Our 12 Mock Geisel 2020 Contenders - Read Them Now, Vote Next Month!

This year we here at Guessing Geisel are trying something new. In the past, we would include 30+ titles on our mock ballot. While we loved highlighting so many great books for beginning readers, it could also be overwhelming. This year, with the goal of streamlining to encourage participation, we’ll be featuring just 12 titles on our mock ballot. And we’re sharing them now so you can get a jump start on reading them before voting begins in January, 2020.

Wishing you could have in-person discussions about these titles? Want to introduce your colleagues/patrons/students to excellent books for beginning readers? We encourage you to visit your local library, check out the titles, and share them. Here are a few ideas:

• Put them on a table in a common area. Send out an email to invite colleagues to explore titles at their leisure. 
• Make a display and encourage patrons to read them and provide feedback (written or verbal). 
• Share them at a staff meeting. Take a couple quick minutes to tease the books or spend a longer chunk discussing a handful of titles and invite others to explore the other titles later. 
• Host a mock with your colleagues, patrons, or students. Take a look at past posts from Patrick Gall, DaNae Leu, and Amanda Foulk, as well as our guest post for SLJ, for ideas. 

Without further ado, here are the 12 Guessing Geisel 2020 mock titles listed in alphabetical order by author. 
*Don’t see your favorite on this list? Let us know in the comments! You’ll also be able to vote for write-in contenders on the ballot.

• Chick & Brain: Smell My Foot by Cece Bell
• King & Kayla and the Case of Found Fred by Dori Hillestad Butler, illustrated by Nancy Meyers
• Save the Cake by Molly Coxe
• Let’s Have a Sleepover by Norm Feuti
• Penny and Her Sled by Kevin Henkes
• Whose Footprint is That? by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Kelsey Oneida
• See Me Play by Paul Meisel
• Frank and Bean by Jamie Michalak, illustrated by Bob Kolar
• Poof! A Bot! by David Milgrim 
• Fox + Chick: The Quiet Boat Ride Other Stories by Sergio Ruzzier
• Charlie & Mouse Even Better by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Emily Hughes
• Stop! Bot! by James Yang