Newbery+Award+Books

The [|Newbery Medal] is awarded annually by the American Library Association ([|ALA]). This award is given to the most distinguished American children's book published from the previous year. The award was first proposed by Frederic G. Melcher to the ALA in 1921. The award is named after [|John Newbery] who was an eighteenth century book seller. Frederic Melcher's agreement for the Newbery award states its purpose as:

"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."

The first Newbery Medal was awarded in 1922. As with the Caldecott award, the Newbery award had "runner-up" books and in 1971 all "runner-up" books were renamed "honor books." Below is the list of Newberry Medal winners. A **book icon** after the title tells you that this book is in our [|library]. A **star** after the author's name tells you that the author has own this distinction before.

My comments are my opinion. Just because I liked it or didn't, don't let that stop you - make your own decision.

This book had me laughing out loud. Recommended by guysread.com but enjoyed by all. ||
 * **Year** || **Book** || **Author** || **Mrs. Rath's comments** ||
 * **2012** || **// Dead End in Norvelt //**** & ** || =====[|Jack Gantos]===== || ======"Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, //Dead End in Norvelt// is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a fiesty old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one obituary leads to another..." //Amazon// Historical Fiction ======
 * **2011** || **// Moon over Manifest // & ** || [|Clare Vanderpool] || Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was.Having heard stories about Manifest, Abilene is disappointed to find that it’s just a dried-up, worn-out old town. But her disappointment quickly turns to excitement when she discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos, including some old letters that mention a spy known as the Rattler. These mysterious letters send Abilene and her new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, on an honest-to-goodness spy hunt, even though they are warned to “Leave Well Enough Alone.” //Amazon// ||
 * **2010** || **// When You Reach Me // & ** || [|Rebecca Stead] || This book, though easy to read, was somewhat slow and did not hold my attention. As the story unfolded the ending became more interesting and realized there were signs throughout the book I did not pick up on. The story really came together with the ending, prompting me to look back for the clues I had missed. With the theme of time travel, the author incorporated growing and changing friendships as well as various family settings. ||
 * **2009** || **// The Graveyard Book // & ** || [|Neil Gaiman] ||  ||
 * ** 2008 ** || //** Good Masters! Sweet Ladies Voices froma Medieval Village **// || [|Laura Amy Schlitz] ||  ||
 * ** 2007 ** || //** The Higher Power of Lucky **// || [|Susan Patron] ||  ||
 * ** 2006 ** || //** Criss Cross **// || [|Lynne Rae Perkins] ||  ||
 * ** 2005 ** || //** Kira-Kira **// || [|Cynthia Kadohata] || Highly recommended by Ms. Olson 5th grade ||
 * **2004** || **// The Tale of Despereaux // & ** || [|Kate DiCamillo] || This book was delightful to read. For me it had a romantic element as a hero can come in any size to change events for the better. I loved the varied characters and how the challenges of their lives were told. I had taken my daughter to the movie which I was not impressed by, however, I am glad I read the book as the detail and depth of the characters was much richer. Just reinforces what I tell my students, that the book is always a 100 times better! ||
 * **2003** || **// Crispin: The Cross of Lead // & ** || [|Avi] ||  ||
 * **2002** || ** A Single Shard & ** || [|Linda Sue Park] ||  ||
 * **2001** || **// A Year Down Yonder // & ** || [|Richard Peck] ||  ||
 * **2000** || ** Bud, Not Buddy & ** || [|Christopher Paul Curtis] ||  ||
