Get ready for the Cybils!

It's that time of year again, time for the CYBILS, Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards 2009!

An impressive crop of kidlit bloggers has come together to make this event happen, including many of the terrific folks we met at last year's kidlit blogger conference (click here for info on this year's conference, November in D.C.) as well as friend, librarian, and rgz postergirl Jackie Parker of Interactive Reader in charge of the YA Fiction category!

Nominations for this year's Cybil awards are open October 1 - 15. Check out the Cybils site for full info on categories, judges, and the 2008 winners. Then on Thursday, go nominate your favorite kidlit books of 2009!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week!

Even as we surf and type, the BBAW folks have been hard at work gathering the best blogs for our voting pleasure - including the kidlitosphere!

Besides the category of Best Kidlit Blog and Best YA Blog, a number of kidlitosphere blogs are up for awards in other categories, including GuysLitWire, Nathan Bransford, our own rgz Author-in-Residence Beth Kephart Books, and more.

Voting closes Saturday September 12 at 11:59 PM EST. See you there!

Online Auction for Bridget Zinn

Several of the divas has been touched by longterm illness, including cancer. Now, Librarian, Young Adult writer, and kidlitosphere friend Bridget Zinn is battling a difficult and expensive form.

Many wonderful people in the kidlit community have come together to create an online auction fundraiser at bridgetzinnauction.wordpress.com.

Looking for an advance, signed copy of Laini Taylor's next novel, Faeries of Dreamdark: Silksinger? Signed copies of Jennifer Holm and Matt Holm's Babymouse: The Musical, Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee, Don't Die Dragonfly by Linda Joy Singleton, or Far From You by Lisa Schroeder? A book launch consultation from Mitali Perkins, or a manuscript critique from Cynthia Lord? A signed first edition of Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse?

The auction goes until May 31st. All proceeds go toward treatment expenses. Read Bridget's blog and leave her a comment of support here.

 

Eric Carle Googles, Too

Google Celebrates 40 Years of A Very Hungry Caterpillar

rgz TV: two new videos!

rgz TV is back with two new productions, both from Kidlit Blogger Con 2008!

The first is an interview with Suzanne Young, author of the forthcoming SMITTEN KITTENS (who just sold two more books! Woot, Suzanne!):


The next is with BABYMOUSE illustrator, Matthew Holm, who shared some secrets about BABYMOUSE #11: Dragonslayer:


Enjoy!

Holly Cupala, rgz diva & author

Write4Kids honors Mitali Perkins!

The good people over at Children's Book Insider have put together a video to highlight some great blogs of the day, including our own, awesome Mitali Perkins! Check it out!



Happy Veteran's Day!

Holly Cupala, author and readergirlz diva

The Kidlitosphere Comment Challenge

The Kidlitosphere Comment Challenge has been organized by MotherReader and Lee Wind for November 6 - 26, 2008. Everyone is invited to participate to help build a strong kidlit community.

The guidelines say to post a minimum of 5 blog comments per day for three weeks. Check in with Lee or Pam on Wednesdays. The final report date is November 26th, and a swag prize is being given to the winner of a drawing from those who dropped 100 comments.

You can read all the details about the challenge here.

So what are my thoughts? Hm. I think I'm going to drop my comments everyday and not really count. I'll try to hit five and then not think beyond that. I mean once I start, I end up bopping around all over. Like right now. I'm supposed to be packing for my trip to MIAMI!

So, I will keep the spirit of the challenge and check in on Wednesdays, and I'll watch the tallies. So that's the plan, Stan. As they say on Sesame Street. Now, I'm off to pack.