2023 Geisel Award Predictions

Why didn’t I put out any Geisel Award predictions last year? Well, that would be because I didn’t have a good feel for it. It ended up being a great group of books (and added a Geisel Gold to Corey R. Tabor’s 2022 Caldecott Honor), but I’m not sure I could have picked any of them.

But this year? THIS YEAR?? About the same as last year. This is a notoriously tough award to predict (even more so now that Elephant & Piggie aren’t grabbing Geisels left and right), but I’m going to try my best.

Here are my picks for 2023 Geisel glory.

Geisel Award Medal Prediction:

A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis

So simple. So lovely. The illustrations do a wonderful job of reiterating the text, allowing beginning readers to use the artwork to inform their reading. A joy from beginning to end (a stealth Sibert contender) and my pick for Geisel gold.

Geisel Award Honor Prediction:

It’s a Sign! by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey

In retirement, Elephant & Piggie have become my Geisel Award influencers. Any time they bless a book with their “Elephant & Piggie Like Reading” seal of approval, it has to be taken seriously. Not that the Pumphrey Bros (currently #1 in my favorite Bros ranking, ahead of Mario Bros, Fan Bros, and the 2022 film Bros) needed any sort of blessing. It’s a sign is a fun, funny, and subtly inventive take on the early reader.

Geisel Award Honor Prediction:

Sir Ladybug by Corey R. Tabor

Every now and then, a book with a bit more complexity than is the norm makes Geisel waves (think Bink & Gollie in 2011). Combining comics and early reader elements, Geisel vet Corey R. Tabor has the makings of a great series here.

Geisel Award Honor Prediction:

Happy Sloth Day! by April Pulley Sayre with Jeff Sayre

I know – it’s giving you Wolf Snail vibes, right? I don’t blame you. It has simple text. It’s illustrated with photography. It’s nonfiction. I’m guessing that similar to Wolf Snail, this book will end up with a Geisel Honor.

Which books do YOU think will take home a shiny sticker? Let me know in the comments.

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