Now Calling: #CYBILS2024 Early Call for Judges

Welcome to our second annual summer call for judges!

For many of us, summer means reading for fun, because, well, we have more time to read. Experienced Cybilites often use this time to read as many books as they can in the categories they love. The summer reading period is a great way to share what you love with other readers!

The formal nomination process begins in September (yes, September). The summer is an opportunity to read books in their favorite category that sound interesting to them, have buzz, or otherwise seem to have CYBILS-worthy potential. 

You are here because you love books for kids and teens and take every opportunity to connect young readers with great books. You probably even post reviews to share your reaction to what you’ve read. So apply. Today. You’re already putting in the “work.”

APPLICATION DEADLINE JUNE 15, 11:59 PM (ET)

I’m In. Take me to the application.

PARTICIPATION & CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The website gives you everything you need to know about judging expectations and logistics during the regular season. This may help you understand what the Early Call looks like. It is most akin to Round 1 Judging, with these exceptions:

  • Book discovery. Panelists are reading books in their category that will be eligible when the nomination process officially begins September 15.
  • No review copies. Publishers do not send books during the summer reading period. Judges are encouraged to take the opportunity to read ARCs of books eligible but not yet released via e-reader services such as Eidelweiss and NetGalley.
  • No decision-making. Judges are talking about the books they’re reading, but in a more leisurely, book-club-style environment.
  • No record keeping. We aren’t using the database, so there are no profiles or book records to update.
  • Longer reading period. Panels convene in mid-to-late June, adding two months to the reading window.

IMPORTANT: Applying to the Early Call does not obligate you to be in Round 1 in the fall, nor does it require you to continue at all. If you are selected as an Early Call judge and stay in the same category, you will not have to re-apply and you will have an opportunity to decide your level of participation (Round 1 or Round 2) before the August call goes out. If you want to change categories after summer, you will need to reapply. No questions, no judgement.

Anyone in the book creation biz is welcome to apply during this Early Call. You can read more here, but in a nutshell:

  • If you created, published or market an eligible book, you cannot apply to judge in a category where you have an eligible title. Expand your horizons and apply to judge a different category.
  • If you have an indirect relationship with an eligible book (your neighbor illustrated a picture book, publisher intern, etc.), you may apply to judge that category. We do not know what books will be nominated come October. However, please let us know this information UP FRONT. Honesty is always the best policy.

Whatever your relationship to an eligible book, actively promoting it (recruiting blog tour hosts, offering copies to judges, and other similar marketing) is grounds for immediate removal from the panel and may disqualify you from future participation.

THE EARLY CALL APPLICATION

Category Chairs look for judges who read voraciously, share more than a summary in their reviews, and can keep an open mind at times when something in a book may not fit with their experiences or beliefs. Please know that choosing judges isn’t a popularity contest and we will make every effort to fit readers into their preferred categories.

Our hope is that if you apply during the Early Call you will come along for the full ride. To repeat: that isn’t  requirement. When you are ready, you can fill out the application form.

  • Only pick the categories where you are willing to spend a lot of time reading.
  • Be sure to have pre-selected some review links (any source: TikTok, BookTube, Goodreads, Storygraph, traditional blog, Instagram, et al) that go with the categories you want to judge.

We road-tested the Early Call in 2023, and while there were a few bumps, the overall feedback was positive. Judges appreciated the opportunity to meet other readers, discover new-to-them books in their favorite category, and get a jump on the fall reading.

 We know that summer may not work for everyone, and assure you that there will be opportunities on every panel in the August Call.

If you have questions, please contact us at info [at] cybils [dot] com.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE JUNE 15, 11:59 PM (ET)

 

I’m In. Take me to the application.
Welcome to our second annual summer call for judges!

For many of us, summer means reading for fun, because, well, we have more time to read. Experienced Cybilites often use this time to read as many books as they can in the categories they love. The summer reading period is a great way to share what you love with other readers!

The formal nomination process begins in September (yes, September). The summer is an opportunity to read books in their favorite category that sound interesting to them, have buzz, or otherwise seem to have CYBILS-worthy potential. 

You are here because you love books for kids and teens and take every opportunity to connect young readers with great books. You probably even post reviews to share your reaction to what you’ve read. So apply. Today. You’re already putting in the “work.”

APPLICATION DEADLINE JUNE 15, 11:59 PM (ET)

I’m In. Take me to the application.

PARTICIPATION & CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The website gives you everything you need to know about judging expectations and logistics during the regular season. This may help you understand what the Early Call looks like. It is most akin to Round 1 Judging, with these exceptions:

  • Book discovery. Panelists are reading books in their category that will be eligible when the nomination process officially begins September 15.
  • No review copies. Publishers do not send books during the summer reading period. Judges are encouraged to take the opportunity to read ARCs of books eligible but not yet released via e-reader services such as Eidelweiss and NetGalley.
  • No decision-making. Judges are talking about the books they’re reading, but in a more leisurely, book-club-style environment.
  • No record keeping. We aren’t using the database, so there are no profiles or book records to update.
  • Longer reading period. Panels convene in mid-to-late June, adding two months to the reading window.

IMPORTANT: Applying to the Early Call does not obligate you to be in Round 1 in the fall, nor does it require you to continue at all. If you are selected as an Early Call judge and stay in the same category, you will not have to re-apply and you will have an opportunity to decide your level of participation (Round 1 or Round 2) before the August call goes out. If you want to change categories after summer, you will need to reapply. No questions, no judgement.

Anyone in the book creation biz is welcome to apply during this Early Call. You can read more here, but in a nutshell:

  • If you created, published or market an eligible book, you cannot apply to judge in a category where you have an eligible title. Expand your horizons and apply to judge a different category.
  • If you have an indirect relationship with an eligible book (your neighbor illustrated a picture book, publisher intern, etc.), you may apply to judge that category. We do not know what books will be nominated come October. However, please let us know this information UP FRONT. Honesty is always the best policy.

Whatever your relationship to an eligible book, actively promoting it (recruiting blog tour hosts, offering copies to judges, and other similar marketing) is grounds for immediate removal from the panel and may disqualify you from future participation.

THE EARLY CALL APPLICATION

Category Chairs look for judges who read voraciously, share more than a summary in their reviews, and can keep an open mind at times when something in a book may not fit with their experiences or beliefs. Please know that choosing judges isn’t a popularity contest and we will make every effort to fit readers into their preferred categories.

Our hope is that if you apply during the Early Call you will come along for the full ride. To repeat: that isn’t  requirement. When you are ready, you can fill out the application form.

  • Only pick the categories where you are willing to spend a lot of time reading.
  • Be sure to have pre-selected some review links (any source: TikTok, BookTube, Goodreads, Storygraph, traditional blog, Instagram, et al) that go with the categories you want to judge.

We road-tested the Early Call in 2023, and while there were a few bumps, the overall feedback was positive. Judges appreciated the opportunity to meet other readers, discover new-to-them books in their favorite category, and get a jump on the fall reading.

 We know that summer may not work for everyone, and assure you that there will be opportunities on every panel in the August Call.

If you have questions, please contact us at info [at] cybils [dot] com.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE JUNE 15, 11:59 PM (ET)

 

I’m In. Take me to the application.