Our newest category is also one of our most exciting. Judges will be looking at book apps that marry the ages-old art of storytelling with emerging technology. Round 1: Jeff BargerNC Teacher Stuff Sara BryceBryce Don’t Play Nicole KesslerNicole’s Book Nook Carisa KluverDigital Media Diet Tasha SaeckerWaking Brain Cells Melissa TaylorImagination Soup Sylvia VardellPoetryforChildren Round 2: Alyson BeecherKidLitFrenzy Kate HannigandotMomming …
Judges Start Posting Tomorrow
A lot of people are waiting breathlessly for the lists of judges. I just wanted to send a quick update to say we're still waiting for YA and Fantasy/SF. Both drew a record number of applicants and I think everyone should feel comfortable with the idea that the selection process is at least thorough, if not particularly speedy. So we …
Join us October 1st through the 15th!
October is around the corner, and that means one thing. No, not pumpkin carving. Okay, two things. No, not Halloween either. So that's three things. Apple cider and donuts! The smell of raked leaves! Enough candy to rot every tooth in America! No, none of those things. Drat my New England upbringing. October means a lot of stuff, now that …
Building a Better Book Blog
As of this writing, the Cybils judging panels are nearly complete, with just Young Adult Fiction and Science Fiction/Fantasy still up in the air. Many of you have already gotten a "can't wait to work with you email" from an organizer. Many more have or are about to get a "thanks for playing" email instead. Which, by the way, made …
KidLit Con 2011
Yes, that is your Cybils Overlord with superstar author Scott Westerfeld. Note that he is not only totally hot but that he is touching me. I was touched by Scott Westerfeld. Me. I did indeed wash that shoulder, but only because I had visual proof right here that he touched me. Did I mention that Scott Westerfeld actually touched …
Meet Anne Levy, Cybils Overlord
Oh, I give up. I've called myself the Cybils Editor, Cybils Sherpa, Cybils Admin. It doesn't matter. Every year, more than 100 bloggers give up any semblence of free time to become my minion for several months. For the organizers, it's a full six months. So I may as well wear my "overlord" mantel with pride while I perfect my …
Meet Jackie Parker, Young Adult Fiction Organizer
1,091. That’s how many teen-written reviews Jackie read over the summer. Actually it's more, but we won't count the ones that were plagiarized. Of course, this was done in between Harry Potter parties, tie-dying, book bowls, copious amounts of slimy plaster, writing clubs, and making teenagers put petroleum jelly on their noses. Despite former panelist's opinions, she is not the Mistress of the …
Meet Sheila Ruth, Fantasy & Science Fiction Organizer
Sheila is an empty-nester this year and is looking to fill those long, lonely hours with Cybils goodies, er goodness. She has never taught Defense Against the Dark Arts, but she does have a lifelong love of fantasy and science fiction, kindled at a young age by writers such as Heinlein, Asimov, Clarke, Norton and Tolkien, and rekindled by Rowling. …
Meet Jen Robinson, Literacy Evangelist
Jen Robinson divides her time between running around after her daughter, Baby Bookworm, and running her company, FabTime. FabTime is a small software firm that does reporting for companies that make computer chips. Baby Bookworm is a small person who cackles gleefully as she pulls the bookmarks out of books. When her responsibilities to Baby Bookworm and FabTime allow, Jen …
Meet Liz Jones, Graphic Novels Organizer
Liz Jones has participated in the Cybils graphics group since she was knee high to a grasshopper, or at least, since about 2007. In this time, she has enjoyed blogging about the titles she reads at lizjonesbooks.livejournal.com, as well as spreading the word about the diversity and quality of graphics in her largely graphic-free locale by: 1)sharing them with her …