The Theodore Seuss Geisel Award is given each year to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers. There may also be one or more Honor books named. It was named after Theodore Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, and had its first winners in 2006.
Learn more about the Geisel Award.
The titles in each section below are arranged in reverse chronological order (newest to oldest). Note that the year a book is awarded is one year after the publication date. For example, a book that came out in 2018 would be the 2019 winner.
Author: Laurel Snyder; Emily Hughes (Illustrator)
Published: 2017
Location: Bethlehem
"Charlie and Mouse, two young brothers, enjoy a day out together, attending an imaginary party and collecting rocks"--Publisher's description.
Author: Mo Willems (Illustrator); Laurie Keller (Illustrator)
Published: 2016
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Walt is not the tallest, or the curliest, or the pointiest -- or even the crunchiest. In this hilarious story about growing up, a confused blade of grass searches for his 'est,' the thing that makes him special"--Publisher's description.
Author: Anna Kang; Christopher Weyant (Illustrator)
Published: 2014
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"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!"--Publisher's description.
Author: Greg Pizzoli
Published: 2013
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"After swallowing a watermelon seed, a crocodile imagines a scary outcome"--Publisher's description.
Author: Josh Schneider (Illustrator)
Published: 2011
Location: Bethlehem
"A father tells outlandish stories while trying to get his young son, who is a very picky eater, to try foods he thinks he will not like"--Publisher's description.
Author: Mo Willems
Published: 2007
Location: Bethlehem
Gerald the elephant discovers that there is something worse than a bird on your head-- two birds on your head! Piggie will try to help her best friend.
Author: Sergio Ruzzier
Published: 2018
Location: Bethlehem
"Fox and Chick don't always agree. But Fox and Chick are always friends. These are the adventures of two seemingly opposite friends, shown in comic-book panel form..."--Publisher's description.
Author: Martha Hamilton; Mitch Weiss; Tedd Arnold
Published: 2017
Location: Bethlehem
"Inspired by folktales about fools from around the world, brothers Mac and Mac Noodlehead exasperate Uncle Ziti, are fooled by their friend Meatball, and make a garden for their mother"--Publisher's description.
Author: Tina Kügler
Published: 2017
Location: Bethlehem
"In this silly sequel to Snail and Worm, the dynamic duo is back for more fun and giggles in three new comic shorts brimming with quirky humor and unflappable friendship"--Publisher's description.
Author: Greg Pizzoli
Published: 2016
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Owl takes drastic measures to have a good night's sleep"--Publisher's description.
Author: Mike Twohy (Illustrator)
Published: 2016
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"When a bouncing ball wakes a sleeping mouse, it's just the beginning of an alphabet adventure"--Publisher's description.
Author: Stephen Savage
Published: 2015
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"When the city is hit by a colossal snowstorm, only one superhero can save the day. But who is this mysterious hero, and why does he disappear once his job is done?"--Publisher's description.
Author: Kevin Henkes
Published: 2015
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Five friends sit happily on a windowsill, waiting for something amazing to happen. Will patience win in the end? Or will the friends stop waiting and do something unexpected?"--Publisher's description.
Author: Cynthia Rylant; Arthur Howard (Illustrator)
Published: 2014
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Mr. Putter and Mrs. Teaberry bring Tabby and Zeke to the library for a special storytime"--Publisher's description.
Author: Mo Willems
Published: 2014
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
Piggie tells Gerald she has a surprise for him, but it is not there yet so Gerald must be patient.
Author: Mary Sullivan
Published: 2013
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"In this nearly wordless story, a dog searches for someone to play with him, all the while dreaming of fantastical adventures he could have with his ball"--Publisher's description.
Author/Illustrator: Mo Willems
Published: 2013
Location: Monroe
"Piggie is devastated when a big guy takes her ball. Gerald is big, too -- but is he big enough to help his best friend?"--Publisher's description.
Author: Kevin Henkes
Published: 2013
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Penny feels guilty after taking a beautiful blue marble that she sees in Mrs. Goodwin's grass, but gets a pleasant surprise when she goes to return it the next day"--Publisher's description.
Author: Mo Willems
Published: 2012
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Elephant Gerald and Piggie want to go for a drive, but as Gerald thinks of one thing after another that they will have to take along, they come to realize that they lack the most important thing of all"--Publisher's description.
Author: Jon Klassen
Published: 2011
Location: Bethlehem
"A bear almost gives up his search for his missing hat -- until he remembers something important"--Publisher's description.
Author: Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Published: 2007
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"A picture book about transformations"--Publisher's description.
Author: Darrin Lunde; Patricia J. Wynne (Illustrator)
Published: 2007
Location: Bethlehem
"Simple text and illustrations introduce the endangered bumblebee bat of Thailand"--Publisher's description.
Author: Lisa Wheeler; R. Gregory Christie (Illustrator)
Published: 2007
Location: Bethlehem
"Baby and his family make some jazzy music"--Publisher's description.
Author: April Pulley Sayre; Steve Jenkins (Illustrator)
Published: 2007
Location: Bethlehem
"Turkey vultures soar on the balmy air, looking for their next stinky feast. These birds don't hunt -- they like their food to be already dead. Vultures are part of nature's cleanup crew"--Publisher's
Author: Karen Beaumont; Jane Dyer (Illustrator)
Published: 2006
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"When a storm comes, Rover expects to have his doghouse all to himself but finds that various other animals, including a skunk, come to join him... Suddenly that doghouse isn't quite so crowded after all!"--Publisher's description.
Author: Suzanne Bloom
Published: 2005
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
Pennsylvania "One Book, Every Young Child" program selection, 2007. When a studious polar bear meets an inquisitive goose, they learn to be friends.