A picture is indeed worth a thousand words! It’s no wonder that Graphic Novels remain a favorite for young readers year over year. In fact recent data shows 2019 sales just crossed the 1B sales showing a strong 11% increase in sales of Graphic novels year over year. Graphic Novels are not just for reluctant readers. Young readers need a …
2020 Category Description: Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction
It never fails to amaze me how every year brings such a wild and wonderful assortment of middle grade speculative fiction books! Along with spells and space rockets, this is the category for books with talking animals, time-travel, ghosts, and paranormal abilities, and all the other books that might not have obvious magic on every page, and which are set …
2020 Category Description: Middle Grade Fiction
Middle grade fiction is realistic fiction for pre-teen readers ranging in age from 8 to 12 with protagonists who are around the same age as the reader. These characters are beginning to be more aware of the wider world around them, as well as changes in themselves and their friends as they begin to mature. Pre-teen characters are dealing with …
2020 Category Description: Easy Reader/Early Chapter Books
The Easy Reader / Early Chapter Book category of the Cybils covers the whole spectrum of titles for early elementary kids who are learning to read, from the very basic books for emergent readers to longer, illustrated titles for kids who are not quite ready for novels. What we’re looking for in easy reader nominations are leveled readers with controlled …
2020 Category Description: Fiction Picture Books
Colorful. Beautiful. Funny. Poignant. Amazing. Pick your word. These are the stories – with and without words – that can capture our hearts and mind, whether we are two or 92! Fiction Picture Books are a show and tell art form. They introduce young readers to their worlds, present and past; take us on fantastic journeys, real and imagined; offer …
Meet the 2020 Organizers: Terry Doherty, Social Media Guru/Literary Evangelist
In 2001, Terry’s love of children’s literature was reignited because she was reading with her then infant daughter. That love cannot be extinguished. She’ll match any adult book you offer her with an even better one for kids and teens. Being part of the Cybils allows Terry to share her passion for reading and talk books with people who “get” …
Meet the 2020 Organizers: Sheila Ruth, Executive Director, Publisher Liaison and Tech Support
Sheila was appointed to the Maryland House of Delegates in January 2020 to fill a vacancy. This has been an unusual first year as a delegate, to say the least! Sheila is on the Environment & Transportation Committee, where she has the opportunity to work on some of her top issues, including the environment, fair housing, and transit. Most of …
Cybils and COVID-19: Some Changes
We here at the Cybils want to recognize excellence and kid-friendly-ness in as many books as possible. This is why, over the years, our categories have expanded to include a huge variety of ages and genres. We feel it is important to highlight the excellence that is going on in all areas of the publishing industry. That said, 2020 is a …
KidLitCon 2020
Now that we’ve finished the Cybils season, we can turn our attention to the next big thing: KidLitCon 2020! If you haven’t heard, it’s in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this year, and is sponsored by the Ann Arbor Public Library and the Cybils! It’s March 27 and 28 and the registration deadline is in one week: February 24th. Check out the …
The 2019 CYBILS Winners!
We’d first like to thank all our round two judges for their time and deliberation. As always, they did a fantastic job, and we’re so happy with the winners this year. And so, without further ado, here they are! Board Books Jump! (Amazon, IndieBound) by Tatsuhide Matsuoka Gecko Press Nominated by: Terry Doherty Move outdoors or to the gymnasium before sharing this …