Jen’s Comments (group member since Aug 19, 2014)

Jen’s comments from the Mock Geisel group.

Does anyone have any suggestions for any Mock Geisel titles for April 2017?

Hi Beverly,
My hope is to still be working with Jenni to moderate the group. I admit it's difficult to take on the group while teaching full time and keeping up with life. I feel that I can speak for the both of us that if anyone else would like to chime in and offer titles for us to read we would welcome them.
With that said, what have you been reading or what books are you looking forward to coming out?
Best,
Jen

1. Page Turning Dynamic—plot engages reader to keep reading
2. Text—word repetition, new vocabulary added at an appropriate pace, sentence length, book length (24-96 pages)
3. Illustrations—give clues to the text, make sense with the text
4. Font—size, color, placement

Go, Otto, Go!
By David Milgrim

1. Engaging story from the beginning, because we see that Otto wants to go home to space! In the 6 page spread we see him building a rocket to get there. Takes off and then has problems with his rocket. What will happen? Keep reading to find out.
2. As new vocabulary is added, it is repeated multiple times (Eg. Work is repeated 5 times after its addition). Almost all new vocabulary that is introduced is included on a first 100 sight word list. The exception is nowhere, which if readers break up the compound word (I know not a beginning reader skill for most) both are in the first 100.
3. When Otto has trouble with his rocket and he veers left and right each direction is shown through a separate illustration on facing pages with the appropriate vocabulary word. The animals below watching Otto also help our understanding by turning the appropriate direction as well.
4. Font is large, there is lots of white space, and new words are placed with appropriate illustrations to aid in deciphering them.

I had never seen any of the Otto books before. It looks like a good beginning reader series!

--Duck, Duck Porcupine! by Salina Yoon

--Snail and Worm: Three Stories About Two Friends by Tina Kugler

--Go, Otto, Go! by David Milgrim

1. Page Turning Dynamic—plot engages reader to keep reading
2. Text—word repetition, new vocabulary added at an appropriate pace, sentence length, book length (24-96 pages)
3. Illustrations—give clues to the text, make sense with the text
4. Font—size, color, placement

The Thank You Book
By Mo Willems

1. Of course…who doesn’t want to read an Elephant and Piggie book?
2. Some words could be difficult for beginning readers (thankful, important, everybody) and there is not a way to support these words with illustrations. If readers are familiar with E & P books they should be familiar with not only the characters, but also some repeated vocabulary.
3. The illustrations help us know who is speaking and give us clues to which characters are being thanked on each page.
4. Speech bubble color, text size, and structure let us know not only who is talking but, how to emphasize words and emotions.

1. Page Turning Dynamic—plot engages reader to keep reading
2. Text—word repetition, new vocabulary added at an appropriate pace, sentence length, book length (24-96 pages)
3. Illustrations—give clues to the text, make sense with the text
4. Font—size, color, placement

What This Story Needs Is a Munch and a Crunch
By Emma J. Virjan

1. The cover and title pages give us clues about potentially going on a picnic. Will the first page with a pig in a wig entice readers to continue? Will this story be humorous or will something interesting happen?
2. While new vocabulary is added, much is not repeated until the later in the story. With that being said, this title only has 6 sentences in it (96 words). One of the sentences in the story goes on for 10 pages!! But, each page only has a few words.
3. The illustrations do give very good clues to the newly introduced text, as well as the repeated foods after the picnic is rained out.
4. Since there are so few words in the book, the font could have been a little larger and on only one page (pie) could the young reader skip over the words, since it is placed low on the page. I also noticed that the double-story a and g are used in this font.

