The May/June issue of The Horn Book Magazine turned my thoughts to the Newbery Award given by the American Library Association annually for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in the previous year. If you are interested at all in children’s literature, I recommend finding or purchasing a copy of this issue that honors the centennial of the Newbery Medal. About two thirds is commentary on the Newbery with most of the essays being “After the Call” stories from authors who have received the award.
The purpose of the Newbery Medal was, "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." I buy in to this purpose myself. I skip the Oscars and the Emmys, but I am up early with my computer tuned in for the ALA Awards announcements. Originally, there was just the Newbery, but today, there are a number of memorable awards. Other awards are announced leading up to the Newbery and its honor books at the end.
The first Newbery that I remember reading, enjoying, and finding meaningful was Amos Fortune, Free Man, published in 1950 with a win in 1951. In my memory of this historical fiction, based on a real person, I recall a man who became a talented and sought-after tanner. While the injustices of slavery and selling of human beings permeates the story, Amos rises as a strong and compassionate character who eventually bought his own freedom and the freedom of each of his wives. I want to read it again to see how this novel, written by a well-to-do white woman, holds up in today’s world.
The closest I’ve come to choosing a Newbery was having a friend on the committee. She kept me supplied with new books coming out and gave me a chance to express my opinion – which counted for exactly nothing! (I was still holding out for an honor book to win the medal right to the very end.) For bragging purposes, I have predicted one Newbery winner ahead of time – Meg Medina’s Merci Suarez Changes Gears.
As I have followed the direction pointed out by The Horn Book, I decided to check how many Newberys I had already read. I printed the list and highlighted them in blue, making sure I didn’t cheat by not marking any I thought I had read but couldn’t remember for sure. The recent years look like the sea; earlier years have skips of uncertainty. During this centennial year, I hope to at least get close to having them all read – many from my own bookshelf – and return to reread some I really loved. You might like to join me. I’m sure there will be more about them here!
