I am on the hunt for books for the youngest children in preparation for a short talk I will do at a local preschool. I picked up Please, open this book! from a library this week and saw that it was a winner of the Wanda Gág Read Aloud Book Award which is for readers aged 0-8.
The Wanda Gág Read Aloud Book Award for children’s literature, sponsored by the Curriculum Materials Centre at Minnesota State University Moorhead, is for the best picture book of the year to read aloud to younger children.
They also have an award for older children - The Comstock Read Aloud Book Award for children’s literature, is for the best picture book of the year to read aloud to older children. Picture books for children from the age range of 9-12 are considered.
This criteria list for the Wanda Gág award really appeals to me:
- Book stretches a child's imagination
- Book holds the interest of children
- Book is memorable for children. The child is interested in repeated readings.
- Book shows respect for the individual child and the children of the world
- Book uses a rich vocabulary
- Book's text and illustrations stimulate children to respond in a variety of ways
Mel Fell written and illustrated by Corey Tabor (2022)
The Bug Girl: A True Story written by the bug girl herself, Sophia Spencer with Margaret McNamarais, illustrated by Kerascoët (2021)
Don’t Blink written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by David Roberts (2019)
Escargot written by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Sydney Hanson (2018)
It Came in the Mail written and illustrated by Ben Clanton (2017)
Please, Open this Book! written by Adam Lehrhaupt, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe (2016)
Sam & Dave Dig a Hole written by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen (2015)
The Day the Crayons Quit written by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (2014)
Silly Doggy! written and illustrated by Adam Stower (2013)
Earth to Clunk written by Pam Smallcomb and illustrated by Joe Berge (2012)
In 1928 Wanda Gag wrote and illustrated the book Millions of Cats, considered today a classic in children’s literature. The book has never been out of print and is the oldest American picture book still in print.
I now discover I also need to explore
The E.B. White Read Aloud Award (Picture book award). I did see one of my all time favourite books - Wishtree was the 2018 Middle Grade winner. I am not sure if this award is still presented as the most recent books I have discovered are from 2019.
And I will also look into
Anna Dewdney Read Together Award. The Anna Dewdney Read Together Award is given annually to a picture book that is both a superb read aloud and also sparks compassion, empathy, and connection. The award commemorates the life and work of author/illustrator Anna Dewdney and celebrates her commitment to reading with young children and putting books into as many little hands as possible.
I was excited to see Thank You, Omu!, by Oge Mora was their 2020 winner.
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