Theodore Geisel Book Award

Awarded by:  Theodore Seuss Geisel committee

Silverman, Erica (2005).  Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa.  New York, New York:  Scholastic, Inc.

 (Honor Book)

Genre:  Fiction Picture Book

This engaging book will charm readers of all ages.  It is a beginning chapter book with simple yet humorous text.  Cowgirl Kate must deal with her very dramatic, and always hungry, talking horse named Cocoa.  This horse is full of personality!  The illustrations by award winning Betsy Lewin truly capture Cocoa’s personality quirks and charm.  Readers will certainly want to hear more about these two characters.  It’s a good thing there are five more in the series.  A great read aloud for Rodeo time or any time! 

Willems, Mo (2008).  Are You Ready To Play Outside? New York, New York:  Hyperion Books

            for Children.

Genre:  Fiction Picture Book

This exuberant book follows Elephant and Piggie as they plan their day outside.  Oh what fun they will have!  Then rain comes and their day is ruined until they observe a couple of mice enjoying the rain.  Maybe they should follow their example.  Rain can be fun, until it stops.  Piggie is not happy but Gerald the Elephant saves the day in a clever way.  Young readers will again delight in an Elephant and Piggie story.  The text and illustrations are very simple but Mo Willems puts such expression in their faces.  The talking bubbles give it a comic book feel and add another level of fun to the book.  It is a hilarious read aloud but beginning readers will be sure to want to try it on their own as well. 

Other Awards:

ALA Notable Children’s book 2009

Willems, Mo (2007).  There Is A Bird On Your Head!  New York, New York:  Hyperion Books

            for Children.

Genre:  Fiction Picture Book

Here’s another joyfully, funny adventure with Elephant and Piggie.  Two birds land on Elephant’s head and make a nest.  Gerald the Elephant finds this most disconcerting.  Piggie makes a suggestion to remedy the situation.  It works, or does it?  The simple text format in talking bubbles and very humorous, supportive illustrations will give confidence to beginning readers.  All readers however, will be very amused by these endearing characters’ very human reactions.  Mo Willems does not disappoint as he always gives us a surprise at the end.  Children will enjoy practicing their retelling skills with this story.

Other Awards:

ALA Notable Children’s Book 2008

Litwin, Eric (2012).  Pete the Cat And His Four, Groovy Buttons.  New York, New York:

 HarperCollins Children’s Books.

Genre:  Fiction Picture Book

Pete the Cat is very proud of his yellow shirt with his four groovy buttons.  He loves it so much that he sings a song about those buttons.  Oh no!  One pops off.  Does this stop him from singing? No, he keeps going even when all of them pop off one by one.  At the end, he still finds a reason to sing.   This joyful book will keep young children engaged as they join in with Pete and his song.  They can also count backwards as the buttons pop off one by one.  You can go to the publisher’s website to learn the tune of Pete’s song.  The vivid illustrations by James Dean invite the reader in.  They are very large and bright and directly correspond to the text. There is an important message in this book about perseverance even when things are not going your way.  There is always something good that can come out of it.  “Stuff will come and stuff will go.  But do we cry?  Goodness no!  We keep on singing.”

Smith, Jeff (2009).  Little Mouse Gets Ready.  Somerville, Massachusetts:  Toon Books, an

            imprint of Candlewick Press.

Genre:  Graphic novel for young readers

Little Mouse wants to go with his family to play in the barn but first, he must get ready.  Little Mouse talks himself through the intricacies and sequence of getting dressed.  Finally, when he is ready, he calls his mom.  She takes one look at him and reminds him he is a mouse.  They don’t need clothes!  This book, created by Eisner award winning cartoonist Jeff Smith, will be enticing to young readers because the story is presented in a comic book format with just one or two frames on each page. This format is very helpful for learning that left to right movement across the page and to understand that the story will follow that sequence.  Young children will enjoy sharing this in a one on one situation or the teacher could use a Smartboard to emphasize the left to right movement as she reads it aloud.  Finally, beginning readers will feel successful as they hear the story and then try it on their own.  The sight words and short sentences will build success and confidence.

Other Awards:

Pennsylvania Center for the Book Best Children's Books for Family Literacy 2010

School Library Journal Best Comics for Kids 2009  

A Junior Library Guild Selection