Geisel Award

{{Short description|American literary award for beginning readers}}

{{Infobox award

| name = Geisel Award

| image =

| imagesize = 250px

| caption =

| awarded_for = "the most distinguished American book for beginning readers"

| presenter = Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association

| country = United States

| year = 2006

| website = {{URL|1=www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/geisel|2=ALSC award website}}

}}

The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award (commonly abbreviated as the Geisel Award) is a literary award by the American Library Association (ALA) that annually recognizes the "author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year." The winner(s) receive a bronze medal at the ALA Annual Conference, presented by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) division of ALA.

The award is named for Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss, who once said, "Children want the same things we want: to laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained and delighted."{{Cite web |title=Theodor Seuss Geisel Award {{!}} Association for Library Service to Children |url=https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/geisel |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=www.ala.org |language=en}} It was established in 2004 and inaugurated in 2006 for 2005 publications.

A few runners up are termed Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Books; their authors and illustrators receive certificates.

Criteria

The book must encourage and support the beginning reader.
The book must be published in English in the United States during the preceding year.
There are no limitations as to the character of the book considered except that it will be original and function successfully as a book for beginning readers.
The author(s) or illustrator(s) must be citizens or residents of the United States.
The "author(s) and illustrator(s)" may include co-authors and co-illustrators. The author(s) and illustrator(s) may be awarded the medal posthumously.
The text must be directed at readers from pre-K through Grade 2.
The illustrations must function as keys or clues to the text.
Fiction, non-fiction, and poetry are all eligible.
Reprints and compilations are not eligible.
Subject matter must be intriguing enough to motivate the child to read.
The book may or may not include short "chapters."
New words should be added slowly enough to make learning them a positive experience.
Words should be repeated to ensure knowledge retention.
Sentences must be simple and straightforward.
There must be a minimum of 24 pages.
Books may not be longer than 96 pages.
The illustrations must demonstrate the story being told.
The book creates a successful reading experience, from start to finish.
The plot advances from one page to the next and creates a "page-turning" dynamic.

Recipients

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:1.00em; line-height:1.5em;"

|+ Geisel Award Winners and Honors {{cite web |title=(Theodor Seuss) Geisel Award winners and honor books, 2006 - present |url=http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/geiselaward/geiselawardpastwinners |publisher=ALSC |access-date=15 October 2018}}

!width="5%"|Year

!width="20%"|Author

!width="20%"|Illustrator

!width="20%"|Title

!width="10%"|Citation

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="5" scope="row" !|2006

|{{sort| Rylant, Cynthia | Cynthia Rylant}}

|{{sort| Stevenson, Suçie | Suçie Stevenson}}

|Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas

|Winner

|{{sort | Arnold, Tedd | Tedd Arnold}}

|Hi! Fly Guy

|Honor

|{{sort | Bloom, Suzanne | Suzanne Bloom}}

|{{sort | Splendid Friend, Indeed, A | A Splendid Friend, Indeed}}

|Honor

|{{sort | Lewin, Betsy | Betsy Lewin}}

|Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa

|Honor

|{{sort | Schweninger, Ann | Ann Schweninger}}

|Amanda Pig and the Really Hot Day

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="4" scope="row" !|2007

|{{sort|Kvasnosky, Laura McGee | Laura McGee Kvasnosky}}

|Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways

|Winner

|{{sort | Van Dusen, Chris | Chris Van Dusen}}

|Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride

|Honor

|{{sort | Dyer, Jane | Jane Dyer}}

|Move Over, Rover!

|Honor

|{{sort | Portis, Antoinette | Antoinette Portis}}

|Not a Box

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="5" scope="row" !|2008

|{{sort|Willems, Mo|Mo Willems}}

|There is a Bird on Your Head!

|Winner

|{{sort | Seeger, Laura Vaccaro | Laura Vaccaro Seeger}}

|First the Egg

|Honor

|{{sort | Wynne, Patricia J. | Patricia J. Wynne}}

|Hello, Bumblebee Bat

|Honor

|{{sort | Christie, R. Gregory | R. Gregory Christie}}

|Jazz Baby

|Honor

|{{sort | Jenkins, Steve | Steve Jenkins}}

|Vulture View

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="5" scope="row" ! |2009

|{{sort|Willems, Mo|Mo Willems}}

|{{sort| Willems, Mo|Mo Willems}}

|Are You Ready to Play Outside?

|Winner

|{{sort | Truesdell, Sue | Sue Truesdell}}

|Chicken Said, ‘Cluck!'

|Honor

|{{sort | Seeger, Laura Vaccaro | Laura Vaccaro Seeger}}

|One Boy

|Honor

|{{sort | Davis, Eleanor | Eleanor Davis}}

|Stinky

|Honor

|{{sort | Campbell, Sarah C.| Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell}}

|Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="5" scope="row" ! |2010

|{{sort|Hayes, Geoffrey|Geoffrey Hayes}}

|Benny and Penny in the Big No-No!

