THEODORE SEUSS GEISEL

Bink and Gollie

Author: Kate DiCamillo & Alison McGhee
Illustrator: Tony Fucile

DiCamillo, K., McGhee, A., Fucile, T., & Candlewick Press. (2010). Bink & Gollie. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: 2011 Theodore Suess Geisel Award

Summary: Three short stories telling the adventures of two young girls and their ever-changing friendship.

How this book relates to young children: Children can relate to the themes of friendship and compromise.

How I would use this book with young children: This is a good book to teach dialogue in writing.

Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride

Author: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: Chris Van Dusen

DiCamillo, K., & Van, D. C. (2006). Mercy Watson goes for a ride. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press.

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: 2007 Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor

Summary: Every weekend Mercy and Mr. Watson go for a car ride and poor Mercy never gets to drive until Baby Lincoln stows away and distracts Mr. Watson, allowing Mercy to take the wheel.

How this book relates to young children: Easy repetitive text allows students to participate in the reading.

How I would use this book with young children: Have the students make predictions about whether Mercy will ever get to drive the car.

First the Egg

Author/Illustrator: Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Seeger, L. V. (2007). First the egg. New Milford, Conn: Roaring Brook Press.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: 2008 Theodore Suess Geisel Honor, 2008 Caldecott Honor

Summary: A story of the life cycle of various animals that evolves into the "life cycle" of a story itself.

How this book relates to young children: Children will enjoy the die-cut flaps that allow them to be a part of the story.

How I would use this book with young children: This is a good book to use when introducing Writer's Workshop at the beginning of the year.

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

Author: Eric Litwin
Illustrator: James Dean

Litwin, E., & Dean, J. (2012). Pete the cat and his four groovy buttons. New York, NY: Harper.

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: 2013 Theodore Seuss Geisel Award

Summary: Pete loves his shirt even after he begins to lose the buttons.  He teaches us to not worry about small things.

How this book relates to young children: Children will enjoy the song and counting down with Pete.

How I would use this book with young children: Good for introducing concept of subtraction.

I Want My Hat Back

Author/Illustrator: Jon Klassen

Klassen, J., & Candlewick Press. (2011). I want my hat back. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press.

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: 2012 Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor, ALA Notable List, Texas 2x2 List

Summary: A bear is looking for his missing hat until one of the animals helps him to realize that he does know exactly where his hat is.

How this book relates to young children: This book has simple text with many high frequency words that children can help read.

How I would use this book with young children: This simple book is great for puppets and reader's theater.