'Benny and Penny' tops 2010 Geisel awards list of best books for beginners

Learning to read is serious business. But that doesn't mean it can't be done in a fun way.

This year, for the first time, a graphic novel — a/k/a comic book — won the Theodor Geisel Award for the best book for beginning readers. The award, presented annually by the American Library Association, is named for the man better known as Dr. Seuss.

Because Dr. Seuss was always pushing the boundaries of what was possible for beginning readers, it seems fitting that this year's winner of the Geisel Award is "Benny and Penny in the Big No-No," a graphic novel written and illustrated by Geoffrey Hayes (TOON Books, $12.95).

Another graphic novel, "Little Mouse Gets Ready" (TOON Books, $12.95), written and illustrated by Jeff Smith, creator of the classic "Bone" graphic-novel series, won a Geisel Honor.

Here's a closer look at these books and the other 2010 Geisel Honor books:

• Mouse siblings Benny and Penny sneak into the yard of their neighbor, a hedgehog named Melina, because they suspect she has stolen their pail. Inevitably, a spat ensues with Melina. Later, it turns out that the pail was in Benny and Penny's yard all the time and so Benny and Penny have to go back and apologize to Melina.

In "Benny and Penny in the Big No-No"(ages 4-7), Hayes does a marvelous job of highlighting the kind of incidents that seem small to adults but loom so large to children.

Hayes' emotion-packed story is complemented by his expressive watercolor illustrations. The charm of Hayes' watercolors, particularly in the way he details the world of Benny and Penny, is reminiscent of the books of Beatrix Potter.

One more important note about "Benny and Penny in the Big No-No," as well as "Little Mouse Gets Ready": Both books follow the TOON philosophy, which is to eliminate the frustration many beginning readers feel in trying to follow a story while sounding out the words. In most beginning readers, the text is paramount and the illustrations only provide strategic clues to the story.

In TOON books, however, the illustrations come first and, as such, allow readers to understand the entire story just by "reading" the pictures. The text, meanwhile, provides important details to flesh out the story told through the pictures. For many beginning readers, this idea of "pictures first" gives them the confidence to try to navigate the text because they already know what the story is about.

• Little Mouse is so excited about getting to visit the barn. But first he thinks he needs to get dressed — not an easy task for a young mouse. In "Little Mouse Gets Ready" (ages 4-7), Smith tells a story that will be familiar to many young readers. But they won't expect the hilarious ending when, after all the work of getting dressed, Little Mouse discovers from his mother that mice aren't supposed to wear clothes after all.

Smith's story, complemented with simple, colorful illustrations, is infused with humor that will tickle the fancy of young children, like the moment when Little Mouse puts on his underpants and tells his readers to remember to "get your tail in the tail hole!"

In addition to "Little Mouse Gets Ready," three other 2010 Geisel Honor books — all part of established series — were chosen:

• "I Spy Fly Guy!"(Cartwheel/Scholastic, $5.99, ages 5-8), written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold.

In this latest adventure in the hilarious "Fly Guy" series, Fly Guy, a mosquito, and his human friend Buzz are playing hide-and-seek when disaster seems to strike. Fortunately, Fly Guy can take care of himself and reappears just when Buzz thinks all is lost. Arnold's simple but action-filled story will send young readers' hearts racing, and they'll love Arnold's big-eyed creatures, as well as the flashy cover that's become a "Fly Guy" trademark.

• "Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends" (Houghton Mifflin, $15, ages 4-7), written and illustrated by Wong Herbert Yee.

Mouse and Mole are excited about trying to do some bird-watching. But it isn't as easy as it looks, and the friends have to work together to figure out a way to accomplish their goal. Young readers will enjoy Yee's gentle, realistic story, as well as his watercolor illustrations.

• "Pearl and Wagner: One Funny Day" (Dial, $14.99, ages 5-8), written by Kate McMullan and illustrated by R.W. Alley.

Wagner is having a difficult April Fools' Day. Everyone is playing tricks on him until he visits the school nurse and finds a way to create his own April Fools' diversion. McMullan's story will have young readers rooting for Wagner, while Alley's illustrations emphasize the book's good humor.

Karen MacPherson, the children's/teen librarian at the Takoma Park, Md., Library, can be reached at Kam.Macpherson@gmail.com.