Book challenges and awards
Geisel Honor books worth reading
Honor books are the runners-up in the Geisel Award each year. These are standouts, from first-reader comics to cartoons and easy nonfiction.
Honor books checked against the ALA Geisel Award list, Oct 2026. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.
Hi! Fly Guy
Tedd Arnold · Ages 4-8
Buzz finds a fly who can say his name and tries to enter him in a pet show. A silly, picture-heavy reader with large type (Geisel Honor 2006).
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Not a Box
Antoinette Portis · Ages 2-6
A rabbit insists his box is not a box. Geisel Honor 2007, and a good push for a child to invent a sequel with any carton.
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Stinky
Eleanor Davis · Ages 5-9
A swamp monster is teased and finds a friend. A TOON Books comic and Geisel Honor 2009; the pictures carry the plot.
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Little Mouse Gets Ready
Jeff Smith · Ages 4-8
A mouse spends a long time getting dressed. A TOON Books comic and Geisel Honor 2010 that beginning readers can read alone.
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Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!
Grace Lin · Ages 5-8
Twin sisters who are not identical in six short stories. Geisel Honor 2011, with a gentle sense of humour.
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We Are in a Book!
Mo Willems · Ages 4-8
Gerald and Piggie find out they are in a book and ask the reader to say 'banana'. Funny for emerging readers (Geisel Honor 2011).
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I Broke My Trunk!
Mo Willems · Ages 4-8
Gerald tells a long tale of how he broke his trunk. Geisel Honor 2012, and silly storytelling for new readers.
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I Want My Hat Back
Jon Klassen · Ages 3-8
A bear looks for his hat and asks animals if they have seen it. Deadpan humour with a dark twist; Geisel Honor 2012.
Watch for: The ending implies the bear ate the rabbit.
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Let's Go for a Drive!
Mo Willems · Ages 4-8
Gerald and Piggie plan a car trip and pack the wrong things. Geisel Honor 2013, goofy planning story.
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A Big Guy Took My Ball!
Mo Willems · Ages 4-8
Piggie's ball is taken by a bigger creature and Gerald tries to stand up for her. Geisel Honor 2014; a funny reversal at the end.
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Waiting Is Not Easy!
Mo Willems · Ages 4-8
Piggie has a surprise and Gerald can't stand waiting for it. Geisel Honor 2015, and relatable for any child who has been told to wait.
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More lists
Geisel Award winners, 2006 to 2024
The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award goes to the best American book for beginning readers each year, awarded by the American Library Association.
Newbery Medal winners, 2017 to 2026
The Newbery Medal goes each year to the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, chosen by a committee of librarians.
Newbery Honor Books, 2023 to 2026
Honor books are the runners-up the Newbery committee also names.
Newbery Medal winners worth reading before middle school
Newbery winners go back to 1922, and many older ones feel dated.
Caldecott Medal winners, 2017 to 2026
The Caldecott Medal honors the most distinguished American picture book for children, judged on the illustrations.
Caldecott Honor Books, 2022 to 2026
Honor books are the Caldecott committee's runners-up, and many of them are the ones children ask to hear again.
Caldecott Medal winners from 1980 to 2016 that are still shelf favorites
Older Caldecott winners are the ones many families already own.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winners, 2019 to 2026
The Geisel Award goes to the best book for beginning readers each year.