Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Winners

 

Henkes, K. (2015). Waiting. Greenwillow Books.

In this heartwarming story five toys wait on the windowsill.  One is waiting for the moon, one for the rain, one for the wind, one for the snow, and one for nothing in particular. They spend their days waiting and watching life go by out the window.  Other toys come and go but the five remain until one day a cat with patches joins them.  The cat then has four kittens and then there are ten waiting at the window.  The illustrations are simple line drawings that are perfect for this story.  This book could be used to teach about the difficulties of waiting as well as friendship.  

2016 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor

Other books by Kevin Henkes include: Kitten’s First Full Moon, Owen, and A Good Day.

Davis, E. (2008). Stinky. TOON Books.

In this comic style book a monster named Stinky lives in a swamp and stays away from the town. One day a boy builds a treehouse in Stinky’s swamp and he makes a plan to get him to go away. He puts his toad in the treehouse and hides the boy’s hammer, then he pretends to be a ghost and kicks the boy’s hat into the bottomless pit. Even after all his attempts the boy becomes friends with Stinky and they find that they have more in common than Stinky thought. The illustrations are comic style and brightly colored. This book could be used to teach about friendship.

2009 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor
Other books by Eleanor Davis include: Libby’s Dad, Flop to the Top!, and How to be Happy.

Smith, J. (2009). Little Mouse Gets Ready. TOON Books.

This adorable story is about a little mouse who needs to get ready to go to the barn with his family.  He then goes to get ready and goes through all of the steps that you take to get dressed.  Pulling on socks and underwear, buttoning pants and shirts, and lastly putting on his shoes.  Then his mother comes to see what is taking so long and reminds the mouse that mice don’t wear clothes!  Then off he goes without clothes to the barn.  This comic style book is a fun quick book for young readers.  This book could be used to teach about the daily task of dressing and to never give up.  

2010 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor

Other books by Jeff Smith include: Shazam! and the Bone series.

Grant, J. (2008). Chicken Said, “Cluck!”.  HarperCollins.

This humorous story is about two kids who are trying to grow a garden. Earl and Pearl work through each step of tending to their garden and are always telling the chicken to “shoo”. Then one day a grasshopper shows up and nibbles on their pumpkins. The kids try to tell it to “shoo” but the grasshoppers won’t go. Then the chicken “clucks” and scares the grasshoppers away. The kids are so grateful they share their pumpkins with the chicken. This book could be used to teach reading skills with its basic repetitive language and pictures that help tell the story. A must have for any new reader.

2009 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor

DiCamillo, K. (2007). Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride. Candlewick. 

This humorous story is about a pig named Mercy who loves car rides and hot buttered toast. Every Saturday Mr. Watson takes Mercy on a drive in his convertible. Mercy wants to drive the car but Mr. Watson will not let her. One Saturday the Watson’s neighbor Baby Lincoln joins them on their drive for adventure and folly. Chaos breaks out when Mercy takes the wheel and it takes teamwork to safely return them to their homes. In the end everyone ends up around the table enjoying Mercy’s favorite, hot buttered toast. The illustrations are cartoon-like with a retro feel. This book is a perfect first chapter book for new readers. It’s humor and brightly colored pictures will keep kids entertained until the end.

2007 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor
Other books by Kate DiCamillo include: Mercy Watson series, Because of Winn-Dixie, and Tale of Despereaux.

Coretta Scott King Award Winners

 

Andrews, T & Collier, B. (2015). Trombone Shorty. Abrams Books for Young Readers. 

This true story is about a musician named Troy Andrews nicknamed Trombone Shorty.  Troy grew up in New Orleans in the Treme neighborhood where music is a big part of everyday life.  When Troy was young he found an old trombone double his size and starts a band with his friends.  During a performance by Bo Diddley Troy gets pulled up on stage and plays with the music legend.  He then plays in a band with his brother and ultimately tours the world with his own band Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.  In the back of this book is an author's note to give you more information about Troy and how he came to be Trombone Shorty.  The illustrations are bright and colorful mixed media collage which adds to the excitement of the New Orleans setting.  This book could be used to teach about culture and diversity as well as famous musicians.  This could also be used to teach about perseverance and never giving up on your dreams.

2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Winner

Other books by Troy Andrews include: The 5 O’Clock Band.

McKissack, P. (2001). Goin’ Someplace Special. Aladdin.

This beautifully written story is about a little girl named ‘Tricia Ann who embarks on her journey to someplace special. This story is set in the south in the 1950’s when Jim Crow laws were still in effect. As ‘Tricia Ann journeys through the city she encounters many Jim Crow laws that both upset and infuriate her. All along the way she remembers the words of her grandmother reassuring her that she is someone and to hold her head up high. Eventually she makes it to her “someplace special” which is the public library and on the building is etched “all are welcome”. This is the one place where ‘Tricia Ann feels safe and welcome outside of her community. This book could be used to teach about historical events as well as self-esteem and that everyone matters.

2002 Coretta Scott King Award Illustrator Winner
Other books by Patricia McKissack include: The Dark-Thirty and Mirandy and Brother Wind.

Flournoy, V. (1985). The Patchwork Quilt. Dial Books.

In this story a little girl named Tanya loves spending time with her grandmother and listening to her stories. One day her grandmother decides that she is going to make a new quilt. She then collects scraps from each family member which serves as a memory. As Tanya’s mother and grandmother are working on the quilt her grandmother becomes ill and is no longer able to work on it. Tanya takes it upon herself to get the quilt finished for her grandmother. Her mother and her brothers all chip in and eventually her grandmother is well enough to finish the quilt. The beautifully drawn illustrations give the reader a peek into this family's home and add life to the story. This book could be used to teach about families and passing down stories from generation to generation. A wonderful story, perfect for any library.