 * **1999** || **// Holes // & ** || [|Louis Sachar] || Bad luck has followed Stanley Yelnats family ever since his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather broke a promise to gypsey. Stanley finds himself at Camp Green Lake (a correctional facility)where he is serving a sentence for a crime he didn't commit. He forms a friendship with Zero. This friendship with ties to the past and present which Stanley slowly uncovers seems to break the streak of bad luck experienced by is family. Enjoyable book. The ties to the past and present were given in small interesting amounts urging me to keep reading. Was it fate or did Stanley break the curse? ||
 * **1998** || ** Out of the Dust & ** || [|Karen Hesse] ||  ||
 * **1997** || ** The View from Saturday & ** || [|E.L. Konigsburg] ¯ ||  ||
 * **1996** || ** The Midwife's Apprentice & ** || [|Karen Cushman] ||  ||
 * **1995** || ** Walk Two Moons & ** || [|Sharon Creech] || What a wonderful book! I loved how the character compared her experience of her mother with that of her friend Pheobe. Salamanca is trying to figure out why her mother could leave her. Her friend Pheobe is "wearing similiar moccasins", and Sal uses this mirror to try to understand her own situation. I found the adults interesting. They seemed to want to protect their children by not telling them the whole story or they were in too much pain to explain the situation. For the child, it's worse not knowing and making up the worst case scenario. Sal's grandparents were wonderfully positive and supportive during Sal's journey to visit her mother. This is not a neat and tidy happy ending but life is not that way. ||
 * ** 1994 ** || //** The Giver **// || [|Lois Lowry] ¯ || This book is in the middle school libraries only. ||
 * **1993** || **// Missing May // & ** || [|Cynthia Rylant] ||  ||
 * **1992** || **// Shiloh // & ** || [|Phyllis Reynolds Naylor] ||  ||
 * **1991** || **// Maniac Magee // & ** || [|Jerry Spinelli] ||  ||
 * **1990** || **// Number the Stars // & ** || [|Lois Lowry] ¯ ||  ||
 * **1989** || **// Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices // & ** || [|Paul Fleischman] || I loved how the poems were written to be read aloud by two voices. It gives the feeling of being with the "swarm" or group of insects as they move about their lives. Interesting perspectives between the different insects included in the book. Newbery Medal book. Reading orally with two people is like a dance of words. ||
 * **1988** || **// Lincoln: A Photobiography // & ** || [|Russell Freedman] || I am not a fan of reading histories or biographies but this book on Lincoln was pretty interesting. I enjoyed reading about Lincoln's life including his marriage and his children. The book even commented on Lincoln's parenting style with his boys. I had never knew his ideas regarding slavery before becoming president and the civil war. I really enjoyed viewing the pictures, many of which I had never seen. ||
 * **1987** || **// The Whipping Boy // & ** || [|Sid Fleischman] || I had often used the phrase "I'm not your whipping boy" but never read the story. A great little piece of history to read. The whipping boy is a good example of someone with very little in life but makes the most of what he had. The spoiled prince is a good example of what happens to a person who is never held accountable. It was fun to see the tide change between the prince and the whipping boy. They each grew to understand the other's condition in life. ||
 * **1986** || **// Sarah, Plain and Tall // & ** || [|Patricia MacLachlan] ||  ||
 * ** 1985 ** || **// The Hero and the Crown //** || [|Robin McKinley] ||  ||
 * **1984** || **// Dear Mr. Henshaw // & ** || [|Beverly Cleary] ||  ||
 * ** 1983 ** || **// Dicey's Song //** || [|Cynthia Voigt] ||  ||
 * ** 1982 ** || **// A Visit to William Blake's Inn //** || [|Nancy Willard] ||  ||
 * **1981** || **// Jacob Have I Loved // & ** || [|Katherine Paterson] ¯ ||  ||
 * **1980** || **// A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-1832 // & ** || [|Joan W. Blos] ||  ||
 * **1979** || **// The Westing Game // & ** || [|Ellen Raskin] ||  ||
 * **1978** || **// Bridge to Terabithia // & ** || [|Katherine Paterson] ¯ ||  ||
 * **1977** || **// Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry // & ** || [|Mildred D. Taylor] ||  ||
 * **1976** || **// The Grey King // & ** || [|Susan Cooper] ||  ||
 * **1975** || **// M. C. Higgins, the Great // & ** || [|Virginia Hamilton] ||  ||
