The John Newbery Medal is one of the most prestigious awards for children's literature. It is awarded yearly to the author of "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." The content of the book may be fiction or non-fiction. The Newbery is one of many awards announced at the Youth Media Awards (YMA) by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), which is part of the American Library Association (ALA). This year, Donna Barbra Higuera won the Newbery for The Last Cuentista. January 30, 2023 is the date the YMA will be announced.
If you are in grades 4-8, and are looking for some great books to read over school vacation, below is a list of 10 books that are being considered (along with hundreds of other books) by the 2023 Newbery Committee. Pick one (or more!) from the list and come to the 2023 Mock Newbery Discussion and Voting in the Los Altos Library Orchard Room on Wednesday, January 25 from 4-5 p.m. We will learn about how the actual Newbery Committee decides which book receives the medal. Then, after a fun discussion of your selected titles, we will vote on a winner. Be sure to register online for the program here.
Remember that these books are available in print, ebook, and (all except 2) audiobook format. Please let us know if you need help finding them.
Happy reading, and we hope to hear your opinions on these books!
Choose at least one of these titles to read in preparation for predicting which book will win the John Newbery Medal for 2023!
