comment on the action on the Battle of the Kid’s Books blog. There, readers can keep track of which favorite meets its doom or rises to the top by downloading the illustrated bracket. Readers also had the opportunity to save their darlings in the Undead Poll, which closed on Sunday, March 10. If a book meets its end early in the competition, it might have the chance to rise from the ashes in the last round, which will be judged by last year’s winner (and Big Kahuna) Frank Cottrell Boyce. He will choose among the Undead Poll winner and the last two books left standing. The grand prize winner will be announced on April 1.

Included among the winners are several previously recognized titles, such as R.J. Palacio’s much-talked about bestseller Wonder, an SLJ Best Book; Steve Sheinkin’s Bomb, which was named for a Sibert Award, a Newbery  Honor, and the YALSA nonfiction award; and Rachel Hartman’s Seraphina, which won the William Morris Award this year.

Here is the complete list of Cybil winners.

ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE GRADE
Book Apps
Dragon Brush. Small Planet Digital.
This retelling of an ancient Chinese folktale involves a young rabbit discovering the power of artwork, a magic paintbrush, and an evil, jealous lord attempting to destroy his talent. In addition to a masterful story, this app also incorporates an interactive element that lets readers make use of different colors and textures to create their own paintings.
Nominated by: Aurora Celeste

Fiction Picture Books
A Home for Bird. Philip C. Stead. Roaring Brook.
In this touching tale of friendship, Vernon, a toad, presents Bird with a multitude of options as he attempts to find his shy friend find a place where he belongs.
Nominated by: Amy @ Hope Is the Word

Nonfiction Picture Books
Mrs. Harkness and the Panda. Alicia Potter. Illus. by Melissa Sweet. Knopf.
This rich and vibrantly illustrated story sheds light on how the first panda was brought to the United States from China in 1934.
Nominated by: Cathy Potter

Easy Readers
A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse. Frank Viva. Toon Books.
This strikingly illustrated graphic novel style picture book relies upon comic strip panels, speech bubbles, and the language of sequential art to tell the tale of an ocean journey to Antarctica.
Nominated by: Lizjonesbooks

Early Chapter Books
Sadie and Ratz. Sonya Hartnett. Illus. by Ann James. Candlewick.
Illustrated in charcoal, this edgy, subversive chapter book tells the story of a young girl coping with the supremely difficult task of controlling herself in the face of her four-year-old brother’s annoying antics.
Nominated by: Katherine Sokolowski

Poetry
BookSpeak!: Poems About Books. Laura Purdie Salas. Illus. by Josee Bisaillon. Clarion.
This beautifully designed book of poetry tackles a familiar subject in an innovative and original way.
Nominated by: Katie Fitzgerald

Graphic Novels
Giants Beware! Jorge Aguirre and Rafael Rosado. First Second.
This fun, fresh novel melds the medieval and modern world to recount a girl’s quest to vanquish a giant threatening her town.
Nominated by: Charlotte

Fantasy and Science Fiction
The False Prince: Book 1 of the Ascendance Trilogy. Jennifer A. Nielsen. Scholastic
This intricate, engaging tale centers around an orphan given the daunting task of saving his entire kingdom from war—or else.
Nominated by: Natalie Aguirre

Middle Grade Fiction
Wonder. R. J. Palacio. Knopf.
Told from multiple perspectives, this poignant, honest realistic read, a boy with physical disfigurements learns to navigate his way among his peers for the first time.
Nominated by: Flowering Minds

Graphic Novels
Friends with Boys. Faith Erin Hicks. First Second.
Nominated by: Adam Shaffer (@MrShafferTMCE)

YOUNG ADULT
Nonfiction
Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon. Steve Sheinkin. Roaring Brook/Flash Point.
Steve Sheinkin adds yet another award to his ever-growing list of accolades for Bomb, a thrilling and fast-paced but informative book that details the origins of the atomic bomb.
Nominated by: Monica Edinger

Fantasy & Science Fiction
Seraphina. Rachel Hartman. Random.
Set in a world in which dragons and humans uneasily attempt to co-exist, this tightly plotted fantasy involves a murder mystery and protagonist hiding a deadly secret.
Nominated by: Ana @ things mean a lot

Fiction
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Jesse Andrews. Abrams/Amulet.
In this raw, achingly honest title, a boy struggles with the experience of watching his ex-girlfriend succumb to terminal illness.
Nominated by: Leila Roy

Nominations for the CYBILS are open to the general public, and judges from the book blogging community determine the winners.