The John Newbery Medal has celebrated the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children since 1922. Named after 18th century British bookseller John Newbery, the Newbery Medal, or Newbery, was proposed by the editor of Publisher's Weekly magazine, Frederic G. Melcher, in 1921. Melcher and the American Library Association (ALA) board agreed the medal's purpose to be as follows:
"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."
The Newbery Medal became the first children's book award in the world. It continues to be awarded annually by the ALA, and 2022 marks its 100th anniversary.
Among the Newbery recipients are some of literature's most beloved children's stories, including The Giver by Lois Lowry (1994), A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle (1963), and The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting (1923). Many beloved classics received Honors but didn't win the top prize - Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (1953), The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden (1961), and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Clearly (1982) are Newbery runners up.
Here we've rounded up every winner of the Newbery Medal since its inaugural year in 1922. From Doctor Dolittle to Flora and Ulysses, explore these award-winning stories for children.
