The Newbery Medal is an annual award given by the American Library Association to the best English-language children's book published in the United States within the preceding year. The award, awarded to one book every January since 1922, has been given to some of the most beloved American children's books, including A Wrinkle in Time, Sarah, Plain and Tall, and A Bridge to Terabithia. American Library Association: The Newbery Medal
On January 26, 2009, the 2009 Newbery Medal was given to The Graveyard Book, written by science fiction writer Neil Gaiman.Washington Post: Author Neil Gaiman Wins Newbery Medal (January 26, 2009)
Previous Winners
- 2008: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz
- 2007: The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
- 2006: Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins
- 2005: Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
- 2004: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
- 2003: Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
- 2002: A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
- 2001: A Year Down Yonder by by Richard Peck
- 2000: Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
- 1992: Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
- 1986: Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
- 1985: The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
- 1978: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
- 1971: Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars
- 1970: Sounder by William H. Armstrong
- 1968: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
- 1964: It's Like This, Cat by Emily Neville
- 1963: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
- 1961: Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
- 1959: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
- 1948: The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois
- 1944: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
- 1936: Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
- 1923: The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
Purpose of the Newbery Medal
"To encourage original creative work in the field of books for children. To emphasize to the public that contributions to the literature for children deserve similar recognition to poetry, plays, or novels. To give those librarians, who make it their life work to serve children's reading interests, an opportunity to encourage good writing in this field."—American Library AssociationAmerican Library Association: The Newbery Medal
Quote
"The Newbery is the Holy Grail of American children's book writers. There are other awards—the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, for example—but none comes close to conferring the cachet, the recognition, that the Newbery conveys."—Elizabeth CosgriffOpen Spaces: The Newbery Awards by Elizabeth Cosgriff
References
Fast Facts
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First children's book award in the worldAmerican Library Association: The Newbery Medal
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Named after an 18th century bookseller, John NewberyAmerican Library Association: The Newbery Medal
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The medal is of bronze and was designed by René Paul Chambellan in 1921American Library Association: The Newbery Medal
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Inscription reads "Children's Librarian's Section"American Library Association: The Newbery Medal
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Criteria
Author must be U.S. citizen or resident, the book must have been published in English in the United States in the preceding yearAmerican Library Association: The Newbery Medal
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The ALA also awards the Caldecott Medal, the Bachelder Award and a wide variety of other writing awards for children's booksAmerican Library Association: The Newbery Medal Children's Literature Web Guide: Newbery Medal
