Young Adult Nonfiction is not known for being the most glamorous category, perhaps others might say that is fiction. The books in this category do take our readers on journeys and with these journeys; we have the added benefit with knowing they are true. We do not have to ask readers to suspend belief because we know that when we …
Young Adult Speculative Fiction – Category Description
Speculative Fiction takes us to realms of the imagination: places and times and realities where the rules of life may be different than our own and where the impossible and improbable become real. But good science fiction and fantasy does more than that: it asks, “What if?” It makes us think. It holds up a mirror to our own society …
Young Adult Fiction – Category Description
The world as it was and is. Not as it could, or would, or should be. Send the dystopias and space operas, the fairies and angels, the blood-suckers, zombies, and alternate realities to Seculative Fiction. In YA Fiction we are looking for realistic fiction, be it contemporary or historical, funny or mysterious, romantic or adventurous. We want the real world …
Poetry – Category Description
Poetry is tiny but mighty in nominations. From words that rhyme, words that flow and shape emotions on all different topics to poetic forms, the Poetry Genre is home to a veritable stew of entries. These books will appeal to the very young, middle grade and/or young adults. What belongs in Poetry? Anthologies and poetry collections written by various authors or a single author …
Book Apps – Category Description
What is a book app? Book apps combine the interactive elements of tablet computers with literature and storytelling. Readers experience the story by interacting with the book. Many book apps provide readers with opportunities to listen to narration and sound effects, read the text on the page, view animation, swipe, tap, record and much more. In the most effective book …
Middle Grade Fiction – Category Description
Middle grade fiction encompasses a wide range of stories that do not have magical elements and are geared toward the 8 to 12 year old age group. These stories could be mysteries, histories, humor, sports, adventure and other tales set in the real world. Middle Grade readers’ tastes and reading abilities can vary widely, and getting them a book that …
Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction – Category Description
Inventive, wild, and wonderful–great speculative fiction for kids just keeps on coming! Along with the obvious wizards and aliens, this category includes books with talking animals, time-travel, ghosts, and paranormal abilities, and all the other books that might not have obvious magic or travel to distant planets, but which push past the boundaries of daily life into the realm of …
Elementary/Middle Grade Non-fiction – Category Description
Nonfiction is the perfect way to introduce elementary and middle grade kids to the amazing world around them from history and biography to art and nature. Science? Math? Animals? Sports? It’s all here and more besides! We’re looking for titles that are suitable for reading aloud or independently, including picture books and early chapters (nonfiction easy readers go to the easy reader category). We …
Fiction Picture Books – Category Description
The category of Fiction Picture Books would appear clearcut: books that are fictional with pictures. Oh, but that simplicity is deceptive. The category contains titles for toddlers and third graders, funny stories and moving tales, history and fantasy, traditions and diversity, elegance and silliness, education and entertainment. An amazing conceptual range for books with typically 32 to 48 pages. All these types of books …
The Cybils Goes to Kidlitcon 2014
Kidlitcon 2014- Blogging Diversity in Young Adult and Children’s Lit: What’s Next? (Oct 10th and 11th, Sacramento, CA) is not only going to be a great conference, it’s also going to be a great place to meet lots of folks involved with the Cybils! For starters, all three of the wonderful co-chairs of Kidlitcon—Sarah Stevenson and Tanita Davis and Jen …