The Cybils Awards, or Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards, are a set of annual book awards given by people who blog about children's and young adult books. Co-founded by Kelly Herold and Anne Boles Levy in 2006, the awards were created to address an apparent gap between perceived as too elitist and other awards that did not seem selective enough.
Books are nominated by the public in ten genres of children's and young adult literature: Book Apps, Easy Readers & Short Chapter Books, Fantasy & Science fiction, Fiction Picture books, Graphic novels, Middle Grade Novels, Non-fiction Middle Grade/Young Adult Books, Non-Fiction Picture Books, poetry, and Young Adult Novels. Nominees go through two rounds of panel-based judging before a winner is announced in each category. Finalists and winners are selected on the basis of literary merit and kid appeal.
Panelists are volunteers and must be active bloggers with extensive experience in children's or young adult literature, either as readers and enthusiasts or as authors, librarians, booksellers, teachers, or others with verifiable investment in the world of children's literature.
Criteria Anybody may nominate a children's or young adult book published October 16 of the preceding year – October 15 of the contest year. Books must be written in English or they may be bilingual. Only one book may be nominated per person, per category. Nominations open October 1 and close October 15 of the contest year. Books should exemplify award criteria of literary merit and "kid appeal".
Recipients
Audiobooks (2016) Year Author(s) Narrator(s) Title Result 2016, Mark Bramhall, Jonathan Cowley, Kimberly Farr, Adam Gidwitz, Ann Marie Lee, Bruce Mann, John H. Mayer, and Arthur MoreyWinnerFinalistRaymie NightingaleWhen the Sea Turned to Silver
Board books (2016–) Year Author(s) Title Result 2016, illus. by PeskimoCityblockWinner and Ariana Stein, illus. by Citlali ReyesCuauhtemoc: Shapes/FormasFinalistDinosaur Dance!Follow the Yarn: A Book of ColorsLook, Look Again 2017, illus. by Carles BallesterosChanging Faces: Meet Happy BearWinner, illus. by Barbara BakosBears Are BigFinalist and Mayuko TakeucCircle, Triangle, Elephant: A Book of Shapes and SurprisesHairOne Happy TigerPeek-a-Moo!, illus. by Daniel WisemanWhen Your Lion Needs a Bath 2018LlamaphonesWinnerBlack Bird Yellow SunFinalistBut First, We Nap: A Little Book About Nap TimePeek-a-Who and Tamara ShopsinThese Colors Are BananasWhy the Face?Zoe and Zack: Shapes 2019, trans. by Cathy HiranoJump!WinnerDream BigFinalistGood Night, World, illus. by Mette EngelHuggle Wuggle, Bedtime SnugglePeek-a-BrucePeek-a-Who Too?You Are Light2020No award was presented in 2020 2021Big Bear, Little BearWinnerAnimals Go Vroom!Finalist, illus. by Chi BirminghamCaution! Road Signs AheadCircle Under BerryComparrotives This Is Still Not a BookTurn Seek Find: Habitats 2022Look Twice Winner10 Little Tractors (10 Little Vehicles)FinalistAnimals Move (Big, Little Concepts, 3)Be My Neighbor?The Hair BookHello, World! Garden TimeOdd Birds: Meet Nature's Weirdest Flock2023Whose Prints? Kari Allen, illustrated by Kim SmithWinner, illustrated by Giulia OrecchiaCopy That, Copy Cat!: Inventions Inspired by AnimalsFinalistMister Kitty Is Lost! and Paloma ValdiviaSneak!Some DogsSome of These Are Snails, illustrated by Grace HabibSqueak-a-boo!2024, illustrated by Loris LoraWho Laid These Eggs?Winner, illustrated by Taia MorleyBarn in Spring: Out to Explore on the Farm - A Beautiful Story of Togetherness, Adventure and LoveFinalistEye Guess: A Forest Animal Guessing Game , illustrated by Anna Terreros-MartinGroup Hug!, illustrated by Malgorzata DetnerMy Busy Noisy Day, art by Lisk FengOur Galaxy: A First Adventure in Space, illustrated by Zara González Hoang Teeny Tiendas: The Fruit Shop/La frutería
