The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year. The winner(s), recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading, receives a bronze medal. Honor Book authors and illustrators receive certificates, which are presented at the ALA Annual Conference. The award was established in 2004 and first presented in 2006. It is named for the world-renowned children’s author, Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss.

2009 Winner

ARE YOU READY TO PLAY OUTSIDE?: An Elephant and Piggie Book
Mo Willems
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423113478
Ages 4-8
64 pages
October 2008

Winning unanimous rave reviews, Mo Willems's Elephant and Piggie series continues to charm readers. Featuring two lovable and funny characters, an optimistic (and sometimes reckless) pig and a cautious, pessimistic elephant, these books make reading irresistible to the beginning readers. Children who sat on their parents' laps to have Pigeon read to them will eagerly take the plunge with these books to start reading on their own.

In ARE YOU READY TO PLAY OUTSIDE?, Piggie can't wait to go play in the sunshine. But will a rainy day ruin all the fun?

2009 Honors

CHICKEN SAID, “CLUCK!”
written by Judyann Ackerman Grant
illustrated by Sue Truesdell
HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN: 9780060287238
Ages 3-5
32 pages
October 2008

Earl and Pearl are planting pumpkins. Chicken wants to help. But it seems like the only thing Chicken is good at is getting in the way. Then grasshoppers invade the pumpkin patch, and Earl and Pearl can do nothing to stop them. Suddenly it's up to Chicken to save the day!

ONE BOY
written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Roaring Brook Press
ISBN: 9781596432741
Ages 2-6
48 pages
September 2008

At the start of ONE BOY, readers see a sad boy surrounded by empty, lonely chairs. At his feet is a bag with paint brushes peeking out. The text reads “ONE boy” which --- with a turn of the page and a look through a cleverly cut hole --- turns into “all alONE.” Page after page, the book becomes populated with seals, apes and monkeys, all examples of words-within-words. Finally, we come back to “ONE boy” who is “all dONE,” and we discover where all the characters came from.

STINKY
written and illustrated by Eleanor Davis
The Little Lit Library/Raw Junior, LLC
ISBN: 9780979923845
Ages 4-8
40 pages
August 2008

Stinky is a monster who loves pickles and possums --- but is terrified of people! When a new kid enters his swamp, this adorable little monster comes up with all sorts of crazy plans to scare him away. But Stinky quickly learns to conquer his fear, as he realizes that bats, rats and toads aren't the only friends you can find in the swamp. This hilarious and heart-warming story by ferociously talented newcomer Eleanor Davis proves that even monsters can make new friends... warts and all!

WOLFSNAIL: A Backyard Predator
written by Sarah C. Campbell
photographs by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell
Boyds Mills Press
ISBN: 9781590785546
Ages 4-9
32 pages
May 2008

This true tale of horror begins in the leaf litter beside a quaint porch in Jackson, Mississippi. The wolfsnail is on the prowl. Big, strong and fast (for a snail), the wolfsnail has a taste for meat. In some areas, it is called the cannibal snail. It has earned the name. Soon, the predator finds the slime trail of a smaller snail and follows the path toward its prey. When the chase ends and the dramatic feast is done, nothing remains of the smaller snail but an empty shell. This photographic story of a day in the life of a wolfsnail offers a unique and dramatic introduction to the food chain. Young readers will be fascinated by this little-known predator and the impact it has had on habitats where it does not belong.