The Cybils are Coming! The Cybils are Coming!

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I am taking a new role in the 2011 Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers Literary Awards.  Not only am I moving from Round 1 Panelist to Category Organizer for the Easy Reader and Early Chapter Book Categories, but I’m also on another panel as a judge. I’ve only ever done “EZ / Early,” so this is a chance to stretch my wings!

Being a Category Organizer is super exciting; unbelievably daunting – Anastasia created and nurtured the category for three years;  and humbling. The ladies I have been working with as we gear up for this cycle are just incredible!!

Have you checked out the various panels as they’re being announced? So far we have Poetry, Nonfiction Middle Grade / Young Adult (MG/YA),  Fiction Picture Books, Nonfiction Picture Books, and Book Apps.

Before I introduce our Easy Reader / Early Chapter panels, I’d like to encourage you to go through your Goodread / LibraryThing / Shelfari lists to refresh your memory and find some of your FAVEs of this past year.  When nominations open on October 1, we’ll be looking for

• Books published Between October 16, 2010 and October 15, 2011
• Written in English
• that represent the highest literary merit; AND
• have great kid appeal.

As explained on the Cybils website: “we are looking for books that are yummy and nutritious.” You are welcome to nominate one book in each category … and I’d recommend having two or three, because once a book is nominated, it cannot receive a second “nod.”

Okay! So without further ado, I would like to introduce the 2011 Cybils Panelists and Judges for the Easy Reader / Early Chapter Book Category.

Round 1

Katie Ahearn, a children’s librarian in a “busy urban branch” who blogs at Secrets and Sharing Soda

Sherry Early, an author and homeschooling mom who blogs at Semicolon

Darshana Khiani, a mom and IT professional who shares her love of children’s books at Flowering Minds

Name Catherine Nichols, an author, editor, and NEWLYWED, who shares her journey in children’s literature at The Cath in the Hat

Sheila Richburg, an educator who talks about books, technology, and learning at BooksNhand

Danielle Smith, mom, author, classically trained musician, and movie lover who blogs at There’s a Book

Amanda Struckmeyer, a librarian in Wisconsin who blogs about books and her life’s journeys to share with family and friends. You’ll find her at Team Struckmeyer

Round 2

Ashley Barrineau is “obsessively reading YA as time permits” … except for the next few months! She is, as her blog name suggests, a YA Library in Training.

Katie Davis has “the best job on the planet.” I always thought that was a librarian, but reading Katie’s work has convinced me that being an author / illustrator is pretty cool, too. Check out what Katie’s got to say (hint: she’s not shy!) at  Katie Davis, her self-titled blog.

Amanda Furman just started her eighth year as an elementary ESOL / ELL teacher.  When she’s not working on her masters in Reading Education, she posts reviews of the books she’s read at Maestra Amanda’s Bookshelf.

Stacey Loscalzo returns to the EZ Panel for her second year. She is mom to two young girls (and an even younger puppy), and a literacy specialist. She shares her tips for parents, tips for teachers, book reviews, and reading ideas at her self-titled blog, Stacey Loscalzo.

Zoe Toft is a mum (yes, Mum – she’s in London y’all!) to two little girls who love to read and also “create.” At Playing by the Book, Zoe shares her reading, learning, and crafting adventures.

I hope you’ll take a moment to stop by their blogs and say “hi.”