Newbery Medal

Information about the Newbery Medal

The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year. On June 22, 1921, Frederic G. Melcher proposed the award to the American Library Association meeting of the Children's Librarians' Section and suggested that it be named for the eighteenth-century English bookseller John Newbery. The idea was enthusiastically accepted by the children's librarians, and Melcher's official proposal was approved by the ALA Executive Board in 1922. In Melcher's formal agreement with the board, the purpose of the Newbery Medal was stated 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 Award thus became the first children's book award in the world. Its terms, as well as its long history, continue to make it the best known and most discussed children's book award in this country.

1922 Winner (First Year of Award)

2014 Winner

John Newbery

The Father of Children's Literature
1713-1767

•English publisher who made children’s literature sustainable and profitable

•Published about 100 children’s books, including ABC books, children’s novels, and magazines

•Wrote his own books as well as published books by Samuel Johnson and Oliver Goldsmith

•First children’s book was published in 1744, A Little Pretty Pocket-Book, and cost six pence, but for an extra tuppence, the purchaser received a red and black ball or a pincushion.

The John Newbery Award is given each year by the American Library Association to the premier title in children's literature.