If you’re a children’s book writer, I bet you’ve fantasized that your book will one day win the John Newbery Medal. After all, in the children’s book world, the Newbery is the most prestigious and respected honor possible.
For those new to children’s books, The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association (ALA) for “the most distinguished American children’s book published in the previous year.” The winner receives a bronze medal with the author’s name and date engraved on the back.
The book that wins the Newbery generates a remarkable amount of attention—by the media, publishers, booksellers, parents, librarians, and even some children.
Neil Gaiman, the winner in 2009 for The Graveyard Book, told a reporter at Publishers Weekly that, when his book title and name were announced, he got calls for interviews “from every newspaper in America.” Looking back on the experience, Gaiman felt so gleeful that “the whole world had erupted with love and madness.”
Love and madness notwithstanding, when a book wins a Newbery, sales of that title often increase dramatically.
Criteria
What kinds of books does the ALA committee consider? The 15-member committee accepts works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children up to age 14, for a book published in the previous year. Every year the committee reads hundreds of books.
According to the ALA, the committee considers these areas when selecting the winner:
- Interpretation of the theme or concept
- Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization
- Development of a plot
- Delineation of characters
- Delineation of a setting
- Appropriateness of style
The winner of the 2015 Newbery is The Crossover, a novel-in-verse, by Kwame Alexander.
Honor Books
In addition to the Newbery Medal, the ALA committee recognizes “runners-up,”now called Newbery Honor Books, which earn prestige and increased sales as well.
There were two books named as winners of the 2015 Newbery Honor. They are El Deafo by Cece Bell and Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson.
For information about these and previous winners, see http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal
Your Turn
So, if writing a children’s book interests you, read as many Newbery winners as possible. Then think about how your theme, characters, plot, and setting will evoke strong emotions in the reader.
Now let’s fast-forward a few years. Imagine that your book was published last year. It’s months later. Your phone rings. It’s the chair of the Newbery committee. She has good news.
How does it feel to be a winner?