1986 Coretta Scott King Award Winner
Other books by Valerie Flournoy include: The Best Time of Day and The Twins Strike Back.

Nyong’o, L. (2019). Sulwe. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

This book is a lesson in loving ourselves as we are.  In this story a little girl named Sulwe struggles to feel like she fits in because her skin is darker than anyone else in her family.  At school she is teased about her dark skin and feels lonely and rejected.  One night she takes a ride on a star and learns the story of two sisters night and day.  While on this journey Sulwe learns to love and appreciate her beautiful skin and the light that comes from within.  The illustrations are bright and beautifully done.  This story could be used to teach self-esteem and self-acceptance.  

2020 Coretta Scott King Award Honor

Hill, L. (2013). When the Beat Was Born. Roaring Brook Press.

This true story tells about how Clive Campbell becomes DJ Kool Herc. Clive is born in Jamaica and as a child sees the DJ’s in Jamaica and how they play. He takes this knowledge with him when he moves to New York City and the Bronx neighborhood. There he attends a party and discovers a new way of playing music with longer breaks for dancing. This is when the beat is born and he calls himself DJ Kool Herc. His music inspires a whole generation of music and defines a culture of hip hop. Also included in this book is an author's note with more information on the history of hip hop including timelines and other resources.

2014 Coretta Scott King Award for New Talent
Other books by Laban Hill include: Harlem Stomp!, Dave the Potter, and Casa Azul: An Encounter with Frida Kahlo.

Pura Belpre Award Winners

 

Morales, Y. (2018). Dreamers. Neal Porter Books.

This beautifully illustrated picture book is about a mother and her baby making the journey to America as immigrants.  When they get there they discover that things are very different from their homeland and struggle to fit in.  Then they discover the public library and the joy of reading.  Their days at the library help them to learn to read and write English.  The illustrations in this book are stunning, brightly colored and make the story easy to understand.  Also included in the back of the book is a note about the author's own journey to America as well as a list of books that have inspired her.  This picture book could be used to teach about immigration and help develop empathy for people who have had to learn a new language.       

2019 Pura Belpre Award Winner

Other books by Yuyi Morales include: Bright Star and Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book.

Tonatiuh, D. (2014). Separate is Never Equal. Harry N. Abrams.

This true story is about the Mendez family and their fight for their children to attend their neighborhood school.  This story takes place in 1944 when segregation was common in the United States.  Sylvia and her family move to a farm in Westminster, California and try to enroll their children in school only to be turned away and told that they have to go to the Mexican school.  This starts the long battle for equal rights in children's education. The illustrations are well done and depict the hardships of the Mendez family.  Also included in the back of the book is an author’s note with more information on the Mendez case as well as original pictures of the Mendez family and the schools in the story.  There is also a glossary in the back for the formal language in the story.  This book is perfect for teaching about the rights of citizens and gives students a picture of an important historical movement.  

2015 Pura Belpre Award Honor

Other books by Duncan Tonatiuh include: Dear Primo, Diego Rivera: His World and Ours, and Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote.

Diaz, J. (2018). Islandborn. Dial Books.

This story is about a little girl named Lola who goes to a school where everyone is from someplace else. One day the teacher tells the students to draw a picture of the place that they lived before to share with the class. Lola is nervous about this assignment because she does not remember the island that she came from. Her teacher encourages her to ask family and friends who do remember to help her. So she goes around and asks others about the island that she comes from and makes her picture. She discovers that her island home had wonderful things and bad things, that is why she is in the United States. The bright and vivid illustrations help the reader to understand the beauty and life of Lola’s island home. This book could be used to teach about diversity and other cultures.

2019 Pura Belpre Award Honor

Other books by Junot Diaz include: Drown: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Woo and This is How You Lose Her.

Quintero, I. (2019). My Papi Has a Motorcycle. Kokila.

This story is about a little girl that waits each day for her father to get home from work as a carpenter so that he can take her out for a motorcycle ride. As they ride along she points out the many different landmarks in her neighborhood; murals, stores, her grandparents home. As they are riding she pretends that she is in the great road race on Grand Boulevard which happened a long time ago. She talks of the changes she sees in her community as well as the history of the migrant workers who worked the citrus fields as they speed home to her mom and brother. The illustrations in this book are similar to a graphic novel with speech bubbles and hand drawn illustrations. This book could be used to teach about different cultures as well as changes and growth in communities. In the back of the book the author has included a note about the background of the story.

2020 Pura Belpre Award Honor

Other books by Isabel Quintero include: Gabi, a Girl in Pieces and Ugly Cat & Pablo Chapter Book Series.

Perez, L. (2002) First Day in Grapes. Lee & Low Books.

This book is about a boy named Chico whose father is a migrant worker. They have just moved to grapes and it is his first day of third grade.  When he first gets on the bus he is confronted by two fourth grade bullies and an unkind bus driver.  As his day goes on we learn that he has a difficult time writing but is great at math.  He likes his new teacher and even makes a new friend.  Then at lunch he is confronted by the bullies again and summons the courage to stand up to them.  This story could be used to teach about conflict and how to stand up for yourself.  This book also teaches diversity and empathy for students who move often.  

2004 Pura Belpre Award Honor

Other books by L. King Perez include: Remember as You Pass Me By and Ghoststalking.