Book apps (2011–2015) Year App Developer Result 2011Callaway Digital Arts, IncWinnerBe Confident in Who You Are: A Middle School Confidential Graphic Novel by Annie FoxElectric EggplantFinalistBobo Explores LightGameCollageHarold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett JohnsonTrilogy StudiosHildegard Sings by Thomas WhartonPat the Bunny by Dorothy KunhardtMoonbot Studios2012Dragon BrushSmall Planet DigitalWinnerBats! Furry Fliers of the NightBookerellaFinalistRounds: Franklin FrogNosy CrowWhere Do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery by Jamie Lee Curtis, illustrated by Laura Cornell2013Disney AnimatedDisneyWinnerEndless AlphabetOriginator Inc.FinalistMirrorWorld by Cornelia FunkeMiradaTo This Day by Shane KoyczanWee You-ThingsWee Society LLC2014Kalley's Machine Plus CatsRocketWagonWinnerAngus the Irritable BullWatermark LtdFinalistFiona & the FogWilliam PoorHat MonkeyFox and Sheep GmbHHow I Became a PirateMelinda LongIncredible Numbers by Professor Ian StewartTouchpressRules of SummerShaun Tan2015Professor Astro Cat's Solar SystemMinilab LtdWinnerDavid Wiesner's SpotHoughton Mifflin HarcourtFinalistEarth PrimerChaim GingoldHilda BewilderedSlap Happy LarryMetamorphabetVectorpark.comWuwu & Co.Step in Books
Early chapter books (2009–2023) Year Author Illustrator Title Result 2009WinnenerAlice's Shooting StarFinalistHow Oliver Olson Changed the WorldMercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way ComesRoscoe Riley Rules #7: Never Race a Runaway Pumpkin2010Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Takes OffWinnerAtinukeAnna HibiscusFinalistFrankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000Home on the RangePrincess Posey and the First Grade Parade2011AtinukeHave Fun, Anna Hibiscus!WinnerClementine and the Family MeetingFinalistJust Grace and the Double SurpriseLike Pickle Juice on a Cookie2012Sadie and RatzWinnerIvy and Bean Make the RulesFinalistMarty McGuire Digs Worms!Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover, illus. by Violet Mackerel's Brilliant Plot2013, illus. by Home Sweet HorrorWinnerFinalistKelsey Green, Reading QueenLulu and the Dog from the SeaViolet Mackerel's Natural Habitat2014Lulu's Mysterious MissionWinnerFinalistDory FantasmagoryLike Carrot Juice on a CupcakeLulu and the Rabbit Next DoorViolet Mackerel's Possible Friend2015Dory and the Real True FriendWinnerBig Bad Detective AgencyFinalistRescue on the Oregon TrailLulu and the Hamster in the NightMy Pet HumanClover's LuckWest Meadows Detectives: The Case of the Snack Snatcher 2016Mango & Bambang: The Not-a-PigWinnerDory Dory Black SheepFinalistJuana and Lucas and Dean HaleWeekends with Max and His DadWhere Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? 2017Wedgie & GizmoWinnerBarkusFinalistDragons and MarshmallowsMy Fantástica FamilyOverboard!Princess Cora and the Crocodile and Dean Hale 2018Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer GirlWinnerBig Foot and Little FootFinalistCaterflies and IceMegabatOwen and Eleanor Move InPolly Diamond and the Magic Book 2019Frankie Sparks and the Class PetWinnerA Is for ElizabethFinalistMangoes, Mischief, and Tales of Friendship: Stories from IndiaMr. Penguin and the Lost TreasureRabbit & Bear: Rabbit's Bad Habits 2020Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of UsWinnerMindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed BusinessFinalistMonster and BoySofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem 2021Sydney and Taylor Explore the Whole Wide WorldWinner and Elizabeth StickneyFinalistAudrey L and Audrey W: Best Friends-ishAtinukeToo Small TolaYasmin the Scientist 2022Crimson Twill: Witch in the CityWinnerMarco Polo Brave ExplorerFinalistFrank and the Bad Surprise Jo Jo Makoons: Fancy PantsLeave It to Plum!Artemis, the Archer Goddess2023Henry, Like AlwaysWinnerLola's First Day of the Dead (¡Hola, Lola!)FinalistMaddie and Mabel Know They CanSaving Snakes and Dean HaleAtinukeToo Small Tola Gets Tough