|Winner

|{{sort | Arnold, Tedd | Tedd Arnold}}

|I Spy Fly Guy!

|Honor

|{{sort | Smith, Jeff | Jeff Smith}}

|Little Mouse Gets Ready

|Honor

|{{sort | Yee, Wong Herbert | Wong Herbert Yee}}

|Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends

|Honor

|{{sort|Alley, R. W. | R. W. Alley}}

|Pearl and Wagner: One Funny Day

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="3" scope="row" ! |2011

|{{sort|DiCamillo, Kate|Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee}}

|{{sort|Fucile, Tony|Tony Fucile}}

|Bink & Gollie

|Winner

|{{sort|Lin, Grace|Grace Lin}}

|Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same!

|Honor

|{{sort|Willems, Mo|Mo Willems}}

|We Are in a Book!

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="4" scope="row" ! |2012

|{{sort|Schneider, Josh|Josh Schneider}}

|Tales for Very Picky Eaters

|Winner

|{{sort|Willems, Mo|Mo Willems}}

|I Broke My Trunk

|Honor

|{{sort|Klassen, Jon|Jon Klassen}}

|I Want My Hat Back

|Honor

|{{sort|Meisel, Paul|Paul Meisel}}

|See Me Run

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="4" |2013

|{{sort|Long, Ethan|Ethan Long}}

|Up, Tall and High!

|Winner

|{{sort|Willems, Mo|Mo Willems}}

|Let's Go for a Drive!

|Honor

|{{sort|Dean, James|James Dean}}

|Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

|Honor

|{{sort|Bell, Cece|Cece Bell}}

|Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="4" |2014

|{{sort|Pizzoli, Greg|Greg Pizzoli}}

|{{sort|Watermelon seed, the|The Watermelon Seed}}

|Winner

|{{sort|Sullivan, Mary|Mary Sullivan}}

|Ball

|Honor

|{{sort|Willems, Mo|Mo Willems}}

|{{sort|big guy took my ball, a|A Big Guy Took My Ball!}}

|Honor

|{{sort|Henkes, Kevin|Kevin Henkes}}

|Penny and Her Marble

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="3" scope="row" ! |2015

|{{sort|Kang, Anna|Anna Kang}}

|{{sort|Weyant, Christopher|Christopher Weyant}}

|You Are (Not) Small

|Winner

|{{sort|Howard, Arthur|Arthur Howard}}

|Mr. Putter & Tabby Turn the Page

|Honor

|{{sort|Willems, Mo|Mo Willems}}

|Waiting Is Not Easy!

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="4" scope="row" ! |2016

|{{sort|Adler, David A.|David A. Adler}}

|{{sort|Ricks, Sam|Sam Ricks}}

|Don’t Throw It to Mo!

|Winner

|{{sort|Fenske, Jonathan|Jonathan Fenske}}

|{{sort|pig, a fox, and a box, a|A Pig, a Fox, and a Box}}

|Honor

|{{sort|Henkes, Kevin|Kevin Henkes}}

|Waiting

|Honor

|{{sort|Savage, Stephen|Stephen Savage}}

|Supertruck

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="5" |2017

|{{sort|Keller, Laurie|Laurie Keller}}

|We Are Growing!

|Winner

|{{sort|Pizzoli, Greg|Greg Pizzoli}}

|Good Night Owl

|Honor

|{{sort|Twohy, Mike|Mike Twohy}}

|Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run! An Alphabet Caper

|Honor

|{{sort|Milgrim, David|David Milgrim}}

|Go Otto Go!

|Honor

|{{sort|Myers, Matt|Matt Myers}}

|{{sort|Infamous ratsos, the|The Infamous Ratsos}}

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="6" |2018

|{{sort|Snyder, Laurel|Laurel Snyder}}

|{{sort|Hughes, Emily|Emily Hughes}}

|Charlie & Mouse

|Winner

|{{sort|Meisel, Paul|Paul Meisel}}

|I See a Cat

|Honor

|{{sort|Meyers, Nancy|Nancy Meyers}}

|King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats

|Honor

|{{sort|Yoon, Salina|Salina Yoon}}

|My Kite Is Stuck! And Other Stories

|Honor

{{sort|Arnold, Tedd|Tedd Arnold}}, Martha Hamilton, and Mitch Weiss

|{{sort|Arnold, Tedd|Tedd Arnold}}

|Noodleheads See the Future

|Honor

|{{sort|Kugler, Tina|Tina Kügler}}

|Snail & Worm Again

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="5" |2019

|{{sort|Tabor, Corey Rl|Corey R. Tabor}}

|{{sort|Tabor, Corey R.|Corey R. Tabor}}

|Fox the Tiger

|Winner

|{{sort|Milgrim, David |David Milgrim}}

|{{sort|adventures of otto: see pip flap|The Adventures of Otto: See Pip Flap}}

|Honor

|{{sort|Meyers, Nancy|Nancy Meyers}}

|King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth

|Honor

|{{sort|Ruzzier Sergio|Sergio Ruzzier}}

|Fox + Chick: The Party and Other Stories

|Honor

|{{sort|Tetri, Emily|Emily Tetri}}

|Tiger vs. Nightmare

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="4" |2020

|{{sortname|James |Yang|James Yang (author)}}

|Stop! Bot!

