The Theodor Seuss 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." 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.
| Year |
Author |
Illustrator |
Title |
Citation |
| 2006 |
Cynthia Rylant |
Suçie Stevenson |
Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas |
Winner |
| 2006 |
Tedd Arnold |
Tedd Arnold |
Hi! Fly Guy |
Honor |
| 2006 |
Suzanne Bloom |
Suzanne Bloom |
A Splendid Friend, Indeed |
Honor |
| 2006 |
Erica Silverman |
Betsy Lewin |
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa |
Honor |
| 2006 |
Jean Van Leeuwen |
Ann Schweninger |
Amanda Pig and the Really Hot Day |
Honor |
| 2007 |
Laura McGee Kvasnosky |
Laura McGee Kvasnosky |
Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways |
Winner |
| 2007 |
Kate DiCamillo |
Chris Van Dusen |
Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride |
Honor |
| 2007 |
Karen Beaumont |
Jane Dyer |
Move Over, Rover! |
Honor |
| 2007 |
Antoinette Portis |
Antoinette Portis |
Not a Box |
Honor |
| 2008 |
Mo Willems |
Mo Willems |
There is a Bird on Your Head! |
Winner |
| 2008 |
Laura Vaccaro Seeger |
Laura Vaccaro Seeger |
First the Egg |
Honor |
| 2008 |
Darrin Lunde |
Patricia J. Wynne |
Hello, Bumblebee Bat |
Honor |
| 2008 |
Lisa Wheeler |
R. Gregory Christie |
Jazz Baby |
Honor |
| 2008 |
April Pulley Sayre |
Steve Jenkins |
Vulture View |
Honor |
| 2009 |
Mo Willems |
Mo Willems |
Are You Ready to Play Outside? |
Winner |
| 2009 |
Judyann Ackerman Grant |
Sue Truesdell |
Chicken Said, ‘Cluck!' |
Honor |
| 2009 |
Laura Vaccaro Seeger |
Laura Vaccaro Seeger |
One Boy |
Honor |
| 2009 |
Eleanor Davis |
Eleanor Davis |
Stinky |
Honor |
| 2009 |
Sarah C. Campbell |
Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell |
Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator |
Honor |
| 2010 |
Geoffrey Hayes |
Geoffrey Hayes |
Benny and Penny in the Big No-No! |
Winner |
| 2010 |
Tedd Arnold |
Tedd Arnold |
I Spy Fly Guy! |
Honor |
| 2010 |
Jeff Smith |
Jeff Smith |
Little Mouse Gets Ready |
Honor |
| 2010 |
Wong Herbert Yee |
Wong Herbert Yee |
Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends |
Honor |
| 2010 |
Kate McMullan |
R. W. Alley |
Pearl and Wagner: One Funny Day |
Honor |
| 2011 |
Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee |
Tony Fucile |
Bink and Gollie |
Winner |
| 2011 |
Grace Lin |
Grace Lin |
Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same! |
Honor |
| 2011 |
Mo Willems |
Mo Willems |
We Are in a Book! |
Honor |
| 2012 |
Josh Schneider |
Josh Schneider |
Tales for Very Picky Eaters |
Winner |
| 2012 |
Mo Willems |
Mo Willems |
I Broke My Trunk |
Honor |
| 2012 |
Jon Klassen |
Jon Klassen |
I Want My Hat Back |
Honor |
| 2012 |
Paul Meisel |
Paul Meisel |
See Me Run |
Honor |
| 2013 |
Ethan Long |
Ethan Long |
Up, Tall and High! |
Winner |
| 2013 |
Mo Willems |
Mo Willems |
Let's Go for a Drive! |
Honor |
| 2013 |
Eric Litwin |
James Dean |
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons |
Honor |
| 2013 |
Cece Bell |
Cece Bell |
Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover |
Honor |
| 2014 |
Greg Pizzoli |
Greg Pizzoli |
The Watermelon Seed |
Winner |
| 2014 |
Mary Sullivan |
Mary Sullivan |
Ball |
Honor |
| 2014 |
Mo Willems |
Mo Willems |
A Big Guy Took My Ball! |
Honor |
| 2014 |
Kevin Henkes |
Kevin Henkes |
Penny and Her Marble |
Honor |
| 2015 |
Anna Kang |
Christopher Weyant |
You Are (Not) Small |
Winner |
| 2015 |
Cynthia Rylant |
Arthur Howard |
Mr. Putter & Tabby Turn the Page |
Honor |
| 2015 |
Mo Willems |
Mo Willems |
Waiting Is Not Easy! |
Honor |
| 2016 |
David A. Adler |
Sam Ricks |
Don’t Throw It to Mo! |
Winner |
| 2016 |
Jonathan Fenske |
Jonathan Fenske |
A Pig, a Fox, and a Box |
Honor |
| 2016 |
Kevin Henkes |
Kevin Henkes |
Waiting |
Honor |
| 2016 |
Stephen Savage |
Stephen Savage |
Supertruck |
Honor |
| 2017 |
Laurie Keller |
Laurie Keller |
We Are Growing! |
Winner |
| 2017 |
Greg Pizzoli |
Greg Pizzoli |
Good Night Owl |
Honor |
| 2017 |
Mike Twohy |
Mike Twohy |
Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run! An Alphabet Caper |
Honor |
| 2017 |
David Milgrim |
David Milgrim |
Go Otto Go! |
Honor |
| 2017 |
Kara LaReau |
Matt Myers |
The Infamous Ratsos |
Honor |
| 2018 |
Laurel Snyder |
Emily Hughes |
Charlie & Mouse |
Winner |
| 2018 |
Paul Meisel |
Paul Meisel |
I See a Cat |
Honor |
| 2018 |
Dori Hillestad Butler |
Nancy Meyers |
King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats |
Honor |
| 2018 |
Salina Yoon |
Salina Yoon |
My Kite Is Stuck! And Other Stories |
Honor |
| 2018 |
Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton, and Mitch Weiss |
Tedd Arnold |
Noodleheads See the Future |
Honor |
| 2018 |
Tina Kügler |
Tina Kügler |
Snail & Worm Again |
Honor |
| 2019 |
Corey Tabor |
Corey Tabor |
Fox the Tiger |
Winner |
| 2019 |
David Milgrim |
David Milgrim |
The Adventures of Otto: See Pip Flap |
Honor |
| 2019 |
Dori Hillestad Butler |
Nancy Meyers |
King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth |
Honor |
| 2019 |
Sergio Ruzzier |
Sergio Ruzzier |
Fox + Chick: The Party and Other Stories |
Honor |
| 2019 |
Emily Tetri |
Emily Tetri |
Tiger vs. Nightmare |
Honor |
| 2020 |
James Yang |
James Yang |
Stop! Bot! |
Winner |
| 2020 |
Cece Bell |
Cece Bell |
Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot! |
Honor |
| 2020 |
J.E. Morris |
J.E. Morris |
Flubby Is Not a Good Pet! |
Honor |
| 2020 |
Greg Pizzoli |
Greg Pizzoli |
The Book Hog |
Honor |
| 2021 |
David LaRochelle |
Mike Wohnoutka |
See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog |
Winner |
| 2021 |
Maya Tatsukawa |
Maya Tatsukawa |
The Bear in My Family |
Honor |
| 2021 |
Starling Lyons |
Nina Mata |
Ty's Travels: Zip, Zoom! |
Honor |
| 2021 |
Ryan T. Higgins |
Ryan T. Higgins |
What About Worms!? |
Honor |
| 2021 |
Anne Hunter |
Anne Hunter |
Where's Baby? |
Honor |
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