Cybils Winners 2011

Right! So the Cybils winners have been announced for 2011!
Let's see how things look. I could be a completist, and cover every category, but instead, I'll only mention those of particular interest to me.

Book Apps: The Monster at the End of This Book
Look, I have to admit, I haven't really tried very many book apps - so I didn't have any "favorites" I was rooting for. But I loved this book - I can see it working very well in an interactive context. So, hurrah!

Fiction Picture Books: Me... Jane by Patrick McDonnell
I like this book. I don't have anything against it. But, I have to admit, I didn't expect to see it garner so many awards.

Easy Readers: I Broke My Trunk! by Mo Willems
Elephant and Piggy never fail. A sure bet for a win.

Early Chapter Books: Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke
I am so excited for this! Amazing!!! I nominated this book, and it's so gratifying to see it make it all the way to the top! *swoon* I am on cloud 9 over this one.

Graphic Novels: Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
What a great book. I would have nominated it myself, if it hadn't been nominated already.

Middle Grade Fantasy and Science Fiction: The Chesire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright
What a surprise. I didn't see this one coming, mainly because I hadn't realized that The Chesire Cheese Cat counts as a fantasy book. For me at least, anthropomorphism alone isn't enough to elevate a book to fantasy status. But it's nice to see a local author honored - this is Carmen Agra Deedy's first chapter book and I'm glad she won.

Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction: Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Hurrah! I haven't finished reading this one yet, but what I've read so far is fantastic.

Young Adult Fiction: Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach
I haven't read this one yet, but I've heard great things about it. Now that's it's won a Cybil, I'll be sure to check it out.

Cybils Shortlist Announced

Cybils shortlists have been announced... and I'm very excited to see that one of the books that I nominated has made it to the finalists: Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke, in the easy readers/early chapter books category. Oh, I'm really rooting for it to win. I love that whole series. I do not envy the Cybils Round II judges - there are some very fine books in all the categories. Looking over the lists myself, I find it impossible to come up with any predictions on who the final winners might be, since they all seem so good!

State of the Cybils 2011

Okay! With a few necessary adjustments to the eligibility rules this year, The Cybils Awards ensconces itself even more firmly among the United States. In their own words, "we've gotten so big and la-di-da we can be a bit pickier now." So this year, ONLY books published in the United States or Canada are eligible. Makes sense to me. If British (or Ugandan or Australian, or where-ever-arian) bloggers want an award, they can start their own version of the Cybils, right? As for the home-grown Cybils award, "nuts to books published by them furriners who can't be bothered to furnish a few US or Canadian bookstores with copies." Right?? Right.

Last year, I took a look at where Cybils judges were located (in a general sense, of course... I'm not publishing anyone's street address, or anything, for goodness sakes.)

Last year, I thought I saw a fairly decent spread of representation nationwide. A few foreigners, to be sure (mainly from English-speaking countries) and most U.S. states had a representative, with urban population centers looking decidedly darker on the map. Only four judges from outside the U.S. this year. I predict that number will dwindle in years to come.

This year, what a surprise! I'm glad I repeated this little experiment, if nothing else for showing me how very clearly the Cybils judging panel is made of... former Cybils judges. Not a lot of new blood this year. And yet! There's an interesting shift... California, despite the high cost of living, is far and away, the top state for judges. With an impressive 19 judges total, no other state even comes close. Texas makes a sturdy showing with 9 judges total. As was the case last year, the greater Washington, D.C. area splits it's votes among several states. Huge swath of the Midwest looking decidedly underrepresented, but again, I suppose that's to be expected in "flyover" states that boast a larger population of livestock than people.  Compare last year's judges to this year's to get a sense of how the population has shifted.

Cybils nominations 2011

Nominations are open for Cybils awards. Haven't heard of the Cybils yet? You should definitely check them out. I think of them as the blogging world's answer to the ALA Youth media awards which includes the Caldecott, Newbery, Printz awards, etc.


Here are the titles I put forth.


