Our social media guru, Gina Ruiz, says she's just moved back into her old blog, AmoXcalli, after a year-long absence. Please stop by and admire all the redecorating she's done, and to welcome her back to the Interwebs.
Introducing Pam Coughlan, Fiction Picture Books Category
As the daughter of teachers turned artisans, Pam grew up saturated with the values of education and art. The literature she added herself, surviving long weekends on the craft show circuit with her precious books. Exposed to many styles and forms of art, her own talent tapered off at doodling – and the occasional clay dragon. Many years later, she …
Introducing Kerry Millar, Middle Grade Fiction Category
You know you are a kidlit blogger for life when someone (adult book person) asks you what you read over the summer and you pause… pause… (pause more)… because you are wracking your brain trying to think of the last Important Grown Up Book you read. But it's really hard. So you give up and name the last book your …
Introducing Jone MacCulloch, Non-Fiction Picture Books Category
Jone's love of non-fiction picture books began early in life. She was three years old when she proudly showed her mother's illustrated nurse textbooks to her grandmother to explain where babies really come from. She went on to number her books in her personal library and participated in every summer library program possible, foreshadowing her career as an elementary library …
Introducing Kelly Fineman, Poetry Category
Kelly has always been an avid reader, the kind who generates their own force field that keeps out conversation, explosions and such while engrossed in a book. She can walk while reading, including manoeuvring up and down stairs, but she cannot keep track of time, remember things like meals and bedtimes, or engage in civilized conversation. In fourth grade, Kelly …
Introducing Sheila Ruth, Fantasy and Science Fiction Category
Sheila Ruth learned to read peering at the pages of Analog Science Fact & Fiction and F&SF magazines over her father’s shoulder. By fourth grade she was reading the stories of Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Andre Norton, and Robert Heinlein (except for a few naughty ones her parents wouldn’t let her read). In fifth grade, a teacher put a …
Introducing Gina Ruiz, Social Media Guru
Gina fell in love with books very early on. Once she discovered the local library, it was all over. By the time she'd reached 6th grade the local librarian knew her so well, she'd have a stack almost as tall as the quiet girl that would come in every day and leave almost stumbling over with her pile of books. …
Introducing Liz Jones, Graphic Novels Category
Liz Jones is a fan of visual storytelling who began accumulating picture books for her children at least a decade before they were born. She'd never read a graphic novel before volunteering with the Cybils back in 2007, as graphics are in short supply in her area. She was awestruck at the range and depth of the genre when the …
Thanks, volunteers!
Just a quick word if you've emailed us to judge. We can't respond to all emails individually just yet, but we're grateful for the outpouring so far. We're working behind the scenes to accommodate as many people as possible. If you're just joining us, we're talking about the judges sign-up going on now. Here's more info, and still more info.
Introducing Jen Robinson, Literacy Evangelist
As a child, Jen Robinson pretty much always had a book in her hand. Yes, even when she was swimming out to a raft in the middle of a lake (holding the book up high with one hand). Yes, even when she was climbing trees (with three younger brothers and sisters, she had to take quiet spots where she could …