Okay, this is completely off-topic for this blog, and my apologies if it strikes anyone as inappropriate. I just wanted to share a weird dream I had last night … In it, I'm in an apartment in DC (I've never lived there, ever) and I'm with Barack Obama. He's wearing only a towel. Those pecs! Wow. I'm, uh, similarly clad. …
REVIEW
Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig
If you haven't yet visited The Reading Tub, where Easy Readers panelist Terry Doherty is a blogger, then you're missing out on a wealth of reviews, interviews, and extensive book lists organized by age, reading level, and topic–including books for fans of Harry Potter. There's something for every young reader, from babies to teens. One of our Cybils finalists in …
A Cybils panelist recaps her experience
I just wanted to give a quick shout-out to Stephanie Ford, who wrapped up her duties as a panelist in fiction picture books recently. She blogged about what went on behind the scenes, which I found fascinating and fun. We're all about transparency here, so thanks, Stephanie, for parting the curtains for us. –Anne Levy, Editor
Blog Award: Premios Dardo
I've never heard of the Premios Dardo award, but Cybils has won one. Many thanks to Pam at MotherReader for this fine honor, which “acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.” We feel very smart now. -Anne Levy, Editor
REVIEW
Chiggers by Hope Larson
You might remember Stacy Dillon from past years on the Cybils, but you also might be familiar with her blog, Welcome to My Tweendom, where she posts about books for kids and young adults, or Booktopia, where she recommends all sorts of books. This year, she's on the judging panel for the Graphic Novels category. One of Stacy's reviews on …
REVIEW
Nic Bishop Frogs
Fiona Bayrock is not only our fabulous category organizer for Non-Fiction Picture Books, she's also a bit of an authority on the subject, being a writer herself of science books for kids and author of the upcoming Bubble Homes and Fish Farts (doesn't the title alone just make you want to rush out and buy it?). She reviews books and …
REVIEW
Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
If you're not familiar with the multitalented whirlwind that is Little Willow, then you're really missing out–she's an actress, singer, dancer, bookseller, web designer, (I know I'm missing a few things here)…and, of course, blogger. She posts in-depth reviews, author interviews, and excellent thematic booklists at her blog, Bildungsroman, and she's also on the judging panel for this year's YA …
REVIEW
Wake by Lisa McMann
Jen Robinson, of Jen Robinson's Book Page, is the fabulous Literacy Evangelist for the Cybils, and she's been working really hard behind the scenes of the whole process to spread the word about the award and the quality books it helps bring to readers. Yesterday she gave props to some of the excellent authors whose books made the shortlists, so …
Author Joy for the Cybils Shortlists
Since we announced the Cybils Finalists last week, we've noticed online responses from several authors, happy to be shortlisted. (Formatting in the quotes below was edited for consistency, with book titles in italics, and author names in bold.) Sara Zarr says: "Sweethearts is a finalist for the 2008 Cybils, which makes me very, very, very, very happy. If you don’t know, the …
REVIEW
A Visitor for Bear
Pam Coughlan is widely known around the kidlitosphere as MotherReader, and is also very widely read–her interests range from grown-up books (which are outside the scope of the Cybils) to a whole array of books for younger readers which she encounters in her work as a children's library assistant. She's also the founder of Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors and keeps …