Beth Mitcham was a special case. Her junior high librarians ruled that for weeding purposes, she did not count towards a book’s check-out statistics, because she had read all the books. This love of reading continued through her college career, where she continued to search out public libraries because those college institutions just weren’t enough. She never stopped reading children’s …
NEW Graphic Novels Chair: Kristen Harvey
Kristen Harvey is an elementary school Library Media Specialist in the suburbs of Chicago and has worked with diverse populations for over 10 years. From a young age, she dreamed of becoming a librarian and while training to become a teacher in college she spent her time working in a variety of public and college libraries. For several years she …
Introducing Our New Chairs
That makes it sound like we actually got some furniture in this place, doesn’t it? Actually, we have three new category organizers, and I think it would be good to introduce them to y’all. Their individual posts will run shortly. If you haven’t gone to check out our entire organizing team (there has been a bit of shuffling around this …
In Memorium: Teri Lessene
We here at Cybils are saddened to learn of the death of Teri Lesesne, @librarynana. As well as being a professional colleague and personal friend to many of us, Teri brought her enthusiasm and knowledge of children’s books to the Cybils Awards, serving as a panelist for many years. Her family has asked that donations be made in honor of …
Now Read This! #Cybils2021 Needs You
As we mentioned in our last post, what powers the CYBILS Awards is a passion to engage kids and teens with amazing books that have just the right balance of literary merit and kid appeal. By extension, that means igniting the spark that creates a love of reading. Easy Readers and Early Chapter books are the stories that bring the …
It’s a Fact: #Cybils2021 Needs You
The heart of the Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards (aka CYBILS Awards) is a passion for engaging kids and teens with amazing books, and, by extension, igniting or rekindling the spark that is a love of reading. We know it isn’t just our passion, it’s yours, too. It’s why you work to … fill your library with books …
2021 Cybils are Here: A Call for Judges
We’re limping towards normal around here, slowly but surely. Publishing seems to be back on track, and there have been a good number of excellent children’s and young adult books out this year. So, what better way to get past division and stress and anxiety about the state of the world than to volunteer for the Cybils? (I can’t think …
#CybilsAwards Backlist Book List Summer: It’s a Wrap
Last week we posted our last Backlist Book List for 2021. We hope you have had as much fun exploring the curated lists as we had in creating them! Nine lists: 6 read-alike lists, 3 themed lists. Ten years of nominations, finalists, and winners. 154 recommended books for readers toddler to teen. What made them particularly fun was discovering books …
Hey, Reader!
After 15 years of binge-reading, re-reading, fan-fictioning, nominating, voting for, and celebrating our favorite books, we at the CYBILS Awards have the privilege to once again invite you to be a part of the process of recognizing the stories which combine both “literary merit and popular appeal.” The CYBILS Awards are passionate about the stories we love equitably reflecting the …
#CybilsAwards Backlist Book List: So You Want To Learn Magic
Charlotte Taylor, Chair for our Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction category, has conjured this week’s Backlist Book List. And dare we say it? It’s magical. There. We said it. If you know a young reader who dreams of spells and wishes for magic skills, this is the book list for you. Meet Eva Evergreen! We’ll let Kristin Harvey, who blogs at …