2010 Cybils Award winners announced

The winners of the 2010 Cybil Awards were announced this morning! Here's the full list of winners.

I admit, this is the first year I paid close attention to the Cybils Awards, and it was for completely selfish reasons- my book, Henry Aaron's Dream was chosen as a finalist in the nonfiction picture books category. My book didn't win (that honor went to Babrara Kerley's and Edwin Fotheringham's completely-deserving The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)), but seriously it was such an honor to be picked as a finalist.

I'm amazed by how much time and energy children's book bloggers put into these awards, and also how much time and energy so many of them put into their blogs. For the most part, these are people who have full-time jobs, and some of these blogs must end up being the equivalent of a second full-time job. And for the most part, they're not getting paid for it, and unlike author blogs (including my own), there is no element of self-promotion involved. They just LOVE books. And to have my book recognized as one of the best of the year by a group so passionate about books is pretty awesome. So thanks bloggers! I'll be looking forward to the 2011 Cybils, even if my book doesn't make it to the finals.

Carol H. Rasco, one of the judges in the non-fiction picture books category, has a nice roundup of the winner and finalists on her blog today.

Henry Aaron's Dream news

Wow! Henry Aaron's Dream has been chosen as a 2010 Cybils Award Finalist! It's one of seven finalists in the nonfiction picture book category, chosen from a  list of 112 nominated books. There were so many great nonfiction picture books in 2010, so I'm incredibly honored to know that a panel of judges would pick my book as one of the best of the year. If any of the Cybils judges happen to be reading this, THANK YOU!

Meanwhile, Henry Aaron's Dream is also a finalist for a Kiddo Award, and is doing really well in the voting so far. If you haven't voted yet, please do! (It's in the Transitional Books category)

 Happy New Year!