Easy readers (2008–2023) Year Author Illustrator Title Result 2008I Love My New ToyWinnerHoundsley and Catina and the Quiet TimeFinalistsI Will Surprise My Friend!Maybelle Goes to TeaMercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig2009Watch Me Throw the Ball!WinnerMax Spaniel: Dinosaur Hunt FinalistsGood Dog, AggieMr. Putter & Tabby Spill the BeansShampoodle 2010We Are in a Book!WinnerCowgirl Kate and Cocoa: Spring BabiesFinalistsFly Guy Meets Fly GirlNational Geographic Readers: AntsCork and Fuzz: The Babysitters2011I Broke My Trunk!WinnerAggie Gets LostFinalistDodsworth in RomeFrog and Friends2012Winner and Alison McGheeBink and Gollie: Two for OneFinalistPenny and Her DollPenny and Her SongPinch and Dash Make Soup2013Urgency Emergency! Big Bad WolfWinnerFinalistJoe and Sparky Go to SchoolLove Is in the AirPenny and Her Marble2014Okay, Andy!WinnerClara and Clem Under the SeaFinalistExtraordinary Warren: A Super ChickenInch and Roly and the Sunny Day ScareMy New Friend Is So Fun!Pigsticks and Harold and the Incredible Journey2015Ling & Ting: Twice as SillyWinnerA Pig, a Fox, and a BoxFinalistDon't Throw It to Mo!In, Over and On the FarmRosa ParksSlither, Snake!Picture Perfect 2016Snail and Worm: Three Stories About Two FriendsWinnerFinalistRabbit and Robot and RibbitWe Are Growing! 2017King & Kayla and the Case of the Secret CodeWinnerCharlie & Mouse & GrumpyFinalistI Like the FarmMy Kite is Stuck! and Other StoriesThere's a Pest in the Garden!Tooth Fairy's NightWe Need More Nuts!What Is Chasing Duck? 2018Fox the TigerWinnerI Want to Be a DoctorFinalistMuch Too Much BirthdayMy Toothbrush Is Missing 2019Yasmin the SuperheroWinnerFox & Chick: The Quiet Boat Ride and Other Stories FinalistFrank and BeanHello, Crabby!: An Acorn Book 2020See the Cat: Three Stories About a DogWinnerCat Has a Plan FinalistKing & Kayla and the Case of the Unhappy NeighborTy's Travels: All Aboard! What About Worms!? Yasmin the Gardener 2021See the Dog: Three Stories About a CatWinnerChicken Little and the Big Bad WolfFinalistFox at Night Geraldine Pu and Her Lunch Box, Too!Kitty and Dragon Yasmin the Librarian 2022Reina Ramos Works It Out WinnerCornbread & Poppy FinalistGigi and Ojiji Tiny Tales: A Feast for FriendsTy's Travels: Lab Magic World of Reading: Mother Bruce Ballet Bruce2023Worm and Caterpillar Are FriendsWinnerJarvisJarvisBear and Bird: The Picnic and Other StoriesFinalistBug CatchersDoggo and Pupper Search for CozyFergus and Zeke for PresidentNat the Cat Takes a NapVivi Loves Science: Wind and Water
Speculative fiction (2006–)
General science fiction and fantasy (2006) Year Author Title 2006Ptolemy's Gate
Elementary and middle grade (2007–) Year Author Title 20072008, illus. by Dave McKean2009Silksinger2010 (Books of Elsewhere, Vol. 1),2011 and Randall Wright, illustrated by Barry Moser2012201320142015 2016Shadow Magic 2017 2018Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow 2019Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky 2020Rival Magic 2021Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls 202220232024, illustrated by Ashley MackenzieImpossible Creatures
Young adult (2007–) Year Author Title 2007Book of a Thousand Days20082009Fire2010Rot & Ruin2011Blood Red Road2012Seraphina201320142015 2016Illuminae 2017Scythe 2018Tess of the Road 2019Fireborne 2020Cemetery Boys 2021Vespertine 2022From Dust, a Flame2023Threads That Bind
Fiction
Picture book (2006–) Year Author(s) Title 2006Scaredy Squirrel2007, illus. by Shelley Jackson2008How to Heal a Broken Wing2009, illus. by Marla FrazeeAll the World2010Interrupting Chicken2011Me ... Jane20122013Mr. Tiger Goes Wild2014Shh! We Have a Plan2015, illus. by Sydney SmithSidewalk Flowers 2016 2017Big Cat, Little Cat 2018We Don't Eat Our Classmates 2019One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller 2020, illus. by Gordon C. JamesI Am Every Good Thing 2021, illus. by Jason ChinWatercress 2022Knight Owl2023Big
Middle grade (2006–) Year Author Title 2006200720082009Chains20102011Nerd Camp2012Wonder2013Ultra2014Nickel Bay Nick2015 2016Ghost 2017Refugee 2018 2019 2020From the Desk of Zoe Washington 2021Linked 2022Freewater2023Simon Sort of Says
Young adult (2006–)