John Newbery
and the Story of the
Newbery Medal
http://shelfelf.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/trinity-college-library-
What is the
Newbery Medal?
Named after John Newbery the
Newbery Medal is awarded annually
by the Association for Library
Service to Children, a division of the
American Library Association, to the
author of the most distinguished
contribution to American literature
for children.
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal.cfm
History of Newbery Medal
On June 22, 1921, Frederic G.
Melcher proposed the award with
the purpose stated as follows: "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."
2006
1999
How Can Books
Receive the Medal?
• Authors must be American
citizens or live in the U.S.
1978
• Book must be published the
previous year
• All writing forms eligible (non-fiction,
fiction, biography)
• Committee considers plot, theme, setting,
style, characters, and presentation when
deciding winner
• Must be written for children
The Medal
The Newbery Medal was
designed by René Paul
Chambellan. It is made
of bronze and has the
winner's name and the
date engraved on the
back.
http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/mediapresscenter/presskits/youthmediaawards/Newbery%20Front%20A.jpg
1922 Newbery Medal Winner
http://rgr-static1.tangentlabs.co.uk/images/bau/97808714/9780871401755/0/0/plain/story-of-mankind.jpg
Newbery Honor Books
From the beginning of awarding the Newbery
Medal, the committee would cite other books as
worthy of attention. Such books were referred to
as Newbery "runners-up." In 1971 the
term "runners-up" was changed to "honor
books."
1922
Newbery Honor Books
1988
1939
2001
1948
1957
2003
2009
1953
1961
Who is John Newbery?
Considered to be
the creator of
children's
literature,
Englishman John
Newbery (17131767)published
the first children's book in 1744 entitled A Little
Pretty Pocket-Book.
http://www.history.org/history/teaching/enewsletter/volume2/june04/pocketbook.cfm
http://mhpbooks.com/mobylives/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/drjohnson.jpg
2010 Newbery Medal Winner
Twelve-year-old Miranda has enough to
worry about: her best friend, who
suddenly refuses to hang out together;
a boy she might kind of like; the
homeless guy on the corner near her
New York City apartment; and her
single mom, an aspiring game show
contestant. But now Miranda is getting
creepy hidden notes that tell her to
write down the story of what happens
to her -- but not inform anyone. It will
take a tragedy to show Miranda that
neither the notes nor her friendships
are quite what she imagined.
Book Trailer
http://www.nytix.com/Blog/newyorkcity/uploaded_images/9780385906647_zoom-744478.jpg
2009 Newbery Medal Winner
On the night Jack murders a family in
their beds, their toddler runs out into the
night, pursued by the murderer, and
finds his way into a cemetery. The ghosts
there chase away the murderer and, after
much argument, decide to raise the boy.
They name him Nobody, Bod for short.
As long as Bod stays in the cemetery
they can protect him from Jack, who is
still searching for him. But a growing
boy, even one who is granted the
Freedom of the Graveyard, eventually
needs contact with the living world -- and
it is the world of the living that holds the
most danger for Bod.
Book Trailer
Contest
Only five authors have won the
Newbery Medal more than once.
Who are they? Stop by the
media center and give me the
correct answer to win a prize.