The Newbery Medal has the distinction of being the first children's book award in the world!
The medal is named for 18th century English bookseller John Newbery. Starting in 1922, the Newbery Medal has been awarded annually by the American Library Association for the most distinguished contribution to American children's literature. According to the ALA, the purpose of the Newbery Medal 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."
All Newbery medal winners and honor books are eligible for Gold Medal Books. These books are written for independent readers in elementary and middle school. The books include a wide range of fiction, as well as non-fiction, graphic novels, and picture books. Many of the older books on the list are now out of print, and may be difficult to find.
Click here for a list of all Newbery books from 1922-2024.
Newbery Challenges
Just the Facts Badge: Read five non-fiction medal winners or honor books that are about real-world people, places, or events.
Magician Badge: Read five medal winners or honor books that feature magic and other elements of fantasy.
Animal Tales Badge: Read five medal winners or honor books with an animal as the main character.
Pioneer Badge: Read five medal winners or honor books that tell a story about early American pioneers (1600s to 1800s).
Totally Tubular Badge: Read five medal winners or honor books that were published in the 1980s.