SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

December 11, 2018 by Travis Jonker

2019 Geisel Award Predictions

December 11, 2018 by Travis Jonker   Leave a Comment

Geisel 2019

Geisel is tough to predict. The criteria demand that we look for a book that “encourages and supports the beginning reader”, which sneakily rules out a lot of books in the K-2 space. And the fact that early readers and picture books are considered means the medal can cast a wide net. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been talking about a particular picture book’s Caldecott chances and someone will say “You know, I was thinking that would be a good Geisel candidate”, and I say “Oohh yeah! I hadn’t thought of that.”

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

All that is to lower the bar for this bit of information: I went 0 for 4 in my Geisel predictions last year. Although I did have three winners in my Also Look Out For . . . section, so I’m not calling it a total miss.

Here are my picks for 2019 Geisel glory.

And if you’re into the Geisel, be sure to check out the Guessing Geisel blog.

*Edited* I initially had Meet Yasmin! as my Geisel Medal prediction, but was alerted to a possible ineligibility issue.

Geisel Medal Prediction

A Parade of Elephants

A Parade of Elephants by Kevin Henkes

Last year The Henk was shut out of Geisel with his book The Egg, so it’s time for some sweet, sweet revenge (I just love the thought of Kevin Henkes, by all accounts the kindest of humans, rubbing his hands together and laughing maniacally as he awaits the award announcement). Seriously though, this book completely inhabits the world of a child on the cusp of reading and guides them along.

Geisel Honor Prediction

See Zip Zap

See Zip Zap by David Milgrim

Milgrim has won a Geisel Honor in the past (for Go, Otto, Go!) and this first book in the Adventures of Zip series is clearly the work of a guy who knows the beginning reader audience. It does a lot with very limited vocabulary.

Geisel Honor Prediction

Vernon is on His Way

 

Vernon is On His Way: Small Stories by Philip C. Stead

It makes so much sense that Philip Stead would try his hand at an early reader. The texts for his picture books have always been so lovingly simple and straightforward. Stead mixes humor, action, and moments of quiet contemplation into a satisfying whole.

Geisel Honor Prediction

Can You Find Pup

Can You Find Pup? by Vincent X. Kirsch

Like all the Holiday House I Like to Read books, this one nails the nuts and bolts of a beginning reader text. Can You Find Pup? also adds the unexpected touch of seek-and-find elements, which only boosts the overall appeal.

Book That I Wanted to Win But is Sadly Too Long

Peter & Ernesto

Peter and Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths by Graham Annable

The Geisel criteria state that a books “may not be longer than 96 pages. Clocking in at 128, Peter & Ernesto are left out of contention. I’m bummed because this book checked a lot of Geisel boxes. Ah well.

Also look out for . . .

I wouldn’t be surprised to see any of the following fine books get shiny stickers, either.

 

Filed under: Articles

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

May 2023

Keeping an Eye On . . . the PEN America Book Ban Lawsuit

by Travis Jonker

May 2023

The Unexpecteds: 5 Sneakily Popular Books in Our K-3 School Library This Year

by Travis Jonker

May 2023

'Where are your tall books?' The Top 4 Unexpected Reasons for Popularity

by Travis Jonker

May 2023

2023 Books by American Indian Youth Literature Award Winners

by Travis Jonker

May 2023

The 2023 Poop Report

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Keeping an Eye On . . . the PEN America Book Ban Lawsuit

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Ellen Myrick Publisher Preview: Fall 2023/Winter 2024 (Part Four – TOON Books, Albatros, Arctis, and Barefoot Books)

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Spider-Man Fake Red | Review

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

And now there are 38: May Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Suggestions

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Not the Mermaid or Monster You Knew, a guest post by author Robin Alvarez

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Conversation with Laurel Snyder

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

14 Fantasy YA Novels to Read During Pride Month

12 Books About the Japanese Incarceration for Middle Grade and High School Readers

7 Multimodal Works for Expanding on 'A Single Shard' by Linda Sue Park | Refreshing the Canon

Revisit 'The People Could Fly' with New Eyes Through This All-Ages Resource List | Refreshing the Canon

7 Engaging Works to Bridge Past and Present with 'The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963' | Refreshing the Canon

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023