Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways by Laura McGee Kvasnosky

  10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

10. 2007 Medal winner

 Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways 

 by Laura McGee Kvasnosky 

About the Author:

"Laura McGee Kvasnosky (1951- ) grew up in Northern California as one of five children in a newspaper family that provided the grist for many of her stories as a noted children’s writer and illustrator. She turned to children’s writing in mid life, and is best known for her series of “Zelda and Ivy” books featuring two fox sisters, the older and bossy Zelda, and her adoring younger sibling, Ivy. The series drew critical praise and fan loyalty for its fresh take on sibling rivalry. Kvasnosky’s honors include dual Golden Kite Honors Awards in 1999 from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and the American Library Association’s 2007 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for “Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways” as America’s most distinguished book for beginning readers published that year. Her latest book, "Little Wolf's First Howling", the story of a wolf pup who can't help singing his own song, arrived in 2017 to further acclaim, winning the Margaret Wise Brown Honor Book Award for children's literature text, as well as numerous starred reviews and "best of the year's books" honors."

Book Summary:

"The fabulous fox sisters return in three funny stories perfect for beginning readers. Whether Zelda and Ivy are combating the injustice of cucumber sandwiches for lunch, deciding what to leave the children of the future in their time capsule, or solving Zelda's writer's block, they are sure to tickle the funny bones of both new and returning fans." -Amazon.com

Zelda and Ivy Read Aloud

Reviews:

Another appealing offering. . . . Bright, expressive cartoon illustrations complement the fine writing. —School Library Journal (starred review) Three satisfying stories of two sisters create one rewarding read. —The Horn Book (starred review) Jaunty gouache art takes them through three predicaments. . . . It’s all delightfully droll. —San Francisco Chronicle Children will recognize the details and the sibling dynamics. . . . Kids will look forward to more from the Fox sisters. —Booklist

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Zelda-Ivy-Runaways-Candlewick-Sparks/dp/0763666351/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Zelda+and+Ivy%3A+The+Runaways+by+Laura+McGee+Kvasnosky&qid=1606096682&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wstJlOvGn10

Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider

 10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

9. 2012 Medal winner

Tales for Very Picky Eaters

 by Josh Schneider 

About the About:

Josh Schneider is the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning creator of Tales for Very Picky Eaters and many popular picture books, including Princess Sparkle-Heart Gets a Makeover, Everybody Sleeps (But Not Fred), and Kid Amazing vs. The Blob. His first book, You'll Be Sorry, was named "Book That Provides Best Ammunition to Parents Weary of Warning Their Kids About Socking Their Siblings" by Publishers Weekly magazine. Josh lives in Chicago with his wife, Dana.

Book Summary:

"James is a very picky eater. His dad has to get creative—very creative—in order to get James to eat foods he thinks he doesn't like. He presents James with a series of outlandish scenarios packed with fanciful and gross kid-friendly details—like pre-chewed gum as an alternative to broccoli and lumpy oatmeal that grows so big it eats the dog—in an effort to get James to eat. But it is eventually James himself who discovers that some foods are not so bad if you’re willing to give them a try." -Amazon.com

Tales for Very Picky Eaters

Reviews:

"Eager and picky eaters alike will enjoy the wordplay and outrageous situations, which create humor from a familiar source of family tension."—Booklist

 

"The sophisticated yet silly humor will appeal to new readers wanting something a little different. . . . A perfect segue into chapter books, this easy reader is sure to be a crowd pleaser." —School Library Journal

 

"Stories with all the wit and good humor parents can often lose during dinner table battles. A palatable strategy." —Chicago Tribune

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVCotqWQ4-c

https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Very-Picky-Eaters-Schneider/dp/0544339142/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Tales+for+Very+Picky+Eaters+by+Josh+Schneider&qid=1606096140&sr=8-1

Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee

  10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

8. 2011 Medal winner

Bink and Gollie

written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee,

illustrated by Tony Fucile

About the Authors:

"Kate DiCamillo's writing journey has been a truly remarkable one. She grew up in Florida and moved to Minnesota in her twenties, when homesickness and a bitter winter led her to write Because of Winn-Dixie -- her first published novel, which became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. The Tiger Rising, her second novel, was also set in Florida and went on to become a National Book Award finalist. Since then, the best-selling author has explored settings as varied as a medieval castle and a magician's theater while continuing to enjoy great success, winning two Newbery Medals and being named National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. She now has almost 30 million books in print worldwide."

