Library Links » Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

A Bit of an Inside Look at the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

Susan C. — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:46:09 +0000

At the recent American Library Association Midwinter Conference the winner of the annual Theodor Seuss Geisel Award was announced along with two honor books. Here at Skokie Public Library the Youth Services staff listened to the announcement with added interest. One of our very own, Linda Sawyer, was a member of the committee that selected the award winners.

Selection criteria for the Geisel Award winner includes books that children want to read. Really want to read. The committee is encouraged to look at candidates through the traditional lens of literary elements and the quality of the illustrations as well as elements that would attract children who are just learning to read. Linda noted that the most challenging aspect of her work on the committee was getting a grasp on what works for a new reader. Committee members were encouraged to “test drive” submissions with children and see what “worked”. The mother of two young daughters, Linda often read contenders to her children. She also shared books with friends and colleagues, asking them to try them out on new readers.

Linda felt fortunate to serve on a great committee–seven people with a wide range of experiences all willing to set ego aside and look for the best books. She loved being in the room and discussing the titles with colleagues who were passionate about children’s books. Being in the room when the winning authors were notified and hearing their responses was pretty cool, too!

And the Winners Are…

Susan C. — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:57:43 +0000

Congratulations to our Grace Lin raffle winners!

• Judy Holtzman, Fairview South School

• Dafna Nussbaum, Gesher HaTorah Day School

Each teacher will receive an autographed copy of Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same! and an autographed drawing done by Grace as part of her recent presentations here at the Skokie Public Library. Thanks to all who entered the raffle!

Subscribe to LibraryLinks via email to learn about about other “give aways”, free programs at the Library and amazing classroom resources. Click on the link on the right side of the page.

Youth Services Staff Attend ALA Youth Media Awards Announcement

Susan C. — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 21:12:14 +0000

Four librarians from the Youth Services Department at Skokie Public Library were present at the close of the ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego on Monday, January 10th to hear the announcement of the awards given for the best books, audiobooks and videos for children and young adults. One of our staff, Linda Sawyer, was a member of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Committee which selected the most distinguished beginning reader books for 2010 (More on Linda’s participation later.). Youth Services staff at the Library were glued to their computer monitors watching the announcement online, eager to learn if any of their favorite books were award winners.

The winner of Theodor Seuss Geisel Award was Bink and Gollie written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee and illustrated by Tony Fucile. Two Geisel Honor Books were named:

• Ling &Ting: Not Exactly the Same! written and illustrated by Grace Lin

• We Are in a Book! written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Within hours of the announcement press conference we had a message from Linda directing us to Mo Willems’ web site and the drawing he had created to thank the Geisel Committee for selecting his Elephant and Piggie title for an Geisel Honor Award. What fun!