Geisel Award, Concept Books and Math Books

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

·        The award is named for the world-renowned children’s author.

·        The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award was established in 2004 and first presented in 2006.

·        The winners are recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading.   The receive a bronze medal.

·        Honor book authors and illustrators receive certificates, which are presented at the ALA annual conference. 

·        The Theodore Seuss Geisel Award recognizes the author and illustrator of a book for beginning readers who, through their literary and artistic achievements, demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading.

·        The award is to be given annually.  

·        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 committee shall consider all forms of writing – fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

·        Honor Books may be named.  These shall be books whose text and illustrations are also truly distinguished.

·        The award is restricted to an author and illustrator who are citizens or residents of the United States.

·        The award is restricted to original work first published in the United States.

·        Distinguished book for beginning readers – Provides a stimulating and successful reading experience for the beginning reader containing the kind of plot, sensibility, and rhythm that can carry a child along from start to finish.

Criteria –

·        Text of book must be directed at readers from pre-K through Grade 2.  The book must also contain illustrations, which function as keys or clues to the text.  Picture books are to be considered if they function successfully as a book for beginning readers.

·        The subject matter must be intriguing enough to motivate the child to read.

·        The book may or may not include short chapters.

·        New words are added slowly enough to make learning them a positive experience.

·        Words are repeated in an easily recognizable pattern to ensure knowledge retention.

·        Sentences are simple and straight forward.

·        There is a minimum of 24 pages.  Books are no longer than 96 pages.

·        The illustrations demonstrate the story being told.

·        The design of the book includes attention to size of typeface, an uncluttered background that sets off the text, appropriate line length, and placement of illustration.

·        The plot advances from one page to the next, and together with the illustrations, creates a “page-turning” dynamic.

·        The book creates a successful reading experience, from start to finish.

·        The book is respectful and of interest to children.

·        The book shows excellent, engaging and distinctive use of both language and illustration.

Concept books – these books rely on well-chosen illustrations to help children grasp both relatively easy concepts, such as colors, shapes, transportation, feelings, cold and heat, distance, in and out, left and right, measurement, numbers, patterns, perspective, size, speed up and down, weight opposites.

·        Concept books come in various degrees of difficulty.

·        They are there first information books

·        Help children expand their understanding of the world around them.

My favorite concept author/illustrator is Long Island resident Laura Vaccaro Seeger. Her visual presentations are imaginative and appealing to preschool-aged children. I know classroom and art teachers selecting her for author studies because students can recreate her signature style.

  First the Egg. 2008 Caldecott Honor book.

  The concept of transformation is explored with cutout shapes that lead to the next page – a tadpole becoming a frog, a seed becoming a flower, paint becoming a picture, words becoming a story and so on

  Lemons are Not Red. Through flowing repetitive text and clever die-cut shapes that fall on the correct color backgrounds children make connections about the colors of food, nature and animals- for example red apples, pink flamingos, silver moon

   Walter was Worried.

   The concept of emotions is presented with seven children reacting to a storm. While Walter was worried, Priscilla was puzzled and Shirley was shocked. What is so creative is that alphabet letters are rearranged and turned around to make the faces of the children. 

Alphabet

Alphabet books were among the first books published for children.

·        They have long been used to help young children identify familiar object as well as letters and sounds. 

·        Modern alphabet books are designed to entertain and introduce new vocabulary

·        Some alphabet books are most appropriate for young children, while others contain enough detail on historical insight to interest older readers.

·        Many alphabet books have an animal theme that ranges in complexity.

    

My all time favorite alphabet book is:

Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel. Grades K-2

     Here is a kitty with personality! The alphabet theme is used four times in the story. Kitty was a good kitty until her owners realized that her favorite food was all gone and all that was left was asparagus, beets, cauliflower ect… Kitty demonstrates how angry she-  Ate my homework, Bit grandma, Clawed the curtains, Damaged the dishesThis series started off with two picture books and has since branched off to graphic novels that are perfect for second and third graders.  .

 

Math

·        Literature provides a way for children to make mathematics learning much more personal. Research has shown that children learn material best when it has meaning and usefulness for them. Literature is a way to give math meaning.

·        Teachers- especially new and student teachers will ask your advice for teaching mathematical concepts – find good websites like the California dept. of education has a database where you can search Literature titles for Science and Math connections

·        Be expected to help students before the state math exam

• Counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions
• Sorting and classifying.
• Recognize, draw and describe geometric figures.
• Problem solving
• Measurement- rulers, Estimation of volume.
• Explore and interpret the concept of averages.
• Time- timelines, clocks, days, months
• Money
• Probability and statistics
• Place value
• Ratio and proportion
• 100^th day of school
• Check out http://subgenre-queen.blogspot.com/ for recommended math titles