Francoise Mouly, Editorial Director of TOON Books


"This is wonderful news--a huge honor for the authors/artists and for all of us at TOON. But we published five books last year, and only 3 got nominated: what's wrong with the other two??!"

Liniers, author of The Big Wet Balloon


"Wooooow! Very proud of our little book and congrats to all the toonies and nominated colleagues. I'm on tour in Perú but tonight I'll celebrate with Pisco sour!"

This is his first Eisner nomination. 

Frank Cammuso, author of Otto's Backwards Day

"That's great! Congrats to ALL!" says Frank Cammuso.

This is his second Eisner nomination. His self-published graphic novel Max Hamm Fairy Tale Detective received an Eisner nomination.

Philippe Coudray, author of Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas!


"I'm proud of this second nomination for an Eisner Award though I'm jealous of my own character: Benjamin Bear is not only far more intelligent than his creator, he also speaks much better English!"

This is his second Eisner nomination. His previous TOON Book, Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking, was nominated for an Eisner award in 2012.

Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas! by Philippe Coudray

Knitting a sheep a sweater? Visiting a fish's underwater house? Soaring down a staircase on a square-wheeled bicycle? These could only be the predicaments of beloved character Benjamin Bear!

Our favorite fuzzy friend returns with a whole new set of problems to solve—but when it comes to Benjamin Bear, the solutions may cause just as much trouble. Award-winning artist Philippe Coudray brings us another collection of one-page gags that kids will love to puzzle out. Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas! is the perfect treat both for the children who are just learning to read and the adults reading along with them.

The Big Wet Balloon by Liniers

When her little sister, Clemmie, refuses to go out in the rain, Matilda sets out to teach her all the delights of a wet Saturday. But after her enthusiasm leads her to make a big mistake, it's Matilda who will end up learning an unforgettable lesson. The world-renowned cartoonist Liniers gives us a funny and sweet portrait of his daughters that is sure to become every beginning reader's favorite story. 

Otto's Backwards Day by Frank Cammuso 
with Jay Lynch

Someone stole Otto's birthday! When Otto and his robot sidekick, Toot, follow the crook, they discover a topsy-turvy world where rats chase cats and people wear underpants over their clothes. To get his presents back, Otto needs to solve a slew of backwards puzzles — but his greatest challenge comes at the journey's very end. On this special day, will Otto discover something even better than cake or gifts?

The messy room from Mary in Washington! We can all relate to how work just piles up some times. Many thanks to Mary for sharing with all of us. We will be sending you a Geisel & Eisner Award Winners set as your grand prize.

But Mary isn't the only winner! Everyone who participated is going to receive a free copy of Tippy and the Night Parade, so they can continue to imagine the possibilities behind these unexplained messes. 

Thanks to everyone for sending in their photos. We have gathered them all here for you to see. Be sure to like your favorites on Facebook!

#1 Henry's Night by D.B. Johnson. Ages 4-8. Recommended by librarian Jody Stone.
Henry's noisy village keeps him awake at night. Hoping to hear the sound of the elusive night bird, Henry is drawn deep into the woods, where many wonderful creatures stir. The fantastic elements of his journey echo those of Tippy's. This story will inspire young readers to imagine the possibilities in the sounds they hear at night as they go to sleep.

#2 Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Ages 4-8. Recommended by Helen Kline.
This is a classic of children's literature that surely needs little introduction. Tippy shares with it the idea that there is something magical that exists in a child's perspective of the world. Both Tippy and Max are in trouble with their parents at the beginning of their stories, but the journeys they go on and the things we get to see and imagine with them are well worth it.

#3 The Mitten by Jan Brett. Ages 4-8. Recommended by Myken Bomberger.

Despite his grandmother's warnings that they will get lost in the snow, Nicki insists she knit him white mittens. Inevitably he drops one, but it does not stay lost. One after another, the animals of the forest discover the mitten and crawl inside for warmth. Amazingly the mitten expands, and grows to hold a coterie of woodland creatures. Like in Tippy and the Night Parade, this winter tale is a nice sequential narrative featuring animals doing something funny.

#4 Goodnight Opus by Berkeley Breathed. Ages 6-9. Recommended by librarian Catherine Barnett.

Goodnight Opus turns the traditional bedtime story on its head. When Opus the penguin's grandmother sits down to read him Goodnight Moon again, Opus decides that this time he would rather finish the story himself. This results in Opus going on a fantastic adventure of his own invention. This story is laced with comic humor, and will inspire young readers to tell stories themselves.

#5 Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay. Ages 6+. Recommended by Richard Bruton, Forbidden Planet International Blog.

The essential comic of a child's nighttime adventures, Little Nemo in Slumberland follows its protagonist Nemo through myriad crazy journeys, resulting in Nemo waking with a start to realize each time that it was all just a dream. This timeless comic can now be read in bound volumes, and serves as a great introduction to the conventions of comics and children's literature of the 20th century. Readers of Tippy will delight in jumping down each of McCay's rabbit holes, and they will continue to find pleasure in the detail and complexity of his illustrations as they grow older.

#6 The Dancing Tiger by Malachy Doyle. Ages 3-8. Recommended by Stacey Comfort.

"There’s a quiet, gentle tiger/ In the woods below the hill/ And he dances on his tiptoes/ When the world is dreaming, still." This poetic picture book story introduces readers to a mysterious tiger who dances in the woods during the full moon. This tale is imbued with the wonderful magic of dream stories. In it a young girl like Tippy joins the tiger in the woods, and they dance through the seasons.

#7 Ben's Dream by Chris Van Allsburg. Ages 4-5. Recommended by Stacey Comfort.

When Ben falls asleep on a rainy day, he dreams that his house is floating in a giant sea, past the monuments of the world. Like with Tippy, Ben's imaginary adventure is related to circumstances in his real life (in this case, a geography class assignment). This surreal tale is a great launching point for class activities.

#8 Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann. Ages 1-3. Recommended by Kirkus Reviews.

If you like Tippy's explanation of how her room got messy, you'll love this story of animal hijinks. A crafty gorilla nabs the nighttime zookeeper's keys as and releases the animals, taking them on a parade out the zoo and into the zookeeper's own home. These silly animals will tickle even the youngest of readers.

#9 No Jumping on the Bed! by Tedd Arnold. Ages 4-8. Recommended by Myken Bomberger.

It's time for Walter. to get ready for bed, so naturally, he is jumping! His father warns him to stop, but Walter just has to take one more jump. When he does, rather than landing calmly on the mattress, Walter joins his bed in plummeting straight through the floor into the apartment below, and then into the next one, and then the next! Just as Tippy collects animals as she sleepwalks, Walter collects as assortment of belongings from the different apartments in this wild dream.

#10 Free Fall by David Wiesner. Ages 4-8. Recommended by librarian Jody Stone.

This gorgeous book shows just how vivid the dreams of young readers can be. When a young boy falls asleep with a book in his arms, he dreams of going on a fantastic journey to a faraway land with dragons and castles. This wordless book will transport readers of any age with its lush illustrations.