When children learn to read, they start with very simple “easy readers” and move up to early chapter books.
Easy readers are the small 6″x9″ books with short simple sentences. Easy readers have 8-64 pages, a large typeface with lots of white space on the page, and are fully illustrated in color. This includes easy readers illustrated like comics (also known as “graphic novels”). Last year’s easy reader winner was Watch Me Throw the Ball! by Mo Willems.
Early chapter books are also 6″x9″ but these books have longer sentences, more text on each page, and a smaller typeface with less white space. Early chapter books have 48-128 pages and the interior art is usually black and white. Last year’s early chapter book winner was Bad to the Bone by Lucy Nolan, illustrated by Mike Reed.
Now it’s time for a new winner. Let us know your favorites! Nominate an easy reader AND an early chapter book published between Oct. 16, 2009, and Oct. 15, 2010 using this form. An award will be given for an easy reader and for an early chapter book.
—Anastasia Suen, category organizer
Click here to go to the nomination form and leave your nomination for this category. (For more information about the process, go here.)
To view an up-to-the-minute list of what’s already been nominated for this category, click here.
To check out last year’s finalists in this category, click here.