Each year, the American Library Association (ALA) awards one children’s book the Newbery Medal. The purpose of the Newbery Award is:

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.

Newbery Committee members need to consider the following:

• Interpretation of the theme or concept

• Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization

• Development of a plot

• Delineation of characters

• Delineation of a setting

• Appropriateness of style.

For more information on the Newbery Awards and for lists of past winners, visit the ALA website.