Teen Fantasy/SF: Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
Middle Grade Fantasy/SF: The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell
Teen Fiction: Pink by Lili Wilkinson
Poetry: Hurricane Dancers by Margarita Engel
Fiction Picture Books: A Zeal of Zebras by Woop Studios
Graphic Novels Teen: The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen and Rebecca Guay
Middle Grade Fiction: Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke


I'm really rooting for all of these. There are a few more categories, especially non-fiction, that I didn't nominate for, because I just didn't feel that I had read enough in that area... and all the titles in middle-grade graphic novels that I liked have already been nominated!


Read something great this year that you think deserves a spot on the list? Hurry over to the Cybils site to make your nominations before October 15.

2010 Cybils winners announced!

The day has arrived! This year's Cybils winners have been announced! Naturally, the first thing I am curious about is if any of my predictions from the shortlists have come true.


Here are the categories, and my thoughts on the winners.

Easy Reader: We Are In a Book - Mo Willems
Oh, I was so hoping that Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa would win! But, I did think that if anything else picked up the award, it would be a Willems book.

Early Chapter Book: Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Takes Off - Jacqueline Jules
Didn't see this one coming at all!

Middle-Grade Fantasy and Science Fiction: 

The Shadows - Jacqueline 

West
Wow, this one was another total surprise, at least for me.

Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction: Rot & Ruin - Jonathan Maberry
Disappointed by this one, because I might be a little zombied out. I think I need a break from horror, at least for a while.

Fiction Picture Book: Interrupting Chicken - David Ezra Stein
I did not predict this one, but I'm not surprised. It's a great book.


Middle-Grade Graphic Novel: Meanwhile Pick Any Path - Jason Shiga
Rats! I was hoping Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess by George O'Connor would win. Still, I know how popular Choose Your Own Adventure novels are... can't keep them on the shelf. Pair that with a graphic novel format, and you just can't lose.

Young Adult Graphic Novel: Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty - G. Neri
Ah, I just finished reading Ghostopolis, and was hoping it would make the cut. Again, another winner here that I'm not familiar with.

Middle-Grade Novel: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda - Tom Angleburger
I just finished reading this, and didn't love it as much as I hoped. Still, I didn't see a lot of strong contenders in this category, so I'm not surprised that this one won.

Middle-Grade and Young Adult Nonfiction: The Secret of the Yellow Death: A True Story of Medical Sleuthing - Suzanne Jurmain
I was rooting for The Hive Detectives, another entry in the Scientists in the Field series. I'm not familiar with the winner, here.

Nonfiction Picture Book: The Extraordinary Life of Mark Twain According to Susy - Barbara Kerley
I was secretly rooting for Bones by Steve Jenkins, but I honestly did think that this one would win out. I was right!

Poetry: Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse - Marilyn Singer
Lots of wonderful contenders in this division, but yes, I did think Mirror, Mirror would win. It's so unique and beautifully done.

Young Adult Novel: Split - Swati Avasthi
I thought this award would go differently, but this sounds like a very interesting read... brothers who are trying to come to terms with the abusive household they grew up in.

Cybils Short Lists announced

The 2010 Cybils short lists have been announced.  I'm rather excited to see several of my favorites listed, including one that I nominated!


Who do I think (or hope) will win?

For Easy Readers, I'm obviously pulling for the book I nominated, Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa: Spring Babies by Erica Silverman.  The only other nominee that I think could give it a serious run for it's money is We Are in a Book by Mo Willems, because the Piggy & Elephant series is so popular.

For Early Chapter books, I see Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000 by Eric Wight as the clear winner. Nothing else on this short list really captivates me as much as Frankie Pickle does.

For Middle-Grade Fantasy and Science Fiction my vote is for Dragonbreath: Attack of the Ninja Frogs by Ursula Vernon.  I'm not sure if the fact that it's a hybrid graphic novel (partly illustrated, mostly chapter book, a lá Diary of a Wimpy Kid) will help it or hurt it, but I hope it does win, because it's such a funny book.

For Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction, I have to say, I'm not too familiar with the books that made the list!  I guess I'll root for Plain Kate by Erin Bow, because it doesn't sound like dystopian fiction, which I am growing a bit weary of, plus it has a talking cat, and you can nearly never go wrong with a talking feline.

