Sheila got involved in politics in 2016 and has never looked back. She’s now an elected member of the Maryland Democratic Central Committee. A lifetime of reading fantasy prepares one surprisingly well for entering the political arena! Sheila continues her work as an activist fighting for issues such as equity in housing and transportation, a living wage, the clean energy …
Last Chance to Sign Up to Be a Cybils Panelist/Judge!
Today’s the LAST day to apply to join the Cybils team!! You know you don’t want to miss this chance to join in the fun!! Go here for more information. And watch this space next week for the reveal of our panelists and judging teams!
It’s Time: The Cybils Call for Judges!!
As we head into another fall Cybils season, we want to express our gratitude in advance. We know that the blogging landscape has changed over the 13 years we’ve been and we want to say a huge THANK YOU to those who have volunteered to help us with this award. We appreciate your willingness, your time, and your expertise. And …
The 2019 Cybils are COMING
Watch This Space! (Or better yet: follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) Calls for judges are coming SOON and (as always) nominations open on October 1st! And to tide you over while you wait, we have our brand-spanking new 2019 logos! Feel free to nab them and pass them around. It’s just about time!
The Future of Cybils and KidLitCon
The Cybils Board is pleased to announce that the Cybils will be the parent organization for KidlitCon, the conference celebrating children’s literature and blogging. The move makes sense, especially since Cybils has become a 501(c)(3) corporation, and can provide more stability for KidlitCon going forward. There is also overlap between the organizers and participants of both the Cybils and the …
Interview with Senior High Nonfiction Winner John Hendrix
There are so many World War II stories out there. What drew you to Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life, and why did you choose to tell his story? His story has been known to me for a long time. In my early 20’s I had read Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s theology in college, and knew of his journey, so I have always wanted to …
Interview with Board Book Winner Janik Coat
What inspired you to create this series of books for the youngest readers? In 2010, I published in Europe a big book called Mon Hippopotame; Abrams books wanted to publish it in a smaller size and called it Hippoposites…They were so excited that I suggested we meet in Bologna in 2013 to imagine a book I could do exclusively for …
Interview with Elementary Non-Fiction Winners Patricia Valdez and Felicita Sala
You have a PhD in biology, correct? How did you end up writing a children’s picture book biography? PV: My PhD is in Molecular and Cell Biology with a focus on Immunology. My day job is at the National Institutes of Health. When my children were younger I would tell them stories about the tiny armies in their bodies that …
Interview with YA Speculative Fiction Winner Rachel Hartman
What was your inspiration for this book, both Tess in particular and the world her story is set in? My very first inspiration was an article I read lamenting the lack of female road-trip stories. I was feeling burned out after writing Shadow Scale, and a road trip sounded like an easy, merry jaunt. A title came to me, Tess in Boots, which …
Interview with YA Graphic Novel Winner Jarrett Krosoczka
How does your family feel about their portrayal in the book? As I was writing HEY, KIDDO, I had my family read early drafts to ensure that my memories were in line with their understanding of how events unfolded. So, nobody was surprised on publication day. Have you come to understand how your mother ended up an addict? My mother …