The organizer for the Cybils Book App category, Mary Ann Scheuer, just posted a fabulous interview on her blog with William Joyce, author of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. Mary Ann also shares a speech that William Joyce gave about his inspiration for the story, which is currently number one on the New York Times Bestselling Children's Picture Books list. The …
Rest in Peace Margaret Mahy
It's been a sad summer for the children's book community. Scarcely more than a week after the dual losses of Donald J. Sobol and Else Holmelund Minarik, we learned today that Margaret Mahy, author of more than 200 children's books, passed away this weekend at the age of 76. Cybils organizer Gina Ruiz has collected a wide range of tributes to …
Goodbye for now
Anne here, your Cybils Overlord. I'm leaving you for a while. Oh, it's nothing you all did, except make this here literary awards into something really amazing and prestigious and fun. That kept me busy. Too busy, I'm sorry to say. I am changing careers and readying for my new job, which starts next week. Inspired by the teachers, authors, …
Two More Giants Gone
We've lost so many giants of children's literature this year, with Maurice Sendak, Leo Dillon, Ellen Levine, Jean Craighead George, and likely more passing in just these last few months. Recently two more salwarts of young literature joined them. The Little Bear books are the very first books I can remember reading all by myself. There was something cozy and …
Cybils Staff Publishing News!
Our own Gina Ruiz, former Cybils Social Media Guru and MG/YA Nonfiction category organizer, tipped us off to some most excellent news: she has a short story included in the newly-released (for grown-ups) anthology ¡Ban This! The BSP Anthology of Xican@ Literature. Gina says, "I am completely blown away to be in a book with Luis Urrea and Rodolfo Acuna," …
Be Book Smart and Help RIF
Here at the Cybils, we love RIF! They put books into the hands of children who need them, and encourage the spread of literacy and love of reading. In fact, the Cybils and RIF go way back: RIF's CEO Carol Rasco, AKA Rasco from RIF, has been a Cybils judge. Cybils panelists were encouraged this year to donate review copies …
Farewell, Jean Craighead George
Exactly a week after the loss of Maurice Sendak, the children's book world has suffered another loss with the passing of Jean Craighead George. George wrote over 100 books and inspired generations of young adult readers with a love of nature. I still remember reading My Side of the Mountain as a child. I thought it sounded like a grand …
One blogger’s experience
Thanks so much to Miss K at Devour Books for describing her experience as a first-round Cybils judge. I think I'm going to send a link to her post for all judging applicants. It gives a nice overview of the work involved, but also the rewards. Though, on a side note, we can never promise a load of books — …
Awww …
Mo Willems sometimes does a little doodle when he wins a Cybils. Here's his latest. Is this total cuteness or what?
A mountain of fountain pens
This was the scene in my living room the other week as I finally sent out a huge batch of fountain pens for the 2009 Cybils. Yes, you read that right, the 2009 awards just went out. There were various reasons for the delays: I still don't even have all the addresses I need. The 2010 awards are next and …