For Fiction Picture Books, I just finished reading (more like, poring over with delight) Flora's Very Windy Day by Jeanne Birdsall.  What a gorgeous book. There are a lot of great books in this category though.  I could easily see the prize going to A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Christian Stead, or even (although, it wasn't my favorite) The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson.

For Middle-Grade Graphic Novels, I thought it might be hard to say which book I'm rooting for. But then I saw Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess by George O'Connor had made the short list, and I knew that's the one. Athena has always been my favorite goddess, and I love the art, so I hope this one wins.

The Young Adult Graphic Novels category is a true toss-up for me. I was so excited about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel, which I had nominated, but it did not make it to the short list. I think Ghostopolis by Doug Tennapel will win, I've heard lots of good buzz about it.

For Middle-Grade Novels, I wasn't too excited by anything on the list... until I saw The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. It's at the top of my nightstand and I can't wait to read it.

For Middle-Grade and Young Adult Nonfiction, I'm hoping The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe will win. What an important and worthy topic, and I love the Scientists in the Field series. Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot is another strong contender though.

The Nonfiction Picture Books short list has a couple of books that I have seen appeal to adults, especially The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerley.  I wanted to love Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthy but it just didn't grab me.  Kids love it though. Ultimately, I hope that Bones by Steve Jenkins will win. His cut-paper collage style art is mesmerizing! I don't think I could ever get tired of Steve Jenkins books.

For the Poetry shortlist, I see a number of books that I hadn't heard of, and I must check out! Borrowed Names: Poems About Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madame C.J. Walker, Marie Curie and Their Daughters sounds fascinating.  I think Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer should win for it's sheer inventiveness.  I would say that Joyce Sidman's Ubiquitous would be another possibility, but I wonder if Sidman's other book on the short list, Dark Emperor and Other Poems of Night, will end up drawing attention away from Ubiquitous, allowing Mirror Mirror to coast unimpeded to victory?

And finally, in the Young Adult Novel category, phew! Everything on the short list looks like a gritty, challenging read.  If I had to guess, I might say that Stolen by Lucy Christopher will take the award.

Still time to nominate!

There are still a few hours left to nominate a book for the Cybils awards, if you haven't already. Polls close tonight, at midnight.
I've got my nominations in.  I know a lot of these aren't front-runners.  But, they're books that I think deserve a look, nonetheless.  I thought long and hard about what to put for my middle-grade graphic novel pick... ultimately, I decided there are so many great books nominated already in that category, I couldn't think of any to add.  Clearly, it's an area that requires more reading, on my part!  Here's the complete list of what I put forth.



Early Chapter Books: Mallory Goes Green! by Laurie B. Friedman
Easy Readers: Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa: Spring Babies by Erica Silverman
Fantasy and Science Fiction - middle/elementary: The Magic Thief: Found by Sarah Prineas
Fantasy and Science Fiction - teen: Monster High by Lisi Harrison
Fiction Picture Books: The Trucker by Barbara Samuels
Graphic Novels - teen: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel by Jane Austen
Middle Grade Fiction: Ratfink by Marcia Thornton Jones
Non-Fiction - middle/teen: Denied, Detained, Deported: Stories from the Dark Side of American Immigration by Ann Bausum
Non-fiction/Information Picture Books: Country Road ABC: An Illustrated Journey Through America's Farmland by Arthur Geisert
Poetry: All Around the Seasons by Barney Saltzberg
Young Adult Fiction: Stranded by J. T. Dutton

Looking over my choices, I wish I had 10 more votes for the following picture books! Some are sharp and funny, others very tender and cosy, all of them are great.

Santa Duck - David Milgrim 978-0399255410


Ernest, the Moose Who Doesn't Fit - Catherine Rayner 978-0374322175


Brownie and Pearl See the Sights - Cynthia Rylant 978-1416986379


Dinosaur vs. the Potty - Bob Shea 978-1423133391


Everyone Needs a Friend - Kolanovic 978-0843199185


Welcome Home, Mouse - Elisa Kleven 978-1582462776


Little Wolf's Song - Britta Teckentrup 978-1907152337


Snow Happy! - Patricia Hubbell 978-1582463292


Socksquatch - Frank W. Dormer 978-0805089523


Babyberry Pie - Heather Vogel Frederick 978-0152059279


10 of my favorite KidLit Blogs:
Forever YA
Eve's Book Addiction
Oops, Wrong Cookie
Jacket Whys
Stacked Books
Wands and Worlds
Charlotte's Library
The Book Aunt
Chasing Ray
The Happy Nappy Bookseller

