Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

Vacation by Ame Dyckman (text) & illus. by Mark Teague. Beach Lane. May 2024. 48p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781665930444.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award - Honors

Towed by Toad by Jashar Awan (text) & illus. by Jashar Awan. Tundra Bks. Sept. 2024. 48p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781774883488.
PreS-Gr 1–Toad and his tow truck spend a long day rescuing other animals whose vehicles have broken down. He declines his father’s offers of breakfast and lunch, saying he is in too much of a hurry to be a “helper” to his neighbors. When Toad’s own truck has a mechanical failure, he grows increasingly frustrated at his inability to “fix his own problem,” and breaks down in tears before accepting that “Everyone needs help sometimes. Even the helpers.” After Toad finally calls for assistance, his own father comes to the rescue in an even larger tow truck, and the two finally share a meal back home. The text is brief and Awan’s digital illustrations are clear and easy to see from a distance, making this an excellent choice for story hours. The social-emotional lesson is direct without being heavy-handed, and Toad and his tow truck are sure to be popular with children who have an endless appetite for vehicle books. Large print, short sentences, and simple, rhyming vocabulary make this a good choice for newly independent readers as well. VERDICT A pitch-perfect picture book with broad appeal, ideal for both truck-obsessed toddlers and emerging readers.-Reviewed by Amy Reimann 

Fox versus Fox by Corey R. Tabor (text) & illus. by Corey R. Tabor. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. (My First I Can Read). Mar. 2024. 32p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780063277939; pap. $5.99. ISBN 9780063277953.
PreS-Gr 2–Tabor does it again, with a charming addition to the much loved “Fox” series. Beginning readers will delight in the hilarious story of two foxes who ultimately discover they are more alike than different. When a woodland fox encounters an arctic fox for the first time, he struggles to comprehend that they can both be foxes. They look so different! The woodland fox begins listing all of the things foxes are able to do, like jumping very high, doing neat tricks, and being sneaky. The frustration grows when the arctic fox demonstrates the ability to do all of the same things—just differently! The competition gets more and more intense between the two, until they find themselves in a situation where they need a friend. The woodland fox offers a truce, and the two walk into the sunset with their arms around each other. Short sentences along with repeating words and phrases make this book a fantastic choice for shared reading between an adult and child. VERDICT It’s rare to find an early transitional reader with a captivating plot, humor, and illustrations that also maintains an easy reading level, but this title does all of that and more.-Reviewed by Ellen Kleber

Odyssey Award

Awarded annually, the Odyssey Award recognizes the best in audiobooks for kids and teens.

Odyssey Award - Children winner:

A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen by Erin Frankel. narrated by Luis Carlos de La Lombana. Dreamscape. Feb 2024. 14 min. $9.99. ISBN 9781666653847. 
 

Odyssey Award - Young Adult winner:

How the Boogeyman Became a Poet by Tony Keith Jr. narrated by Tony Keith Jr. HarperAudio. Feb 2024. 5:03 hrs. $26.99. ISBN 9780063296039. 

Odyssey Honor Audiobooks 

Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson. narrated by Renée Watson. Listening Library. Feb 2024. 51 min. $8. ISBN 9780593820889. 

Dispatches from Parts Unknown by Bryan Bliss. narrated by Joy Nash. HarperAudio. May 2024. 7:19 hrs. $27.99. ISBN 9780063308565.

Girls Like Her by Melanie Sumrow. narrated by Melanie Sumrow & January LaVoy. HarperAudio. June 2024. 9:03 hrs. $20.99. ISBN 9780063343313. 

You Are Brave: A Book About Trying New Things by Margaret O'Hair. narrated by Sofia Sanchez. Scholastic Audio. Aug. 2024. 19 min. $6.99. ISBN 9781546137894.

Alex Awards

An annual honor recognizing adult books with appeal to young adult readers.

2025 winners:

Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths About Disability by Melissa Blake. narrated by Melissa Blake. Hachette Audio. Mar. 2024. 6:51 hrs. $24.99. ISBN 9781668637425.
Adult/High School–Journalist and disability activist Blake was born with Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, a rare genetic bone and muscular disorder. In 2019, trolls attempted to silence her solely because of her appearance, but “they just empowered [her] to be more vocal—and go viral in the process.” In her first book, she’s “guided by two words: real and honest,” which also describes her chummy, engaging self-narration. Her quotables among her 13 “truths” are limitless: “Do use the world disabled. I feel respected. I feel seen. I feel valued.” “Disabled people are not burdens.” “Most ‘inspirational’ stories about disability are...dehumanizing and demeaning.” Posting selfies is “a revolutionary act...an act of demanding to be seen.” “People with disabilities deserve love and romance.” “The more I grow to love my body—the more I realize that the words disabled and beautiful totally belong in the same sentence.” “Wheelchairs...Are Freedom.” VERDICT Every library needs Blake’s disability primer in multiple formats.-Reviewed by Terry Hong 

Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined by David F. Walker (text) & illus. by Marcus Kwame Anderson. Ten Speed Graphic. Oct. 2024. 288p. Tr $35. ISBN 9780593836118.
Gr 8 Up–This reimagining of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn shifts its focus to Jim and becomes a broader examination of enslavement, the American Civil War era, and the power of telling one’s own story. The basic elements of the original are here, but Walker creates a more complex view of Jim and Huck’s relationship. Jim and Huck remained lifelong friends and, at ages 100 and 92 respectively, recount their adventures to Jim’s grandchildren. Jim knows about Twain’s book and wants to correct the misinformation. His life story is passed down through generations, honoring his admonition that “stories don’t tell themselves.” He stresses the importance of telling one’s own story, otherwise others will take it and twist it. In current day, a descendent of Jim’s has written a book capturing his life and humanity, correcting Twain’s version. Walker’s artful handling of the n-word in the narrative shows he understands both the importance and pain of including it. He doesn’t shy away from showing the abuse enslaved people suffered and the overall violence of that era. Historical notes connect facts and fiction for characters and events. Anderson’s art keenly depicts the characters’ humanity as powerfully as the violence they experience. Color and art style complement each other and creatively signal changes in time and point of view. VERDICT Using the story of Jim and Huck as a springboard, this well-researched, well-written book belongs in all library collections.-Reviewed by Carla Riemer

Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung. Berkley. May 2024. 400p. Tr $28. ISBN 9780593640531.

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark. Tor.com. Aug. 2024. 224p. Tr $20.99. ISBN 9781250767042.

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin. Dutton. Mar. 2024. 368p. Tr $28. ISBN 9780593474013.

I Feel Awful, Thanks by Lara Pickle (text) & illus. by Lara Pickle. Oni. Mar 2024.  pap. $17.99. ISBN 9781637153000.

I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones. S. & S./Saga. July 2024. 384p. Tr $29.99. ISBN 9781668022245.

The Witch of Colchis by Rosie Hewlett. Sourcebooks/Landmark. Sep. 2024. 464p. pap $16.99. ISBN 9781728299013. 

The Witchstone by Henry H. Neff. Blackstone. June 2024. 474p. Tr $26.99. ISBN 9798212015547.

Woman, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrapi, ed. tr. by Una Dimitrijević. Seven Stories. 272p. pap. $35.95. ISBN 9781644214053.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award

The Mildred L. Batchelder Award is awarded "to an American publisher for a children’s book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originating in a country other than the United States and in a language other than English and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States."

2025 Batchelder Award winner:

John the Skeleton by Triinu Laan. illus. by Marja-Liisa Plats. Restless/Yonder. Oct. 2024. 64p. tr. from Estonian by Adam Cullen. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781632063700.

Batchelder Honor Books 

Home by Isabelle Simler. illus. by author. Eerdmans. Mar. 2024. 68p. tr. from French by Vineet Lal. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780802856203.
Gr 2-5–An artistic and poetic examination of 27 animal homes, extolling what makes each unique while also creating points of relation; the book unites STEM learning with literary excellence. Poems describing an animal or insect’s home and what makes it special in both construction and purpose are accompanied by elaborate illustrations. This provides excellent visual and verbal reinforcement for readers. Additionally, to encourage relatability, the poems include familiar words which contextualize the animal’s home within readers’ understanding of what home means. The educational impact of the book is further heightened with a global selection of animals and insects, as well as back matter of more facts, glossary, and additional resources. Simler excels at nuanced explorations of nature. The hyper-colored digital illustrations mimic intricate colored-pencil line drawings which naturally draw the eye to seek out every detail. The poems speak to the heart while subtly including educational facts. It takes brilliance to unite science and creativity, but Simler has done just that in a versatile work appropriate for English, writing, or science lessons. VERDICT An essential purchase; this standout work of illustrated poems encourages readers to consider wild creatures’ homes and compare their similar needs to our own.-Reviewed by Jessica A. Bushore

Johnny, the Sea, and Me by Melba Escobar. illus. by Elizabeth Builes. Enchanted Lion. July 2024. 124p. tr. from Spanish by Sara Lissa Paulson. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781592704095.

Mr. Lepron's Mystery Soup by Giovanna Zoboli. illus. by Mariachiara Di Giorgio. Candlewick Studio. Oct. 2024. 48p. tr. from Italian by Denise Muir. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781536233391.

A Sleepless Night by Micaela Chirif. illus. by Joaquín Camp. Transit Children’s Eds. Oct. 2024. 40p. tr from Spanish by Jordan Landsman. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9798893389050.