We didn’t need another award to tell us that Michael Clay Thompson’s books are extraordinary. And if you’ve read any of his works, you don’t need someone else to tell you that, either. Michael is one of the most gifted writers of curricula for children that the English language has ever seen, and we say that without hesitation or reserve; we know it to be true. Still, however, we don’t mind hearing other people say it as well. Michael’s newest book, Poodle and the Blue Mountain Monster, has just won a Gold Mom’s Choice Award for Excellence!

Mom’s Choice is one of the most trusted resources for parents and educators worldwide, “honoring excellence in family-friendly media, products and services,” and we’re pleased that Poodle and the Blue Mountain Monster was selected to join the ranks of its recommended books. Michael’s first Poodle book, Poodle Knows What?, also won a Gold Mom’s Choice Award (as well as an Academics’ Choice Award). Both books are wonderful introductions for young children into the elegant and surprisingly simple world of grammar. They are told in unmetered rhyme, overflowing with warmth and wit and humor and quirky characters and gorgeous illustrations—and, oh yes, grammar instruction. They also contain an audio feature of Michael narrating the books. If you think the books are fun, just wait until you hear Michael read them. These books are unlike any textbook you’ll ever give to your children; we promise.

The Poodle books are part of a larger English language arts curriculum by Michael Clay Thompson that has welcomed children and their parents and teachers into the world of grammar, vocabulary, writing, poetics, and literature for decades in a way that makes learning, not the drudgery that we all expect with language arts, but an adventure of learning—and of loving the process of learning. It’s not an accident that the MCT language arts curriculum has won so many awards that we can hardly keep track of them all. It has repeatedly been voted the best overall language arts curriculum by the readers of Practical Homeschooling, and it is one of Cathy Duffy’s 102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum.

During the past few years, some lucky kids have been able to experience the MCT curriculum from Michael himself. He teaches all levels of his curriculum in the Royal Fireworks Online Learning Community, and this summer he will be reading and talking about the Poodle books online in three-day workshops, a format that proved popular with young learners this past Christmas.

If you don’t already know the MCT language arts curriculum, it’s time you did. And congratulations, Michael (again…) for winning another award!