 * **1974** || **// The Slave Dancer // & ** || [|Paula Fox] ||  ||
 * **1973** || **// Julie of the Wolves // & ** || [|Jean Craighead George] ||  ||
 * **1972** || **// Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH // & ** || [|Robert C. O'Brien] ||  ||
 * **1971** || **// Summer of the Swans // & ** || [|Betsy Byars] ||  ||
 * **1970** || **// Sounder // & ** || [|William H. Armstrong] ||  ||
 * **1969** || **// The High King // & ** || [|Lloyd Alexander] ||  ||
 * **1968** || **// From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler // & ** || [|E.L. Konigsburg] ¯ ||  ||
 * **1967** || **// Up a Road Slowly // & ** || [|Irene Hunt] ||  ||
 * ** 1966 ** || **// I, Juan de Pareja //** || [|Elizabeth Borton de Trevino] ||  ||
 * **1965** || ** //Shadow of a Bull// & ** || [|Maia Wojciechowska] ||  ||
 * ** 1964 ** || **// It's Like This, Cat //** || [|Emily Neville] ||  ||
 * **1963** || **// A Wrinkle in Time // & ** || [|Madeleine L'Engle] ||  ||
 * ** 1962 ** || **// The Bronze Bow //** || [|Elizabeth George Speare] ¯ ||  ||
 * **1961** || **// Island of the Blue Dolphins // & ** || [|Scott O'Dell] ||  ||
 * ** 1960 ** || **// Onion John //** || [|Joseph Krumgold] ¯ ||  ||
 * **1959** || **// The Witch of Blackbird Pond // & ** || [|Elizabeth George Speare] ¯ ||  ||
 * **1958** || **// Rifles for Watie // & ** || [|Harold Keith] ||  ||
 * ** 1957 ** || **// Miracles on Maple Hill //** || [|Virginia Sorensen] ||  ||
 * **1956** || **// Carry On, Mr. Bowditch // & ** || [|Jean Lee Latham] ||  ||
 * ** 1955 ** || **// The Wheel on the School //** || [|Meindert DeJong] ||  ||
 * ** 1954 ** || **// ...And Now Miguel //** || [|Joseph Krumgold] ¯ ||  ||
 * ** 1953 ** || **// Secret of the Andes //** || [|Ann Nolan Clark] ||  ||
 * **1952** || **// Ginger Pye // & ** || [|Eleanor Estes] ||  ||
 * ** 1951 ** || **// Amos Fortune, Free Man //** || [|Elizabeth Yates] ||  ||
 * **1950** || **// The Door in the Wall // & ** || [|Marguerite de Angeli] ||  ||
 * **1949** || **// King of the Wind // & ** || [|Marguerite Henry] ||  ||
 * **1948** || **// The Twenty-One Balloons // & ** || [|William Pène du Bois] ||  ||
 * **1947** || **// Miss Hickory // & ** || [|Carolyn Sherwin Bailey] ||  ||
 * ** 1946 ** || **// Strawberry Girl //** || [|Lois Lenski] ||  ||
 * **1945** || **// Rabbit Hill // & ** || [|Robert Lawson] ||  ||
 * **1944** || **// Johnny Tremain // & ** || [|Esther Forbes] ||  ||
 * **1943** || **// Adam of the Road // & ** || [|Elizabeth Janet Gray] ||  ||
 * ** 1942 ** || **// The Matchlock Gun //** || [|Walter Edmonds] ||  ||
 * **1941** || **// Call It Courage // & ** || [|Armstrong Sperry] ||  ||
 * ** 1940 ** || **// Daniel Boone //** || [|James Daugherty] ||  ||
 * ** 1939 ** || **// Thimble Summer //** || [|Elizabeth Enright] ||  ||
 * ** 1938 ** || **// The White Stag //** || [|Kate Seredy] ||  ||
 * ** 1937 ** || **// Roller Skates //** || [|Ruth Sawyer] ||  ||
 * **1936** || **// Caddie Woodlawn // & ** || [|Carol Ryrie Brink] ||  ||
 * ** 1935 ** || **// Dobry //** || [|Monica Shannon] ||  ||
 * **1934** || **// Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women // & ** || [|Cornelia Meigs] ||  ||
 * ** 1933 ** || **// Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze //** || [|Elizabeth Lewis] ||  ||
 * ** 1932 ** || **// Waterless Mountain //** || [|Laura Adams Armer] ||  ||
 * ** 1931 ** || **// The Cat Who Went to Heaven //** || [|Elizabeth Coatsworth] ||  ||
 * ** 1930 ** || **// Hitty, Her First Hundred Years //** || [|Rachel Field] ||  ||
 * ** 1929 ** || **// The Trumpeter of Krakow //** || [|Eric P. Kelly] ||  ||
 * ** 1928 ** || **// Gay Neck, the Story of a Pigeon //** || [|Dhan Gopal Mukerji] ||  ||
 * ** 1927 ** || **// Smoky, the Cowhorse //** || Will James ||  ||
 * ** 1926 ** || **// Shen of the Sea //** || [|Arthur Bowie Chrisman] ||  ||
 * ** 1925 ** || **// Tales from Silver Lands //** || [|Charles Finger] ||  ||
 * **1924** || **// The Dark Frigate // & ** || [|Charles Hawes] ||  ||
 * **1923** || **// The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle // & ** || [|Hugh Lofting] ||  ||
 * ** 1922 ** || **// The Story of Mankind //** || [|Hendrik Willem van Loon] ||  ||