The Cybils are Here!

How do you feel about awards and famous talk show host book picks?

I know that some of you live by them and others avoid them like the plague. But let me introduce a little book award that I’ve been so thrilled to follow in the three years that it’s been going on: The Cybils.

What makes The Cybils different? Well, they seek to recognize children’s literature in a wide variety of categories (nine to be exact), which I think makes it a perfect way to find books in your child’s favorite genres, or some sure-fire success picks from other genres.

In their own words —

Our purpose is two-fold:

• Reward the children’s and young adult authors (and illustrators – let’s not forget them) whose books combine the highest literary merit and “kid appeal.” What’s that mean? If some la-di-dah awards can be compared to brussel sprouts, and other, more populist ones to gummy bears, we’re thinking more like organic chicken nuggets. We’re yummy and nutritious.
• Foster a sense of community among bloggers who write about children’s and YA literature, highlight our best reviewers (and shamelessly promote their blogs) and provide a forum for the similarly obsessed.

Sound like your kind of thing? Subscribe to their feed or follow them on twitter @cybils. Most importantly, nominate your favorite book in one of the nine categories. The nomination period is open from October 1 – 15. Each person can nominate one book in each category, and each book only needs one nomination (no multiple nominations). Any book published in English between last year’s Cybils (roughly October 2008) and now is eligible.

Speaking of last year’s Cybils, check out the finalists and winners from the last few years on their sidebar.

Oh yeah–and Dawn is a judge for the Picture Book category, and I am a judge for the Middle Grade/Young Adult Non-fiction category, so expect to see some great reviews here come January.

Jennifer Donovan loves the book blogging community. Check out her own little community at her personal blog Snapshot.