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[CCBC-Net] Geisel award reaction
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From: Susan Kusel <susankusel>
Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2006 18:59:10 -0800 (PST)
I've seen a lot of discussion about the creation of the award and praise for the authors in general (and I agree that it is wonderful that these books and authors get some recognition), but very little talk about the actual books. So here goes...
"Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas" by Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Su?ie Stevenson.
I didn't have my money on it (I thought "Hi, Fly Guy!" or "Mercy Watson to the Rescue" were going to win) but I was pleasantly surprised to find out this book was the winner. The humor of the grandfathers in their skivvies, of Henry going to the house where grandpas live, and the great illustrations really made this a fun, likable, lighthearted book. For those who said that this was a wonderful series... I agree, but I don't feel that this was an honor for her body of work... I felt this particular book stood out. Cynthia Rylant actually had 5 books eligible this year, and I thought this one was the best.
"Hi! Fly Guy" by Tedd Arnold. Different, creative, funny and with an unbelievably eye-catching cover. This book is about a fly trained to be a pet, and I thought it was delightful. It's interesting, though, that this book was titled "Fly Guy #1" even before any other Fly Guys have been written! I thought it showed that the publishers were very confident about turning this book into a successful series.
""Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa" by Erica Silverman. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin.
I didn't like this one originally... I re-read it after I heard it was an Honor book and it grew on me a bit more. I think the illustrations are the real strength of this book. This one is also the first of its series.
"Amanda Pig and the Really Hot Day" by Jean van Leeuwen. Illustrated by Ann Schweninger.
This one also surprised me because I didn't like it at all when I first read it... I thought it was very jumpy and inconsistant. Like Cowgirl Kate, my opinion improved when I re-read it, but I still think this was the weakest of the group.
"A Splendid Friend, Indeed" by Suzanne Bloom. I hadn't considered this an early reader, I had thought about it as a picture book.
But it's a good choice and a fun story. And, the only one honored that's not part of a current or future series.
Books that I was surprised not to see on the list:
"Moose's Big Idea" by Stephanie Greene, illustrated by Joe Mathieu
I thought this was laugh-out-loud funny... not something you usually say about early readers! Imaginative story, descriptive illustrations... this one was really terrific.
"Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole" by Wong Herbert Yee
I thought this was delightful in the style of "Frog and Toad." I just loved the characters.
"From Slave to Soldier" and "Billy and the Rebels," both by Deborah Hopkinson. Illustrated by Brian Floca.
I noticed there was no non-fiction on the list and I thought both of these books were strong, well plotted, consistant and interesting enough to read through to the end.
"Mr. Putter and Tabby Make a Wish" by Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Arthur Howard.
This was the other Cynthia Rylant book I thought was a stand-out from its series. This was about Mr. Putter's birthday party and just adorable and fun.
"Mercy Watson to the Rescue" by Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen.
I didn't like this book, but a lot of my colleagues absolutely loved it, and I thought Kate DiCamillo's name lent a lot of heft to it. The illustrations were terrific and engaging... but I found I just couldn't get into the story or really care about the characters. I was expecting it to be the winner or an honor book... so I was (pleasantly) surprised to see it not make the list. Like Hi Fly Guy, this one was also labeled Mercy Watson #1... so maybe Mercy will grow on me as the series continues.
Sorry for the incredibly long post!
-Susan
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Received on Thu 02 Feb 2006 08:59:10 PM CST
Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2006 18:59:10 -0800 (PST)
I've seen a lot of discussion about the creation of the award and praise for the authors in general (and I agree that it is wonderful that these books and authors get some recognition), but very little talk about the actual books. So here goes...
"Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas" by Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Su?ie Stevenson.
I didn't have my money on it (I thought "Hi, Fly Guy!" or "Mercy Watson to the Rescue" were going to win) but I was pleasantly surprised to find out this book was the winner. The humor of the grandfathers in their skivvies, of Henry going to the house where grandpas live, and the great illustrations really made this a fun, likable, lighthearted book. For those who said that this was a wonderful series... I agree, but I don't feel that this was an honor for her body of work... I felt this particular book stood out. Cynthia Rylant actually had 5 books eligible this year, and I thought this one was the best.
"Hi! Fly Guy" by Tedd Arnold. Different, creative, funny and with an unbelievably eye-catching cover. This book is about a fly trained to be a pet, and I thought it was delightful. It's interesting, though, that this book was titled "Fly Guy #1" even before any other Fly Guys have been written! I thought it showed that the publishers were very confident about turning this book into a successful series.
""Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa" by Erica Silverman. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin.
I didn't like this one originally... I re-read it after I heard it was an Honor book and it grew on me a bit more. I think the illustrations are the real strength of this book. This one is also the first of its series.
"Amanda Pig and the Really Hot Day" by Jean van Leeuwen. Illustrated by Ann Schweninger.
This one also surprised me because I didn't like it at all when I first read it... I thought it was very jumpy and inconsistant. Like Cowgirl Kate, my opinion improved when I re-read it, but I still think this was the weakest of the group.
"A Splendid Friend, Indeed" by Suzanne Bloom. I hadn't considered this an early reader, I had thought about it as a picture book.
But it's a good choice and a fun story. And, the only one honored that's not part of a current or future series.
Books that I was surprised not to see on the list:
"Moose's Big Idea" by Stephanie Greene, illustrated by Joe Mathieu
I thought this was laugh-out-loud funny... not something you usually say about early readers! Imaginative story, descriptive illustrations... this one was really terrific.
"Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole" by Wong Herbert Yee
I thought this was delightful in the style of "Frog and Toad." I just loved the characters.
"From Slave to Soldier" and "Billy and the Rebels," both by Deborah Hopkinson. Illustrated by Brian Floca.
I noticed there was no non-fiction on the list and I thought both of these books were strong, well plotted, consistant and interesting enough to read through to the end.
"Mr. Putter and Tabby Make a Wish" by Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Arthur Howard.
This was the other Cynthia Rylant book I thought was a stand-out from its series. This was about Mr. Putter's birthday party and just adorable and fun.
"Mercy Watson to the Rescue" by Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen.
I didn't like this book, but a lot of my colleagues absolutely loved it, and I thought Kate DiCamillo's name lent a lot of heft to it. The illustrations were terrific and engaging... but I found I just couldn't get into the story or really care about the characters. I was expecting it to be the winner or an honor book... so I was (pleasantly) surprised to see it not make the list. Like Hi Fly Guy, this one was also labeled Mercy Watson #1... so maybe Mercy will grow on me as the series continues.
Sorry for the incredibly long post!
-Susan
--------------------------------- Brings words and photos together (easily) with
PhotoMail - it's free and works with Yahoo! Mail.
Received on Thu 02 Feb 2006 08:59:10 PM CST
