The John Newbery Medal, frequently shortened to the Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of "the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children". The Newbery and the Caldecott Medal are considered the two most prestigious awards for children's literature in the United States. Books selected are widely carried by bookstores and libraries, the authors are interviewed on television, and master's theses and doctoral dissertations are written on them. Named for John Newbery, an 18th-century English publisher of juvenile books, the winner of the Newbery is selected at the ALA's Midwinter Conference by a fifteen-person committee. The Newbery was proposed by Frederic G. Melcher in 1921, making it the first children's book award in the world. The physical bronze medal was designed by Rene Paul Chambellan and is given to the winning author at the next ALA annual conference. Since its founding there have been several changes to the composition of the selection committee, while the physical medal remains the same.
The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The Caldecott and Newbery Medals are considered the most prestigious American children's book awards. Besides the Caldecott Medal, the committee awards a variable number of citations to runners-up they deem worthy, called the Caldecott Honor or Caldecott Honor Books.
Anne Parrish was an American novelist and writer of children's books. She was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal three times from 1925 to 1951.
Carolyn Sherwin Bailey was an American children's author. She was born in Hoosick Falls, New York and attended Teachers College, Columbia University, from which she graduated in 1896. She contributed to the Ladies' Home Journal and other magazines. She published volumes of stories for children like methods of story telling, teaching children and other related subjects, which include Boys and Girls of Colonial Days (1917); Broad Stripes and Bright Stars (1919); Hero Stories (1919); Tops and Whistles (1937), and The Little Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings (1945). She wrote For the Children's Hour (1906) in collaboration with Clara M. Lewis. In 1947, her book Miss Hickory won the Newbery Medal.
The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles is a children's book by Padraic Colum, a retelling of Greek myths. The book, illustrated by Willy Pogany, was first published in 1921 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1922. The central myth retold is that of Jason and the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece and the aftermath. Woven into it are other myths, including the myths of Persephone and Prometheus, told by the poet Orpheus during the voyage.
The Dream Coach is a children's book by Anne Parrish. It contains four fairytale-like stories linked by the theme of a Dream Coach which travels around the world bringing dreams to children. The stories are: "The Seven White Dreams of the King's Daughter", "Goran's Dream", "A Bird Cage With Tassels of Purple and Pearls ", and ""King" Philippe's Dream". The book, illustrated by Dillwyn Parrish, the author's brother, was first published in 1924 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1925.
The Voyagers: Being Legends and Romances of Atlantic Discovery is a children's book by Padraic Colum. It comprises a mixture of legendary and historical stories about Atlantic exploration, from the story of Atlantis to the naming of America. The book, illustrated by Wilfred Jones, was first published in 1925 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1926.
The Wonder-Smith and His Son: A Tale from the Golden Childhood of the World is a children's book by Ella Young. It is a collection of fourteen stories about Gubbaun Saor, the legendary Irish smith and architect. The book, illustrated by Boris Artzybasheff, was first published in 1927 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1928.
The Tangle-Coated Horse and Other Tales: Episodes from the Fionn Saga is a children's book by Ella Young, a collection of Irish legends from the Fenian Cycle. These are tales about the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill and his band of warriors, the Fianna. Illustrated by Vera Bock, the book was first published in 1929 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1930.
The Dark Star of Itza: The Story of a Pagan Princess is a children's historical novel by Alida Malkus. It portrays the way of life of a princess in the Mayan cities of ancient Yucatán. The novel, illustrated by Lowell Houser, was first published in 1930 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1931.
Boy of the South Seas is a children's novel by Eunice Tietjens. It tells the story of Teiki of the Marquesas Islands who, after accidentally stowing away on a visiting ship, makes a new life on the island of Moorea. The book is illustrated by Myrtle Sheldon. It was first published in 1931 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1932.
The Railroad to Freedom: A Story of the Civil War is a children's book by Hildegarde Swift. It is a fictionalized biography of Araminta Ross telling of her life in slavery and her work on the Underground Railroad. The book, illustrated by James Daugherty, was first published in 1932 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1933.
Pageant of Chinese History is a children's history book by Elizabeth Seeger. Focusing on political and cultural history, it covers the history of China from mythological times to the birth of the republic in 1912. The book, illustrated by Bernard Watkins, was first published in 1934 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1935.
Honk, the Moose is a children's book by Phil Stong. It tells the story of a moose who takes over a small town which causes an uproar when three young boys try to save the moose and make it through the cold Minnesota winter. The book, illustrated by Kurt Wiese, was first published in 1935, and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1936. In 1970, it won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, and was listed in Cattermole's 100 Best Children's Books of the 20th Century. Based on a true story from Biwabik, Minnesota, it effectively describes the lives of Finnish immigrants there.
Have You Seen Tom Thumb? is a biography of General Tom Thumb written for children by Mabel Leigh Hunt. It tells the story of Charles Sherwood Stratton, a charming and humorous dwarf who traveled all over the world with the showman P. T. Barnum. The book, illustrated by Fritz Eichenberg, was first published in 1942 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1943.
The Moved-Outers is a 1945 children's novel written by Florence Crannell Means and illustrated by Helen Blair. The book received a Newbery Honor and the Bank Street Children's Book Award in 1946.
Big Tree is a children's novel written and illustrated by Mary and Conrad Buff. In the book a personified 5,000-year-old giant sequoia tells its life story. The novel was first published in 1946 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1947. It may have been inspired by the Wawona Tree.
Story of the Negro by Arna Bontemps is a children's history book published by Knopf in 1948. It was the first African-American authored book to receive a Newbery Honor.
Song of the Pines: A Story of Norwegian Lumbering in Wisconsin is a children's historical novel which was written by the husband and wife team of Walter and Marion Havighurst.
Better Known as Johnny Appleseed is a children's book by Mabel Leigh Hunt. It presents the life and legend of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, in nine stories, each named for a variety of apple such as those Johnny planted in the Midwest river valleys. Each story takes him westward from the Youghiogheny to the Mississippi. The first edition was illustrated by James Daugherty. It was published in 1950 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1951.