|Winner

|{{sort|Bell, Cece|Cece Bell}}

|Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot!

|Honor

|{{sort|Morris, J.E.|J.E. Morris}}

|Flubby Is Not a Good Pet!

|Honor

|{{sort|Pizzoli, Greg|Greg Pizzoli}}

| |{{sort|Book Hog|The Book Hog}}

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="5" |2021

|{{sort|LaRochelle, David|David LaRochelle}}

|{{sort|Wohnoutka, Mike|Mike Wohnoutka}}

|See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog

|Winner

|{{sort|Tatsukawa, Maya|Maya Tatsukawa}}

|{{sort|Bear in My Family, The|The Bear in My Family}}

|Honor

|{{sort|Mata, Nina|Nina Mata}}

|Ty's Travels: Zip, Zoom!

|Honor

|{{sort|Higgins, Ryan T.|Ryan T. Higgins}}

|What About Worms!?

|Honor

|{{sort|Hunter, Anne|Anne Hunter}}

|Where's Baby?

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="4" |2022

|{{sort|Tabor, Corey R.|Corey R. Tabor}}

|Fox at Night

|Winner

|{{sort|Fenske, Jonathan|Jonathan Fenske}}

|{{sort|Nothing Fits a Dinosaur}}

|Honor

|{{sort|Cepeda, Joe|Joe Cepeda}}

|I Hop

|Honor

|{{sort|Feuti, Norm|Norm Feuti}}

|Beak & Alley: Unlikely Friends

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="5" |2023

|{{sort|Emberley, Michael|Michael Emberley}}

|I Did It!

|Winner

|{{sort|Ruzzier, Sergio|Sergio Ruzzier}}

|Fish and Wave

|Honor

|{{sort|Iwai, Melissa|Melissa Iwai}}

|Gigi and Ojiji

|Honor

|{{sort|Madan, Vikram|Vikram Madan}}

|Owl and Penguin

|Honor

|{{sort|Portis, Antoinette|Antoinette Portis}}

|{{sort|seed grows|A Seed Grows}}

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="3" |2024

|{{sortname|Corey R. |Tabor}}

|Fox Has a Problem

|Winner

|{{sortname|Mika |Song}}

|Henry, Like Always

|Honor

|{{sortname|Kaz |Windness}}

|Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends

|Honor

style="background:LemonChiffon; color:black"

! rowspan="3" |2025

|{{sortname|Ame |Dyckman}}

|{{sortname|Mark |Teague}}

|Vacation

|Winner

|{{sortname|Corey R. |Tabor}}

|Fox versus Fox

|Honor

|{{sortname|Jashar |Awan}}

|Towed by Toad

|Honor

==Multiple awards==

Tedd Arnold received honors in 2006, 2010, and (with Martha Hamilton, and Mitch Weiss) 2018.
Cece Bell received honors in 2013 and 2020.
Dori Hillestad Butler received honors in 2018 and 2019.
Kate DiCamillo won the 2011 award (with co-author Alison McGhee and illustrator Tony Fucile). She received an honor in 2007.
Jonathan Fenske received honors in 2016 and 2022.
Kevin Henkes received honors in 2014 and 2016.
Paul Meisel received honors in 2012 and 2018.
David Milgrim received honors in 2017 and 2019.
Greg Pizzoli won the 2014 award. He received honors in 2017 and 2020.
Antoinette Portis received honors in 2007 and 2023.
Sergio Ruzzier received honors in 2019 and 2023.
Cynthia Rylant won the award in 2006 and received an honor in 2015.
Laura Vaccaro Seeger received honors in 2008 and 2009.
Corey R. Tabor won the award three times, in 2019, 2022, and 2024, and the honor in 2025.
Mo Willems won the 2008 and 2009 awards. He received honors in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

References

{{reflist|refs=

}}

{{cite web |title= (Theodor Seuss) Geisel Award winners and honor books, 2006–present |publisher= ALSC. ALA |url= http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/geiselaward/geiselawardpastwinners/index.cfm |access-date= 2013-06-24 }}

Category:American children's literary awards

Category:American Library Association awards

Category:Awards established in 2004

Category:Dr. Seuss

Category:English-language literary awards

Geisel Award

Criteria

Recipients

See also

References