Fiction picture books are Deb Nance’s world. She’s had many huge moments in the children’s book world since she started spontaneously reading at age two. She’s been a teacher and a librarian near Houston, Texas since 1977. She’s been blogging at Readerbuzz since 2008. She was chosen as an onsite correspondent for Armchair BookExpo in 2016 and 2017. She was …
Meet the 2017 Organizers: Melissa Fox, Co-Blog Editor
Melissa has gained the reputation at work for her happy dances… which she breaks into whenever 1) a new Middle Grade or YA book she’s particularly excited about comes out, 2) when she gets to do a fun story time, or 3) she gets the opportunity to bring a cool author (favorite so far? Maggie Stiefvater! Mac Barnett! Shannon Hale! …
Meet the 2017 Organizers: Sarah Stevenson, Co-Blog Editor
Sarah Stevenson has been a part of the Cybils since its inaugural year in 2006, and was blog editor for the 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012 Cybils. She’s also helped out behind the scenes with the Cybils logo and flyers, and as a judge in various categories. She is very happy to be back again helping co-Blog Editor Melissa Fox …
Meet the 2017 Organizers: Stephanie Charlfour, Audiobooks Chair
A lifelong reader, some of Stephanie’s most vivid memories from her childhood are centered around books including: volunteering in her middle school library, curling up with a great book on a rainy day, trying not to run into walls while walking with a book in front of her face, and sharing books with her best friends at recess. …
Meet the 2017 Organizers: Jen Robinson, Literacy Evangelist and Social Media Guru
Jen Robinson loves reading, listening to, and recommending books. Although she works in the high tech industry, she feels that she can actually make a difference in the world if she helps parents, teachers, and librarians to connect kids with books. She does this by purchasing books for as many kids in her life as possible, and by reviewing books …
Meet the 2017 Organizing Team: Sheila Ruth, Publisher Liason
It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a …
Meet the 2017 Organizers: Anne Levy, President
While I’m no longer involved in the day-to-day running of the Cybils Awards, it’s still near and dear to my heart. I scribble the URL on little sticky notes for my students and leave piles of old bookmarks in the teachers’ lounge. I name drop a lot, as in “Oh, that won a Cybils a few years back …” These …
2017 Judges Last Call!
The deadline for judge applications is FAST approaching. You have this weekend, basically, to make a decision to join us (and we hope you do!). Check out this post, if you have any questions. And you can find the application form here. What are you waiting for?
The Only Constant is Change…
It’s a new season here at the Cybils, and of course, that means a bit of shifting in the organizers. It’s all volunteers, and so when time becomes short and life gets too busy, we lose some very good people. This year, we’re saying goodbye to Liz Jones, our longtime Graphic Novels chair and Katie Fitzgerald, our Easy Readers/Early Chapter …
The 2017 Cybils Call for Judges: We Need YOU!
And… ready or not… here we go! You know how it goes: this award is only what it is because of YOUR help. And so we are lining up a crew of judges (newbies and returning ones) who will be willing to read, discuss, think about, blog about, narrow down, and select the year’s best (and most kid-friendly) books. Before …