Finally, a shout-out to a few of my favorite independent bookstores, Little Shop of Stories in Decatur has wonderful storytimes, and bright, clean, pretty displays.  When I lived in Austin, TX, I frequently could be found shopping at Book People, a Texas-sized independent with a cool stage/magic passage/storytelling spot in the children's area. No other store could ever take the place in my heart of Children's Bookworld in Los Angeles though, with their fabulous selection, busy line-up of author visits and highly-knowledgable staff.  I was lucky to work there for over 6 happy years!

Cybils: State of the Judges

I thought it might be interesting to take a look at where the Cybils judges are from.  There are 107 judges total (including one set of co-judges), and nine panel organizers (some of whom are serving double-duty as judges as well) for a total of 116 individuals.

After checking out their blogs and twitter accounts, I was able to find out where all but 10 of them are located.  Four of them are outside of the U.S., two of them in Canada.  Out of the 10 judges that didn't reveal their location, three gave vague, broad areas such as "North America" or "New England."  I was a little surprised to see that the competition is so American-centric.  The award is for any book in English  in each category, which falls within the scope of the judging year.  I had anticipated seeing kidlit bloggers from Great Britain, Europe, Australia... all over the globe really; but with only a few exceptions, most of the judges appear to be American.  Maybe that will change in years to come.

As can be expected, we see the most judges in denser urban areas and populous states.  New York and California are at the top of the heap, with 11 and 12 judges respectively.  They are closely followed by seven in Texas.  The Washington, D.C. metro area is also rather healthy in Cybils judges, with 12 total spread out over the surrounding suburbs in neighboring states of Virginia and Maryland.

Next, let's look at states who nabbed 3-5 spots on the Cybils judging panels.  They are: Florida, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Utah and Massachusetts.

Plenty of states had only one or two judges.  The states with two judges a piece are: Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan and Washington state.  The states with only a lone representative on the Cybils award panels are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

What really surprised me the most was to see how many states had no one on the Cybils panels at all.  With over a hundred judges, and with some states grabbing a lot of spots, I knew that not every state would be represented.  Is there just a dearth of bloggers in these areas?  Is it that they're sparsely populated or don't have as much access to technology?  Or were they simply unlucky?  Unless a few of our judges with undisclosed locations are hidden away there, the 18 17 states with no Cybils judges this year are: Hawaii, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, West Virginia, Delaware, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Wherever they're from, I'm sure the Round I stars are busy reading, re-reading, requesting, note-taking and otherwise preparing to whittle down their tremendous lists of nominees.  There are still five more days to nominate one of your favorites!  Polls close on October 15th.  If you can think of a book that hasn't been nominated yet, but you think deserves a look, skedaddle over to the Cybils website and make your suggestions now!

Cybils Nominations Open!

Cybils nominations are now officially open from now until October 15.
Folks are welcome to submit one book in each category.  Each book can only be nominated once.  If someone has already selected the book you were thinking of, you'll need to choose an alternate title.  It can be any book in the appropriate category published between October 16, 2009 and October 15, 2010.


The nominations have been open for less than 24 hours, but there have already been over 300 books nominated across all the categories.  I didn't stay up 'til midnight to get my nominations in early... instead, I'll be biding my time, now that many of the popular and obvious choices have been made, wracking my brain for any obscure, but still completely deserving titles.


Go to the Cybils website and check out their nomination form.  It's easy to do!


Here are the categories:


Early Chapter Books
Easy Readers
Fantasy and Science Fiction - Middle Grade and Elementary
Fantasy and Science Fiction - YA
Fiction Picture Books
Graphic Novels - Middle Grade and Elementary
Graphic Novels - YA
Middle Grade Fiction
Non-Fiction Picture Books
Non-Fiction Middle Grade and Young Adult
Poetry
Young Adult Fiction