The nominations for the Cybils are open (and--when is an animal story fantasy?)

Head over to the Cybils now to nominate your favorite books from the past year!

1. published in the US or Canada only.
   
2. published Oct. 16, 2010 to Oct. 15, 2011;
3. widely available for public sale. Titles available only from book clubs or publisher websites are not eligible, for example, as we cannot obtain copies easily.
4. aimed at the youth market up to age 18. Books marketed to adult readers that may also appeal to teens are not eligible.

Here's a question I have-- when is a book with sentient animals acting as Persons and effecting the course of human events fantasy? The Cheshire Cheese Cat, which I just reviewed, has been nominated in straight middle grade; I think it's fantasy. After all, one of the mice knows how to read. Charlotte's Web--fantasy? (spiders who read) Black Beauty--not fantasy? (none of the horses knows how to read) Thoughts????