“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.” ~~Dr. Seuss

I'm pretty sure everyone has heard of Dr. Seuss. Even if you have never read Green Eggs and Ham, you know the story. Today marks the 107th anniversary of Theodore Seuss Geisel's birth. Even now; almost 20 years after his death, Dr. Seuss remains one of the best known and loved authors of children's books. His books have been made into movies, TV programs and specials, a Broadway musical, and a section of Univeral's Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando. But, my favorite Dr. Seuss adaptation is the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award given out in January. From the American Library Association website:

The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year. The winner(s), recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading, receives a bronze medal. Honor Book authors and illustrators receive certificates, which are presented at the ALA Annual Conference. The award was established in 2004 and first presented in 2006.

Basically, this is an award given to some of my favorite books for kids. These are books that are fun to read for both parent and child. These are books that don't take many readings for a 3-year-old to memorize. (I know from experience.) They're books that you won't mind reading one more time. A child memorizing the words to a well loved book is a starting point for them learning to read. Dr. Seuss was a starting point for a lot of readers out there, and the Theodore Seuss Geisel award points us to books that will lead our children in the same direction.

"These things are fun, and fun is good."

~~My 3-year-old thinks that the sticker at the front of the Geisel Award/Honor books show an image of Mo Willems. A couple of his books have the sticker on the cover. We had to do a Google image search the other day, just so that she wouldn't be spreading any misinformation.