Geisel Award facts for kids

The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, often called the Geisel Award, is a special prize for books. The American Library Association (ALA) gives it out every year. It celebrates the best book for kids who are just learning to read. This book must be written in English and published in the United States. The award goes to both the writer and the artist of the book. Winners get a cool bronze medal at a big meeting called the ALA Annual Conference.

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

Some books that are almost as good as the winner are called Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Books. Their writers and artists 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:

• The book must help and encourage kids who are just starting to read.
• It must be published in the English in the United States.
• The book must be new and work well for beginning readers.
• The writer or artist must be a citizen or live in the United States.
• More than one writer or artist can win the award together.
• The award can even be given to someone after they have passed away.
• The words in the book should be for kids from pre-kindergarten up to second grade.
• The pictures in the book must help explain the story.
• 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.
• The story must be interesting enough to make a child want to keep reading.
• The book can have short "chapters" or not.
• New words should be added slowly so kids can learn them easily.
• Words should be repeated to help kids remember them.
• Sentences must be simple and easy to understand.
• The book must have at least 24 pages.
• It cannot be longer than 96 pages.
• The pictures must clearly show what is happening in the story.
• The book should be a great reading experience from beginning to end.
• The story should move forward on each page, making kids want to turn the page.

Geisel Award Winners and Honor Books

Here are some of the amazing books that have won the Geisel Award or been named Honor Books:

Authors and Illustrators with Many Awards

Some talented writers and artists have won the Geisel Award or received Honor Book recognition multiple times:

• Tedd Arnold received honors in 2006, 2010, and again in 2018 (with Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss).
• Cece Bell earned honors in 2013 and 2020.
• Dori Hillestad Butler was recognized with honors in 2018 and 2019.
• Kate DiCamillo won the main award in 2011. She also received an honor in 2007.
• Jonathan Fenske received honors in 2016 and 2022.
• Kevin Henkes earned honors in 2014 and 2016.
• Paul Meisel received honors in 2012 and 2018.
• David Milgrim was recognized with 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 earned honors in 2019 and 2023.
• Cynthia Rylant won the award in 2006 and received an honor in 2015.
• Laura Vaccaro Seeger was recognized with honors in 2008 and 2009.
• Corey R. Tabor has won the award three times: in 2019, 2022, and 2024. He also received an honor in 2025.
• Mo Willems won the award in 2008 and 2009. He also received honors in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

See also

• Literary award