John Newbery Medal and Honor Books

About this book list

The John Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. It recognizes the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published by an American publisher in the United States in English during the preceding year. The committee may also name Honor Books. Eligible writing can include fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, while reprints, compilations, and abridgements are excluded under the award's terms. For the Newbery, children are defined as people through age 14. The decision centers on the text rather than sales or popularity, which distinguishes it from the illustration-focused Caldecott Medal. Honor Books carry an official distinction, but they are not numbered runners-up. Families can compare a year's Medal recipient with all named Honors, paying attention to subject, format, and the child's interest in the material. Some selections suit independent readers; others work better when read together. The award recognizes writing quality, not one universal level of difficulty or maturity.