You know you are a kidlit blogger for life when someone (adult book person) asks you what you read over the summer and you pause… pause… (pause more)… because you are wracking your brain trying to think of the last Important Grown Up Book you read. But it's really hard. So you give up and name the last book your …
Introducing Jone MacCulloch, Non-Fiction Picture Books Category
Jone's love of non-fiction picture books began early in life. She was three years old when she proudly showed her mother's illustrated nurse textbooks to her grandmother to explain where babies really come from. She went on to number her books in her personal library and participated in every summer library program possible, foreshadowing her career as an elementary library …
Introducing Kelly Fineman, Poetry Category
Kelly has always been an avid reader, the kind who generates their own force field that keeps out conversation, explosions and such while engrossed in a book. She can walk while reading, including manoeuvring up and down stairs, but she cannot keep track of time, remember things like meals and bedtimes, or engage in civilized conversation. In fourth grade, Kelly …
Introducing Sheila Ruth, Fantasy and Science Fiction Category
Sheila Ruth learned to read peering at the pages of Analog Science Fact & Fiction and F&SF magazines over her father’s shoulder. By fourth grade she was reading the stories of Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Andre Norton, and Robert Heinlein (except for a few naughty ones her parents wouldn’t let her read). In fifth grade, a teacher put a …
Introducing Gina Ruiz, Social Media Guru
Gina fell in love with books very early on. Once she discovered the local library, it was all over. By the time she'd reached 6th grade the local librarian knew her so well, she'd have a stack almost as tall as the quiet girl that would come in every day and leave almost stumbling over with her pile of books. …
Introducing Liz Jones, Graphic Novels Category
Liz Jones is a fan of visual storytelling who began accumulating picture books for her children at least a decade before they were born. She'd never read a graphic novel before volunteering with the Cybils back in 2007, as graphics are in short supply in her area. She was awestruck at the range and depth of the genre when the …
Introducing Jen Robinson, Literacy Evangelist
As a child, Jen Robinson pretty much always had a book in her hand. Yes, even when she was swimming out to a raft in the middle of a lake (holding the book up high with one hand). Yes, even when she was climbing trees (with three younger brothers and sisters, she had to take quiet spots where she could …
Introducing Anastasia Suen, Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books Category
Learning how to read was magic for me. It opened up a new world – one where I could go anywhere and do anything. When I grew up, I helped others enter this magic world – I taught Kindergarten ESL and first grade, and helped children learn how to read. Now I recommend great books for this magic stage on …
Miss Rumphius Profile
A nice profile of Cybils judge Patricia Stohr-Hunt from her employer, the University of Richmond. Cybils gets a mention too. I think she’s the first of our bloggers to be banned in China. Go, Patricia!
Introducing Anne Boles Levy, Cybils administrator
Today we meet Anne Boles Levy, co-founder, president-for-life and chief bottle washer at Cybils. Okay, so I don't really have a title that I like, because I don't much like titles. I'm not paying anyone to put up with me, and I have no use for the fooferaw that attends the windier appellations. My job is to think things through …