Newbery Medal

Newbery Medal, annual award given to the author of the most distinguished American children’s book of the previous year. It was established by Frederic G. Melcher of the R.R. Bowker Publishing Company and named for John Newbery, the 18th-century English publisher who was among the first to publish books exclusively for children. The first award was given in 1922. It is presented at the annual conference of the American Library Association along with the Caldecott Medal, an award to an artist for the best illustrations for a children’s book. The judging committee responsible for selecting the award’s winner comprises educators, librarians, book reviewers, publishers, and children’s literature experts, all of whom are members of the Association for Library Service to Children. Judging committees also cite notable runners-up of the prize, and in 1971 such titles were designated Newbery Honor Books. Winners of the Newbery Medal include Hugh Lofting, Madeleine L’Engle, William Pène du Bois, Beverly Cleary, and Kate DiCamillo.

Winners of the Newbery Medal are listed in the table.