The John Newbery Medal The Randolph Caldecott Medal Other American Awards
HOW
DID IT COME INTO EXISTENCE?
The Newbery Award was the first children’s book award in the world. Frederic G. Melcher proposed the award to the Children’s Librarians’ Section of the American Library Association on June 21, 1921. The librarians loved the idea; the American Library Association’s Executive Board approved Melcher’s proposal in 1922. The formal purpose of the award is “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.” Melcher also suggested that the award be named after the eighteenth-century English bookseller John Newbery. Only one person can win the medal each year, but many books by many different authors can receive a Newbery Honor Seal. Any author who is a citizen or resident of the United States is eligible to win the Newbery Award.
WHAT
DOES THE AWARD LOOK LIKE?
The
winner’s name and the date are engraved onto the back of each award.
WHAT
KINDS OF BOOKS ARE EVALUATED?
All original works for children are evaluated. The books must be published in the United States and must be written in English. Also, the book must have been published within the past year.
HOW
ARE THE BOOKS EVALUATED?
All books are evaluated for their literary contribution and their presentation to a child audience. Organization, setting, plot, characterization, and style are also considered.
WHO ARE THE MOST RECENT WINNERS?
2004:
The Tale of Despereaux: Being
the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread
by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press)
2003: Crispin:
The Cross of Lead by Avi (Hyperion Books for Children)
2002: A
Single Shard by Linda Sue Park(Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin)
2001: A
Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck (Dial)
2000: Bud,
Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (Delacorte)
HOW
DID THE AWARD COME INTO EXISTANCE?
Frederic G. Melcher proposed this award to the American Library Association in 1937. His idea was approved in the same year. This award is much like the Newberry Award; however, according to the American Library Association, it is to be awarded to the artist of the most distinguished picture book. Melcher also suggested that the award be named after the nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. Only one person can win the medal each year, but many books by many different authors can receive a Caldecott Honor Seal. Any illustrator who is a citizen or resident of the United States is eligible to win the Caldecott Award.
WHAT
DOES THE AWARD LOOK LIKE?
The winner’s name and the date are engraved onto the back of each award.
WHAT
KINDS OF BOOKS ARE EVALUATED?
All original works for children are evaluated. The books must be published in the United States and must be written in English. Also, the book must have been published within the past year.
HOW
ARE THE BOOKS EVALUATED?
All books are evaluated for their presentation to a child audience. Artistic technique and interpretation of the plot, setting, and characters is also considered.
WHO
ARE THE MOST RECENT WINNERS?
2004:
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers Mordicai Gerstein (Roaring Brook
Press/Millbrook Press)
2003:
My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann (Roaring Brook Press/Millbrook Press)
2002:
The Three Pigs by David Wiesner (Clarion/Houghton Mifflin)
2001:
So You Want to Be President? Illustrated by David Small; text by Judith
St. George (Philomel Books)
2000:
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat Simms Taback (Viking)
CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD-This award is presented annually to a black author and a black illustrator.
MILDRED L. BATCHELDER AWARD-This award is presented to the author of an outstanding translated book for children.
LAURA INGALLS WILDER MEDAL-This award is presented once every three years to an author or illustrator for a body of work.
BOSTON
GLOBE-HORN BOOK AWARD-This award is presented to the author of a book published
in the United States. Both
Americans and non-Americans are eligible.
ORBIS
PICTUS AWARD-This award is presented to the author of an outstanding nonfiction
work and is presented by the National Council of Teachers of English.
PURA
BELPRE AWARD-This award is presented to a Latino author or illustrator for
exemplifying authentic cultural experiences in children’s works.
AESOP
PRIZE-This award is presented to books incorporating folklore.
AWARD
FOR EXCELLENCE IN POETRY-This award is presented to a poet once every three
years by the National Council of Teachers of English.
GIVERNY
AWARD-This award is presented to the best children’s science picture book.
SCOTT
O’DELL AWARD-This award is presented to the author of a book of historical
fiction that is in the New World and published in the United States.
Information
Compiled by Holly Overstreet