As the deliberations come to a close, I’m left wondering about an important part of the awards process. Since there are plenty of smart people in and about the kidlitosphere, perhaps one to one hundred of you can offer your advice. Here’s the question: How to get the word out? It’s as simple as that. We e-mailed the big bookblogs–the …
Meet Patty Cryan
Patty Cryan has been a bookseller since 1987, specializing in children’s books and graphic novels, as well as fantasy, science fiction, and horror titles for adults. She brings this experience to her position as a judge for the Cybils Fantasy and Science Fiction category. Patty was originally asked to be a judge on the Middle Grade Fiction committee, but graciously …
Meet Pam Coughlan
Today meet Pam Coughlan, a.k.a MotherReader! Pam writes great reviews and essays about kids books, making us laugh along the way. She’s serving as a judge for the Picture Book category, a genre she knows extremely well. Let’s find out more about MotherReader: Q: How long have you been blogging, Pam? A: Since January 23, 2006 Q: Why do you …
Meet Snow Wildsmith
Snow Wildsmith is a Youth Services Librarian and a judge in the Graphic Novel category. These judges are working double duty as they will be awarding two prizes–one for Graphic Novels intended for the 12 and under crowd, and one for Graphic Novels for teens. Snow blogs at Kiddie Lit and says she’s "a geek who likes comic books and …
Who do you think you are?
One question that has popped up here and there in response to the Cybils and the awards process is "who do you think you are? Mr. Bigstuff?" More specifically, people want to know what, exactly, makes kidlit bloggers qualified to judge children’s books. We’re not like those awarding the ALA prizes. Everyone knows who they are–librarians and other members of …
The countdown begins …
After today, only two weeks remain until the Big Day. Yep, we plan to announce winners right here in this very space on February 14. Think of it as a great, big, Valentine’s smooch for the winning authors and illustrators (and their fans). But for every winner, there will be fivefour, ah, runners-up. Honorees? I don’t know what we’ve decided …
Meet Jennifer
Today we meet Jennifer, who writes Snapshot. She’s a Mom to two kids, ages 8 and 2, but somehow still manages to find time to judge in the MG/YA Non-fiction category. She answered our questions for us: Q. When did you start blogging? A. March 2006 Q. Why do you blog? A. I first began my blog as a way …
Meet J.L. Bell
J.L. Bell is a writer and reader of fantasy literature, with a special fondness for L. Frank Baum of Oz fame. He is the editor of Oziana, creative magazine of the International Wizard of Oz Club, and an Assistant Regional Advisor in the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. A judge in the Fantasy and Science Fiction category, he …
Meet Jone Rush McCulloch
Jone Rush McCulloch blogs as MsMac at Check It Out. She’s a teacher librarian in a K-5 school and is serving as a judge for the Poetry category. In order to get better acquainted, we asked her a few questions. Q: How long have you been blogging, Jone? A: Since February 2006 Q: Why do you blog? A: I started …
Meet Kelly Fineman
Kelly Fineman is a judge for the Poetry category. She’s a children’s writer who blogs at Writing and Ruminating. On her blog, Kelly reviews books and talks about writing and life. To get to know her better we sent her a series of questions. Q: How long have you been blogging? A: Since May 11, 2005. Q: Why do you …