In the United States, the John Newbery Medal is the most prestigious children's book award that an author can receive. The Newbery Medal is an annual children’s book award administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) of the American Library Association (ALA). It is presented “to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in English in the United States during the preceding year.” The John Newbery Medal, commonly referred to as the Newbery, has been awarded every year since 1922. It is named for John Newbery, an eighteenth-century British bookseller.
To be eligible for a Newbery, either the Newbery Medal or being designated a Newbery Honor Book, the following terms must also be met:
- The author(s) must be either citizens or residents of the United States.
- Fiction, non-fiction, and poetry are all eligible, but reprints and compilations are not.
- The book must be written for children, with children defined as “persons of ages up to and including fourteen.”
- The book must be an original work.
- A book that was originally published in another country is not eligible.
On January 14, 2008, at the American Library Association's Midwinter meeting, the 2008 winners were announced.
The 2008 John Newbery Medal Winner
Laura Amy Schlitz received the 2008 Newbery Medal winner for
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village, which was illustrated by Robert Byrd and published by Candlewick Press (
compare prices).
According to Newbery Committee Chair Nina Lindsay, “Schlitz adds a new dimension to books for young readers - performance. Varied poetic forms and styles offer humor, pathos and true insight into the human condition. Each entry is superb in itself, and together the pieces create a pageant that transports readers to a different time and place.”
2008 Newbery Honor Books
- Elijah of Buxton, by Christopher Paul Curtis, published by Scholastic (compare prices)
-
The Wednesday Wars, by Gary D. Schmidt, published by Clarion (compare prices)
- Feathers, by Jacqueline Woodson, published by G.P. Putnam's Sons (compare prices)
The 2007 John Newbery Medal Winner
Susan Patron received the 2007 Newbery Medal for her book
The Higher Power of Lucky. Matt Phelan illustrated the book, which was published by Simon & Schuster/Richard Jackson. (
compare prices). The main character in this 144-page novel for 9-11 year olds is a ten-year-old girl named Lucky Trimble. According to the
ALA news release,
“Lucky is a perfectly nuanced blend of adventure, survival (emotional and physical) and hilarious character study... as well as a blueprint for a self-examined life,” said Newbery Medal Committee Chair Jeri Kladder. “Through Lucky’s experiences, we are reminded that children support one another just as needy adults do.”
2007 Newbery Honor Books
- Penny from Heaven, by Jennifer L. Holm, published by Random House (compare prices)
- Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson, published by Delacorte Press (compare prices)
- Rules, by Cynthia Lord, published by Scholastic (compare prices)
If you are looking for good books for 9-14 year olds, be sure and take a look at the list of children’s books that have received Newbery Medals or honors.
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