Jonathan Fenske wins 2026 Geisel Award for ‘Stop That Mop!’

CHICAGO — Author and illustrator Jonathan Fenske is the 2026 recipient of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for “Stop That Mop!” published by Simon Spotlight, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. 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 Youth Media Awards Announcements in Chicago.

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.

An animate mop leads a menagerie of animals on a merry chase. Hop, clop, and flop - it's the cream of the crop! Rhyming text pairs concise vocabulary with expressive illustrations and zany humor for a decodable tale that will keep beginning readers engaged while strengthening their skills.

“‘Stop That Mop’ respects the work of the beginning reader and sparks the interest of a child audience,” said Geisel Award Committee Chair Liv Hanson.

Three Geisel Honor Books were named:

“Earl and Worm: The Big Mess and Other Stories,” written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.

“I Like Hoops” by Juwanda G. Ford and illustrated by Jada Jeni Bennett and published by Holiday House.

“The Tunneler Tunnels in the Tunnel” written and illustrated by Michael Rex and published by Simon Spotlight, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

The members of the 2026 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Committee are Chair Liv Hanson, Chicago Public Library; Peter Blenski, Pewaukee Public Library, Wisconsin; Maria Cotto, Pawtucket Public Library, Rhode Island; Alexandra Genia, DC Public Schools, Washington, D.C.; Roxanne M. Renteria, Deschutes Public Library, Bend, Oregon; Katie Salo, Glenview Public Library, Illinois; Elizabeth Webster, Michigan State University Libraries, East Lansing; and Award Administrative Assistant Jennifer Henry, Wake County Public Libraries, West Regional Library, Cary, North Carolina.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. 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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