Friday Faves #89-Newbery Award Winners

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Since Alicia just introduced our new Wednesday feature, What to Read Wednesday this week, and because we have a podcast called Cover to Reel, and because the Newbery Awards for 2019 were just announced about 4 days ago, it seemed appropriate to talk about some of our favorite Newbery Award winning books on today's Friday Faves.

The Newbery Award is given annually to the children's book author who has made the most distinguished contribution to American Literature for children. It has been awarded each year since 1922. There is generally one author that receives the top award and then a few other books that are given a Newbery Honor award as well. Throughout your school life or your children's school life, you have probably been exposed to many of the Newbery Award Winners. I haven't read any of this year's winners yet, but this year, the top award went to (insert drum roll)......

Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina- It is the story of a 6th grade girl who has to deal with the problems of changes in school and in family.  It deals with subjects of jealousy and alzheimers with wisdom and humor and comes highly recommended.  

    The 2 honor winners for this year are: 
The Night Diary by  Veera Hiranandani - This story takes place in India in 1947, writtten in diary form by a young girl to her mother. 
​The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock-This is the story of a boy with a lump on his back who goes on a mysterious pilgrimage in 1350, hoping to see if he can be healed. 

I am always amazed at the deep subjects that are dealt with in some of the children's literature today, especially among these award winning books. But, the subjects are usually dealt with in beautiful, understandable ways.
You can go on the website of the Association For Library Service for Children (alsc) to find the complete lists of Newbery Winners, as well as Caldecott and other awards listed to find excellent books to read. We thought that today we would share a few of our favorites with you that we have enjoyed over the years. We may have already covered them with their movie counterparts on Cover to Reel, or they may be in the works for later! I am going to start from the oldest and work my way to the most recent.

• 1923- The Voyages of Dr. Doolittle by Hugh Lofting:  This was published the year my mom was born and she introduced it to me when I was young! I loved it! 
• 1936- Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink:  A classic, based on the memories of the author's grandmother.
• 1938- On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder:  I am a sucker for any of Wilder's books.  This one was one of the Honor winners. She also had Honor books in 1942 and 1944.
• 1953- Charlotte's Webb by E.B. White:  This was an Honor winner and has really held her own over the years. 
• 1957- Old Yeller by Fred Gipson:  A tear jerker in book or Disney Movie form.  One of my all time favorites since I was a child.  An Honor Award winner.
• 1960- My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George :  A boy burns out a tree to make a place to survive in the wilderness!  I have always loved these kinds of survival in the wilderness stories. Honor book.
• 1963- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle:  No movie can do this book justice in my opinion. 
• 1970- Sounder by William H. Armstrong;  The story of a loyal dog is hard to beat. It deals with family ties, racism and inhumanity and will really pull on your heart strings. 
• 1976- The Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis:  I use this book to play a get to know you game using pennies!  Get a box of pennies with various years on them.  Everyone at your gathering picks a penny and then shares a memory from the year on that penny.  (If it was before they were born, they draw again.)  It has always been a successful ice breaker in a group of people who are just getting to know each other. 
• 1978- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson:  Another tear jerker, but you can't put it down. 
• 1982- Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary:  A classic that speaks to elementary aged children still. 
• 1986- Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan:  You've got to love this first of 5 books about Sarah, who leaves Maine for the prairie, answering an ad to be a wife and a mother.  Heartwarming.
• 1988- Hatchet by Gary Paulsen:  Another of those survival type books that I love.  I always think of this one when I am out camping and using basic skills.  Ha Ha.  I don't know that I would have survived this books scenario.  Paulsen was also honored in other years and his books are always amazing.
• 1994- The Giver by Lois Lowry:  I remember when Lindsey read this in school and came home and told me what a great book it is. 
• 1998- Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine:  The movie is nothing like the book.  This has been covered on the podcast.  Lindsey loves, loves, loves the book and hates the movie.  I have heard the same opinion from others who read the book first.  If you have only seen the movie, you won't understand. 
• 2004- The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo:  I copy and pasted that because it was so long.  Once again, I'm not sure the movie represents the book very well.  But it is a good book. 
• 2006- Princess Academy by Shannon Hale:  I loved this book and so did Maddy.  The title does not give you a real clue about what this book is about.  A must read.
• 2011- Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool:  This is a story about finding out who you are and becoming a part of something.  A beautiful story. 
• 2017- The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill:  A magical story about a baby girl, a kind witch and a woman with a tiger's heart! 

There were some books that I've read that I just didn't feel I had the room to include, but it was hard to leave any out! That is why this list is so long! But, If you have some favorite Newbery Award Winners that I didn't include, please be sure to drop the titles in the comments section. Even though these are supposed to children's books, I have enjoyed so many of them as an adult.
We will let you know if we include any of the Cover to Reel versions on the podcast! But, this week, be sure to tune in to hear Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, just produced yesterday!