Alison McGhee writes for all ages and in all forms. Her most popular books include the bestselling novel Shadow Baby, which was a Today Show Book Club pick, and Someday, the #1 New York Times bestselling picture book for adults. 2020 will see the publication of The Opposite of Fate, a new novel for adults, and World So Wide, a picture book for all ages. She lives in Minneapolis and southern California. You can find her at alisonmcghee.com, @alisonmcghee, and #alisonmcghee. She loves hearing from readers and tries to respond quickly.

Book Summary:

"Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls — one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible. Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. Full of quick-witted repartee, this brainchild of Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo and award-winning author Alison McGhee is a hilarious ode to exuberance and camaraderie, imagination and adventure, brought to life through the delightfully kinetic images of Tony Fucile." -Amazon.com

Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo & Alison McGhee Book Trailer

Review:

“If James Marshall's George and Martha were not hippos and were both girls, they would be much like best friends Bink and Gollie. . . . More, please!” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Bink-Gollie-Kate-DiCamillo/dp/0763659541/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Bink+and+Gollie+by+Kate+DiCamillo+and+Alison+McGhee&qid=1606095510&sr=8-2

https://www.amazon.com/Kate-DiCamillo/e/B001H6MDMY?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd3cXLHzcHA

https://www.amazon.com/Alison-McGhee/e/B000APLP8G?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

 10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

7. 2014 Medal Winner

The Watermelon Seed,

by Greg Pizzoli

About the Author:

"Greg Pizzoli is the creator of the Baloney & Friends series as well as a three-time Theodor Seuss Geisel Award recipient for The Watermelon Seed(Medal winner), The Book Hog (Honor book), and Good Night Owl (Honor book). He is also the author-illustrator of This Story Is for You, The 12 Days of Christmas, Templeton Gets His Wish, and Number One Sam. His nonfiction for children includes the New York Times Best Illustrated Book The Impossible True Story of Tricky Vic: The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower, and he has also illustrated picture books written by authors such as Mac Barnett, Kelly DiPucchio, Jennifer Adams, and Margaret Wise Brown. He lives in Philadelphia."

Book Summary:

"Crocodile loves watermelon, but what will happen when his greatest fear of swallowing a watermelon seed comes to pass? Will vines sprout out his ears? Will his skin turn pink? Only one thing is certain: his wild imagination will have kids laughing out loud and begging for another read.

With perfect comic pacing, bold color and dynamic sense of design, three-time Theodor Seuss Geisel Award recipient Greg Pizzoli's picture book debut transforms this familiar childhood anxiety into a contemporary classic read-aloud perfect for fans of I Want My Hat Back."- Amazon.com

 Kids Book Read Aloud: THE WATERMELON SEED by Greg Pizzoli

Reviews:

"[A]n expert debut." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Children will love this hilarious book. The story has broad appeal, making it a great first purchase." -- School Library Journal (starred review)

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Watermelon-Seed-Board-Book/dp/1484712366/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Watermelon+Seed+by+Greg+Pizzoli&qid=1606094979&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp9F50QzRa0

You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang

    10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

6. 2015 Medal Winner

You Are (Not) Small

written by Anna Kang

 illustrated by Christopher Weyant 

About the Author:

Husband-and-wife team Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant live in New Jersey with their two daughters. You Are (Not) Small is their first children’s book. They are working on a sequel. Anna, a native New Yorker, grew up believing she was small until one day she realized that everyone else was big. She received an M.F.A. from University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, where the visual storyteller in her was awakened, forever changing the way she saw art, life, and everything in between. Besides writing, Anna loves to read, travel, laugh, eat, and nap. A cartoonist and illustrator, Christopher’s cartoons can regularly be seen in The New Yorker magazine. His cartoons are syndicated worldwide and have been featured on The Today Show, Meet the Press, and World News with Diane Sawyer. Christopher likes to think that he is both big and small. Visit him at www.christopherweyant.com.

Book Summary:

Winner of the 2015 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

"Two fuzzy creatures can't agree on who is small and who is big, until a couple of surprise guests show up, settling it once and for all! The simple text of Anna Kang and bold illustrations of New Yorker cartoonist Christopher Weyant tell an original and very funny story about size—it all depends on who's standing next to you."

