For immediate release | January 27, 2025
Ame Dyckman, Mark Teague Win 2025 Geisel Award for ‘Vacation’
PHOENIX — Author Ame Dyckman and illustrator Mark Teagueare the 2025 recipients of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for “Vacation” published by Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon & Shuster Children’s Publishing Division. The award was announced today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during the ALA’s LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience held January 24 – 27 in Phoenix.
The Geisel Award is given to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year. Award winners are recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading. Award and honor book recipients will receive their awards in Philadelphia, during the ALA Annual Conference in June.
Bat, Cat and Rat - three friends - decide they need a vacation. First, they need to earn money, and then they need to decide where to go. When they can’t agree, Bat comes up with the best solution of all: a “staycation.”
In simple but sophisticated illustrations, this easy reader tells an engaging story with some complex words and repetitive text. Young children will find this hilarious story is a favorite to read again and again.
Ame Dyckman is the author of many books including the Monster Og series and The New York Times bestselling “Wolfie and the Bunny.” She lives with her family in central New Jersey.
Mark Teague is one of today’s top illustrators for children even though he has never taken an art class in his life. He lives in upstate New York with his wife and two daughters.
“With vibrant, acrylic illustrations and carefully selected repetitive text, Dyckman and Teague create an unforgettable story with humor and suspense that will engage and satisfy the reader until the end,” said Geisel Award Committee Chair Maria Xochitl Peterson.
Two Geisel Honor Books were named:
“Fox versus Fox” written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins.
“Towed by Toad” written and illustrated by Jashar Awan and published by Tundra Books, an imprint of Tundra Book Group, a division of Penguin Random House of Canada Limited.
The members of the 2025 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Committee are Chair Maria Xochitl Peterson, Chicago Public Library – Retired, Illinois; Alan R. Bailey, East Carolina University, North Carolina; Lynn Piper Carpenter, Birmingham Public Library, Alabama; Sarah Clarke, Great Neck Library, Nassau County, New York; Deanna Day, Washington State University; Jessica Ko, Los Angeles Public Library, California; and Amy A. McClure, Ohio Wesleyan University, Ohio.
About the American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org
About the Association for Library Service to Children
ALSC, a division of the American Library Association, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 3,300 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for all children through libraries. Visit www.ala.org/alsc.
For more information on the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award and other ALA Youth Media Awards, please visit www.ala.org/yma.
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