The Newbery Medal was established in 1921 and is named after John Newbery, an 18th-century English bookseller and publisher who is considered to be the father of children's literature. The first Newbery Medal was awarded in 1922 to Hendrik Willem van Loon for his book "The Story of Mankind."
To be eligible for the Newbery Medal, a book must be written by an American citizen or permanent resident and must be published in the United States. The book must also be a work of fiction for children ages 0-14.
The Newbery Medal is selected by a committee of 15 librarians and other children's literature experts. The committee reads hundreds of books each year and narrows down the field to five finalists. The finalists are then voted on by members of the ALSC.
The Newbery Medal is a highly coveted award and it can have a significant impact on a children's book author's career. Newbery Medal books are often bestsellers and they can be used to encourage children to read.
Some of the most famous Newbery Medal books include:
* "The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum (1922)
* "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White (1952)
* "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell (1960)
* "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle (1963)
* "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak (1964)
* "Sounder" by William H. Armstrong (1970)
* "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson (1978)
* "The Giver" by Lois Lowry (1994)
* "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" by J.K. Rowling (1998)
* "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio (2013)
The Newbery Medal is a testament to the power of children's literature. It is an award that recognizes the best of the best in children's books and it encourages authors to continue to create high-quality literature for children.