1. Page Turning Dynamic—plot engages reader to keep reading
2. Text—word repetition, new vocabulary added at an appropriate pace, sentence length, book length (24-96 pages)
3. Illustrations—give clues to the text, make sense with the text
4. Font—size, color, placement

Get a Hit, Mo!
By David Adler

1. Mo is excited about his baseball game. But, being the smallest and youngest on the team gives him much to worry about. Young baseball lovers will be cheering for Mo to see if he gets a hit, and having worrisome feelings right along with him in the late innings of the game. Fans of Don’t Throw It to Mo will enjoy this second installment.
2. New vocabulary is added appropriately, with baseball terminology being repeated through the story. While the sentence length can be difficult for younger readers, no sentence is longer than 2 lines (longest sentence is 10 words).
3. The illustrations not only make sense with the text, but many help decipher the baseball vocabulary. The action sequences also help us see/feel right along with Mo.
4. There is little white space on any page in this book. Some beginning readers may feel overwhelmed with the amount of text in the story. The font chosen for the italics is appropriate as well, as it shows continuity with the main text by not using a double-story a or g.

--The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

--What This Story Needs Is a Munch and a Crunch by Emma J. Virjan

--Get a Hit, Mo! by David Adler

Purpose: The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award recognizes the author(s) and illustrator(s) of a book for beginning readers who, through their literary and artistic achievements, demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading.

Criteria: The award shall be given annually to the author and illustrator of the most distinguished contribution to the body of American children’s literature that encourages and supports the beginning reader published in English in the United States during the preceding year. 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. Honor Books may be named. These shall be books that are also truly distinguished.

The Award is restricted to author(s) and illustrator(s) who are citizens or residents of the United States.

The committee in its deliberations is to consider only the books eligible for the award, as specified in the terms.

The "author(s) and illustrator(s)" may include co-authors and co-illustrators. The author(s) and illustrator(s) may be awarded the medal posthumously.

"Distinguished" is defined as: Marked by distinction: noted for significant achievement; Marked by excellence in quality; Marked by conspicuous excellence or eminence; Individually distinct; Providing 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.

"American children’s literature" means that books originally published in other countries are not eligible.

"Contribution to the body of children’s literature that encourages and supports the beginning reader" indicates the text of a book, which 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. The committee shall consider all forms of writing—fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Reprints and compilations are not eligible.

Committee members need to consider the following criteria:

• Subject matter must be intriguing enough to motivate the child to read
• The book may or may not include short "chapters"
• New words should be added slowly enough to make learning them a positive experience
• Words should be repeated to ensure knowledge retention
• Sentences must be simple and straightforward
• There must be a minimum of 24 pages. Books may not be longer than 96 pages
• The illustrations must demonstrate the story being told
• The book creates a successful reading experience, from start to finish
• The plot advances from one page to the next and creates a "page-turning" dynamic

Number and Frequency of Award: One Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for one book will be announced in January of each year during the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting to recognized author(s) and illustrator(s). The announcement of the first Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is January 2006, with the first award presented in 2006, and to continue every year thereafter. If a suitable candidate is not found for any given year, the award will not be presented that year.

Here are some ideas for 2017. I'd love to see titles from others.

Here's a few that I've come across this year so far.
Get a Hit, Mo! by Adler
What This Story Needs is a Hush and a Shush by Virjan
Dance! Dance! Underpants! by Shea
When Spring Comes by Henkes
The Thank You Book by Willems (Still haven't gotten my hands in this)

The Princess in Black is a humorous, action filled story and it will be a welcome addition to my beginning chapter book section. I look forward to more books in this series. Of course I'm always looking for more boy lead character books!

I just read Three Little Peas by Rivoal. Although it's not eligible for the Geisel it's an excellent beginning reader title. Check it out!

Jenni wrote: "No way! Are you at a school or a public library?"

Elementary school in Highline.

Jenni wrote: "This is a link to our Resources page. It has our local library list, as well as, lists compiled by other reading programs around the country.
http://vashonsd.org/teacherweb/title/......"

Thanks Jenni! I'm just across the water from you in WS. Small world!

Jenni,

Do you have a link to the list your public library put together? If so, please share!

True about the page limit. I don't feel that I've read much, or seen very many beginning books this year, but I'm sure they're out there. I did just catalog My New Friend Is So Fun by Willems, June 2014. I love EP, but there has got to be more out there!

I just picked up Cat Napped by Leeza Hernandez at the library and while it is for a young reader, unfortunately the illustrations don't really function as keys or clues to the text. It is though a book that kiddos who like to read about cats will enjoy. Good book for word choice.