Cybils

Cybils bookmarks

We have gorgeous bookmarks in house.  They list all the 2008 Cybils winners and contact info for Kelly and myself, plus of course our website URL. 

If you'd like me to send you an envelope of 30-40 or so, email me your name and address at anne (at) bookbuds (dot) net.

I'll send more if you want.  I ordered 5,000 this year!  If you're going to a conference, I'd be especially grateful if you took a bunch.  They're also perfect for leaving in cafes and libraries.  Why, there's no end to the possibilities ...

Update: The response has been terrific.  I'm sorry I can't get back to you all individually via email, but you will all get envelopes stuffed with bookmarks. 

Oh, and if you run out at any time of the year, let me know if you want more.  If there really is a run on them, I can always order more.

Major Cybils Media Mention! W00t!

The Cybils is hitting the big time, guys.

Well, really, I suppose it's a Cybils winner who's hitting the big time. Suzanne Collins, author of YA Fantasy & Science Fiction winner The Hunger Games, will be adapting her novel into a screenplay. In the press release announcing the acquisition deal is a synopsis of the novel and the accolades it's received...and guess who's listed first, BEFORE all the other awards?

Yup, little ol' us. Go check it out.

--Sarah Stevenson, deputy editor

RIF strikes again

Carol Rasco at Reading Is Fundamental features the cover of another Cybils winner.  This week it's our Best Poetry book, Naomi Shihab Nye's "Honeybee." 

Not Just Another Blog

If you haven't yet visited Just One More Book, the online home of Non-Fiction Picture Books judging panelist Andrea Ross, then you're missing out on a fabulous resource. On JOMB, Andrea and her co-blogger Mark Blevis post podcasts three times a week, discussing children's books and interviewing authors. I'm not sure there's any other kidlitosphere site quite like it.

In recent months, Andrea and Mark have posted a few podcasts relating to Cybils authors or titles. You might have heard the fantastic interview they snagged with Cybils Sci-Fi/Fantasy winner Neil Gaiman, talking about his Newbery win for The Graveyard Book, blogging and Twittering. If not, go click that link and listen!

Another recent podcast found the JOMB crew discussing Nic Bishop Frogs, the Non-Fiction Picture Books winner for this year. And, just this week, they took a look at NFPB finalist Astronaut Handbook by Meghan McCarthy. For these and a myriad of other excellent podcasts, go visit Just One More Book!

--Sarah Stevenson, Deputy Editor

Kidlitosphere Resources

Ever wished you could find a list of kidlitosphere blogs all in one place, but didn't know where to find such a wondrous item? Well, look no more, because there are no fewer than FOUR (and probably more...) fabulous collections of kidlit links to help take you on a tour of children's and YA literature from the perspective of writers, readers, librarians, parents, editors, and more.

The one that absolutely everyone should check out is the more or less "official" home of the kidlitosphere, Kidlitosphere Central. Find out who the usual suspects are in the kidlit blog world--including most (if not all) of our Cybils panelists, access some excellent lists of blogs, and get your info about upcoming conferences and multi-blog events.

You probably already know about our own Anastasia Suen (Easy Readers Category Organizer) and her gigantor list of blogs, right? If you don't, go check it out--it's organized by category and is nothing short of exhaustive!

There are also blog rings and aggregators for those interested in the latest posts in the kidlitosphere. The best-known blog ring is probably the one at NearCircle.com--it requires signing up, but you'll get code for your own site and you'll be able to see the latest posts from those blogs which take part. Lastly, an impressive number of children's lit blogs--with up to five latest posts--are aggregated at Alltop, which we found thanks to Graphic Novels panelist Gina MarySol Ruiz of AmoXcalli and Cuentecitos.

Here's to finding what you're looking for!

--Sarah Stevenson, Deputy Editor

Cybils love from Carol Rasco

We're so pleased to have a friend in Carol Rasco, CEO of Reading is Fundamental.  I have a lot of childhood memories wrapped up with RIF.  They sent a bookmobile to a small park in my grandparents' Miami Beach neighborhood, where I spent many a happy summer.  I'd come back with a sunburned nose because I couldn't take it out of a book long enough to notice it was frying.  I mean, geez, my mother did insist I go outdoors ... what did she expect? 

Carol is giving us a shout-out at her blog.  She's posting the cover of a Cybils winner this week and next.  First up is our Best Picture Book, Bob Graham's "How to Heal A Broken Wing."

Thanks so much, Carol.

Operation Teen Book Drop 2009

What are you doing on April 16, 2009? Maybe celebrating the fact that tax day has come and gone...but once you're done with that, you might want to take part in Operation TBD 2009, in honor of Support Teen Literature Day.

As part of a group effort by readergirlz, GuysLitWire, YALSA, and publishers, teen patients in pediatric hospitals across the United States will receive 8,000 new books. Teens and YA authors can participate, too, by leaving a book in a public place on April 16th. Participants can download bookplates to insert into the books they'll leave behind--for printable bookplates, flyers, bookmarks, and more info, visit the readergirlz site.

--Sarah Stevenson, Deputy Editor

Update: Here's the trailer.