The Cybils are coming! The Cybils are coming!!

That’s right — the 2008 Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards will officially kick off next Wednesday, October 1st. You will have until the 15th to head on over to the Cybils blog to nominate your favorite books in nine categories (new Easy Reader category this year). Anyone 13 or older can participate, with or without a blog. Books published in English between January 1 and October 15, 2008, are eligible.

Why are the Cybils important? When Kelly Herold and Anne Boles Levy founded the Cybils in 2006, they had two main objectives: to recognize books that had literary merit and kid appeal, and to foster a sense of community among bloggers who write about children’s and young adult literature.  All too often, a book that wins a major literary award is not embraced by young readers. And, because so many books are published each year, a noteworthy title may not receive the recognition it deserves.

That’s where you, and the Cybils, come in. Don’t miss your chance to voice an opinion!

Oh, and I’m happy to announce that I’ve been selected to serve as a final round judge in the poetry category! I’m in such awesome company, too. Brilliant poetry goddess Kelly R. Fineman is Panel Organizer, and take a gander at who else will be serving:

Nominating Panel (First Round Judges)

Kelly Fineman Writing and Ruminating
Elaine Magliaro Wild Rose Reader
Bruce Black Wordswimmer
Laura Purdie Salas
Julie Danielson Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

Round II Judges

John Mutford Book Mine Set
Gregory K. Pincus Gottabook
Sylvia Vardell Poetry for Children
Jama Rattigan Alphabet Soup
Liz Garton Scanlon Liz in Ink

WooHoo! Very cool. I look forward to working with my fellow panelists, and learning a lot from them.

Check out the Cybils blog to view all the categories and panelists, learn how the winners will be selected, and review the 2007 winners.

If you get a chance, listen to this Just One More Book podcast featuring Kelly Herold and Anne Boles Levy talking all about why they created the Cybils.