Now Updated for 2014: Cybils Bling!

Cybils coffee mug from Cafe Press

We are pleased to report that Cybils bling, updated with our 2014 logo, is now available from the Cybils store at Cafe Press. We have buttons, mousepads, magnets, t-shirts, coffee mugs, and a lovely Cybils tote bag. All proceeds from your purchase of these Cybils-themed items help to fund the purchase of prizes for the Cybils winners. Buying Cybils swag …

Meet Members of the Cybils Team at KidLitCon!

KidLitCon14, October 10-11, 2014, Sacramento, CA

Several members of the Cybils team will be attending this year’s Kidlitosphere Conference. KidLitCon will be held in Sacramento, CA on October 10th and 11th. We hope that you’ll join us! Here’s a brief overview of the conference, from the KidLitCon website: “KidLitCon is a gathering of people who blog about childrenโ€™s and young adult books, including librarians, authors, teachers, …

Cybils Welcomes New Organizers

Photo of Blog Editor Melissa Fox

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to the newest members of theย Cybils Organizing Team: Melissa Fox from Book Nutย | Blog Editor Cathy Potter from The Nonfiction Detectivesย |ย Book Apps Category Chair Katie Fitzgerald from Story Time Secretsย |ย Easy Reader/Early Chapter Books Category Chair Stephanie Charlefour from Love. Life. Readย |ย Young Adult Nonfiction Category Chair Melissa, Cathy, Katie, and Stephanie join returning …

The 2013 Cybils Winners Are Coming…

The winners of the 2013 Cybils Awards will be announced next Friday, on Valentine's Day. Our Round 2 panelists are hard at work. Each panel will select what they believe is the best-written, most kid-friendly title out of the choices on their shortlist. For your reference, here are links to the full shortlists: Elementary & Middle Grade Book Apps Fiction …

More Author/Publisher Reactions from Cybils Finalists

Here are a few more reactions from the authors and publishers who were named 2013 Cybils finalists on January 1st. Extra points to Andrew Karre for using the word "galavanting". See others in this post.  Ursula Vernon, author of Dragonbreath, responded in a blog comment: "Oh, wow! That is so coolโ€“thank you for letting me know!"  Macmillan Kids | @MacKidsBooks: …

Author and Publisher Reactions to Being Cybils Finalists

We're seen a LOT of enthusiasm about the Cybils shortlists on blogs, Twitter, and Facebook over the past couple of days. Thank you so much to everyone who has helped to spread the word about our wonderful finalists. Here, we've selected some author and publisher reactions on Twitter and Facebook: Sarah Beth Durst | @SarahBethDurst: Happy New Year! Awakened to lovely …

The Ones that Got Away: Favorites that Didn’t Make the Shortlists

Our 2013 shortlists are fabulous. But, as is the case every year, some of our Round 1 panelists mourn the ones that got away. These are the titles that they loved, but that for one reason or another didn't make it onto the shortlists. So, if the finalists don't offer a sufficient number of reading suggestions for you, try these …

The Cybils Finalists Are Coming!

Good news! The Cybils shortlists will be announced the day after tomorrow, on New Year's Day! The shortlists are blogger-vetted, kid-friendly, well-written lists of 5 to 7 titles in all 11 categories (some with sub-categories). That means that a whole host of great book and app recommendations will be coming your way to start the new year.  In the meantime, …

Register Now for KIDLITCON!

Here at the Cybils organization, we are big fans of the Kidlitosphere Conference (aka KidLitCon). KidLitCon is an annual conference for children's and young adult book bloggers (though anyone is welcome). KidLitCon is a much smaller conference than, say ALA or BEA. There are usually a few bookish giveaways, and a book exchange, but the focus of KidLitCon is not …

What We Mean When We Say “Young Adult Fiction”

The world as it was and is. Not as it could, or would, or should be. Send the dystopias and space operas, the fairies and angels, the blood-suckers, zombies, and alternate realities to SFF. In YA Fiction we are looking for realistic fiction, be it contemporary or historical, funny or mysterious, romantic or adventurous. We want the real world of …