Awarded to the author and illustrator
of the most distinguished book for beginning readers 

2023
I Did It!, written and illustrated by MIchael Emberly.
A girl tries and tries again to learn to ride a bicycle and all her friends provide words of encouragement. E 428 EMB

2022
Fox at Night, written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor.
Fox is up late in the night. There are shadows and noises everywhere. Fox is sure the night is full of monsters! Then he meets the real creatures of the night and realizes they are not so scary after all. E 428 TAB

2021
See the Cat: Three Stories about a Dog, written by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
Max is a dog … but why does the book keep insisting that the reader should “see the cat?” Max and the book have very different ideas about the stories they wish to tell. Fortunately they're able to reach a happy conclusion that satisfies them both … and will make young readers giggle. E 428 LAR

2020
Stop! Bot!, written and illustrated by James Yang
When a little boy stops to show a building doorman his new "bot," it floats up out of his hands and the kind doorman runs up to each floor of the building to try and catch it, with help from the building's residents. E YAN

2019
Fox the Tiger, written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor.
Playful Fox loves tigers so much he turns into one (with the help of some paint) in this comical early reader. E 428 TAB

2018
Charlie & Mouse, written by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Emily Hughes.
Charlie and Mouse, two young brothers, enjoy a day out together, attending an imaginary party and collecting rocks. E 428 SNY

2017
We Are Growing!, written and illustrated by Laurie Keller.
Walt is not the tallest or the curliest or the pointiest or even the crunchiest. A confounded blade of grass searches for his 'est' in this hilarious story about growing up. A Mo Willems’ Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! Book.E 428 KEL

2016
Don’t Throw It to Mo!, written by David A. Adler, illustrated by Sam Ricks.
Mo is the youngest kid on the Robins football team. The kids on the rival team tease him for being a 'butterfingers' who's too tiny to catch the ball. But Mo's coach has a plan up his sleeve to turn Mo's little size into a big win for the Robins. E 428 ADL

2015
You Are (Not) Small, written by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weyant.
Two fuzzy creatures can't agree on who is small and who is big, until a couple of surprise guests show up, settling it once and for all! E KAN

2014
The Watermelon Seed, written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli.
After swallowing a watermelon seed, a crocodile imagines a scary outcome. E PIZ 

2013
Up, Tall and High!, written and illustrated by Ethan Long.
Through illustrations and simple text, birds demonstrate the meanings of the words up, tall, and high. E 428 EASY BOOKS LON

2012
Tales for Very Picky Eaters, written and illustrated by Josh Schneider.
A father tells outlandish stories while trying to get his young son, who is a very picky eater, to eat foods he thinks he will not like. E 428 SCH
 
2011
Bink and Gollie, written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illustrated by Tony Fucile.
Two roller-skating best friends--one tiny, one tall--share three comical adventures involving outrageously bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. E DIC 

2010
Benny and Penny in the Big No-No!, written and illustrated by Geoffrey Hayes.
Two mice meet their new neighbor and discover that she is not as scary as they feared. J-GRAPHIC HAY  

2009
Are You Ready to Play Outside?,  written and illustrated by Mo Willems.
Friends Elephant and Piggie are playing outside when it starts to rain, and then they must decide what to do. E 428 WIL

2008
There Is a Bird on Your Head!, written and illustrated by Mo Willems.
 Gerald the elephant discovers that there is something worse than a bird on your head-- two birds on your head! Piggie will try to help her best friend. E 428 WIL

2007
Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways,  written and illustrated by Laura McGee Kvasnosky.
In three short stories, two fox sisters run away from home, bury a time capsule, and take advantage of some creative juice.  

2006
Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas, written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Suçie Stevenson.
When Henry and his dog Mudge go with Henry's parents to visit Great-Grandpa Bill in the home with lots of other grandpas, they lead them all on a wonderful adventure. E 428 RYL