Geisel Award facts for kids

The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is a special literary award given out every year by the American Library Association (ALA). It celebrates the best book for kids who are just starting to read, published in English in the United States. The award is given to both the author(s) and the illustrator(s) of the winning book.

The winners get a cool bronze medal at the ALA Annual Conference. This award is presented by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), which is a part of the ALA.

This award is named after Theodor Geisel, who you might know better as Dr. Seuss. He once said, "Children want the same things we want: to laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained and delighted." The award was created in 2004 and first given out in 2006 for books published in 2005.

Some books that are almost winners are called Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Books. Their authors and illustrators receive special certificates.

What Makes a Book a Geisel Award Winner?

To win the Geisel Award, a book needs to meet certain rules. These rules help make sure the book is perfect for new readers.

Book Basics

• The book must help and encourage kids who are just learning to read.
• It must be published in English in the United States during the year before the award.
• The book needs to be original and work well for beginning readers.
• The author(s) or illustrator(s) must be citizens or living in the United States.
• Sometimes, more than one author or illustrator can win together. They can even win if they are no longer alive.
• The book should be for kids from pre-kindergarten up to second grade.
• The pictures in the book must help explain the story or text.
• Books can be fiction (made-up stories), non-fiction (true stories), or poetry.
• Books that are just new versions of old books or collections of stories cannot win.

Reading Experience

• The story should be interesting enough to make a child want to keep reading.
• The book might have short "chapters" or sections.
• New words should be added slowly so learning them is fun.
• Words should be repeated to help kids remember them easily.
• Sentences must be simple and easy to understand.
• The book must have at least 24 pages.
• It cannot be longer than 96 pages.

Award Winners and Honor Books

Here is a list of the books that have won the Geisel Award and those that were named Honor Books.

Authors and Illustrators with Multiple Awards

Some authors and illustrators have been recognized by the Geisel Award more than once. This shows how great their books are for new readers!

• Tedd Arnold received honors in 2006, 2010, and again in 2018 (with Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss).
• Cece Bell received honors in 2013 and 2020.
• Dori Hillestad Butler received honors in 2018 and 2019.
• Kate DiCamillo won the main award in 2011 (with co-author Alison McGhee and illustrator Tony Fucile). She also 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 award in 2014. He also 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 has won the award three times: in 2019, 2022, and 2024.
• Mo Willems won the award in 2008 and 2009. He also received honors in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

See also

• American children's literary awards