(Animated Story) You are not Small by Anna Kang

Reviews:

“This playful take on perspective details a confrontation between two bears . . . Husband and wife team Kang and Weyant nail the concept and provide humor along the way. The story’s structure makes it an entertaining read aloud, and the dialogue between the two bears authentically captures child logic.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books “What some parents may use as a lesson in relativity others will embrace as an encouragement to good-humored humility.” —Wall Street Journal “[A] funny book with a good-hearted lesson.” —School Library Journal

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Small-Anna-Kang-ebook/dp/B00I8YB71Q/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=You+Are+%28Not%29+Small+by+Anna+Kang&qid=1606094177&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoGSu7kS7f0

 

The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau

   10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

5. 2017 Medal Winner

The Infamous Ratsos,

written by Kara LaReau,

illustrated by Matt Myers

About the Author:

Kara LaReau is the author of a number of picture books, including Ugly Fish, Mr. Prickles, and Otto: The Boy Who Loved Cars, all illustrated by Scott Magoon. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island, with her family.

Matt Myers is the illustrator of E-I-E-I-O: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm with a Little Help from a Hen by Judy Sierra, and Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind by Gary Ross, as well as many other books for young readers. Matt Myers lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. --This text refers to the library edition.

Book Summary:

"Louie and Ralphie Ratso’s dad, Big Lou, always says that there are two kinds of people: those who are tough and those who are soft. Louie and Ralphie are tough, tough, tough, just like Big Lou, and they’re going to prove it. But every time they try to show just how tough they are, the Ratso brothers end up accidentally doing good deeds instead. What’ll Big Lou do when he finds out they’ve been acting like softies all over the Big City? Perfect for emerging and reluctant readers, this clever and surprisingly warmhearted chapter book shows that being tough all the time can be really tough."-Amazon.com

The Infamous Ratsos meets Bikers for Books

Reviews:

Louie and Ralphie Ratso are determined to be as tough as their truck-driver father, but the rats' efforts go hilariously awry in this funny, thoughtful, and smart chapter book...LaReau packs substantial comedy and poignant emotion into each chapter (the boys' mother has "been gone for a little while now"), adeptly amplified by Myers's spot art.

--Publishers Weekly (starred review) LaReau keeps the action high and completely appropriate for readers embarking on chapter books...The humor springs from their foiled efforts and their reactions to their failures. Myers' sprightly grayscale drawings capture action and characters and add humorous details, such as the Ratsos' "unwelcome" mat. A nicely inventive little morality "tail" for newly independent readers. --Kirkus Reviews

Sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Infamous-Ratsos-Kara-LaReau-ebook/dp/B01IPZVID4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Infamous+Ratsos+by+Kara+LaReau&qid=1606089028&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8UKpPigJqU

We Are Growing! by Laurie Keller

  10 books from the Geisel Award or Honor winning books

4. 2017 Medal Winner

We Are Growing!

by Laurie Keller

About the Author:

Mo Willems (www.pigeonpresents.com), a New York Times #1 best-selling author and illustrator, has been awarded a Caldecott Honor on three occasions, for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity. The celebrated Elephant & Piggie early-reader series has been awarded the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal on two occasions (for There Is a Bird on Your Head! and Are You Ready to Play Outside?) as well as garnering five Geisel Honors (for We Are in a Book!, I Broke My Trunk!, Let's Go for a Drive!, A Big Guy Took My Ball! and Waiting Is Not Easy!).

Book Summary:

"Walt and his friends are growing up fast! Everyone is the something-est. But . . . what about Walt? He is not the tallest, or the curliest, or the silliest. He is not the anything-est! As a BIG surprise inches closer, Walt discovers something special of his own!" -Amazon.com

We Are Growing by Laurie Keller Read Aloud by Read Me A Book

Reviews:

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—An exciting thing is happening. The grass is growing! One blade grows tall, another grows curly, and two grow pointy. As these changes occur, the blades of grass declare what it is that makes them unique—all but one, that is. The last blade of grass has no distinguishing feature of note, and no matter how much the group wrack their brains, they can't figure it out. Then, the great equalizer, the lawn mower, comes along. It takes this event for the blade to discover his special quality. As for the rest, even though they are literally cut down, they are reassured that they will grow again. The empowering narrative can be applied to lessons regarding things like confidence, identity, and growing up. No matter the takeaway, the message is easily consumable, thanks to exaggerated characteristics, cartoonish actions, and a good sense of comedic timing. In this new series, Willems's popular characters share their favorite books, acting as the introductory and closing framework to the story. In this case, they have made an excellent choice. VERDICT Fans of Elephant and Piggie will devour this kooky easy reader, with its similar presentation and storytelling style.—Rachel Forbes, formerly at Oakville Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpD0K_sKD08

https://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Piggie-Like-Reading-Growing/dp/1484726359/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=We+Are+Growing%21+by+Laurie+Keller&qid=1606088383&sr=8-1