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I've been joining some blogging friends in an online book club, and all our readers are invited to join in as well. Here's how it works:
At the beginning of the month Amanda at Hopkins Homeschool will share a book theme with us. It will be a theme instead of any specific title, so that anyone can participate - moms, dads, teens, kids, or the whole family. During the month, we will read books that go with the theme, and at the end of the month we'll share about what we read. Homeschool families may want to do unit studies or activities that go with the books they read, and they can tell us all about what they did and learned. Adults and teens may just want to share book reviews.
Unfortunately, Amanda has been unable to keep up with the book club due to some unforeseen circumstances, but we are continuing on, and since I think this is a great format to share about books, I hope we try it for at least another year!
The theme for August is Newbery Medal Books. I have to admit that I wasn't exactly clear on what the Newbery Medal is, other than that it's an award for children's books. So I had to go find out about the award and see a list of all the books that have been chosen.
The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children. The literary award goes "to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children". It goes to a book written by a US citizen or resident that was published in the previous year. The Newbery Medal has been awarded since 1922, and it's one of the two most prestigious awards for children's literature. The selection committee also awards up to five Newbery Honors books each year. The award is named for John Newbery, an 18th publisher of juvenile books. ¹
You can download a list of all the Newbery Medal and Honors books at the American Library Association website. Several other sites have lists for you to view as well.
Well, I've got a long list to work with - over one hundred books! I browsed through the list for titles I recognized or already owned, and for any others that really caught my eye. Following is my own short list of Newbery Medal books. Represented are books that I own but have not yet read, books that I've heard a lot about but have not yet read, and books that I am not at all familiar with but sound really interesting.
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink - I remember hearing about this favorite of homeschool girls many times over the years, but I've never read it. And I feel like I should. It was the Newbery Medal book in 1935.
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes - This winner from 1943 is another homeschool favorite that I haven't read. I own a copy too, so if I can remember where it wound up, there's a decent chance I'll read this one.
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene DuBois - Maybe this title caught my eye because I like the band Twenty One Pilots? The description looked charming, and together with the whimsical cover art kind of reminded me of Up! so if my library can get a copy to me, I want to check out this winner from 1947.
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham - Here's another one that I own but haven't read. Also known as a homeschooler favorite, it won the Newbery Medal in 1955.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien - I'm pretty familiar with the story because I enjoyed the movie based on the book, and one of my co-op students wrote a literary analysis of the book last year. I don't think I've read this 1971 winner though.
The Giver by Lois Lowry - I'm also rather familiar with the 1993 winner because many of my co-op students have read it. Seems to me some of them even considered it one of their favorite books. Yet despite that, and the fact that I own it, I haven't read it.
Holes by Louis Sachar - Why don't I own a copy of the 1998 Medal winner? I love this story. I loved the movie version too. My kids all loved the movie, and I think some of them read the book. Anyway, I'd love to read it again, and maybe I will!
Have you read any of these Newbery Medal books? Which do you recommend? Check back near the end of the month to see which one(s) I read!
Visit all the participating bloggers sometime during the month to find out their reading plans:
¹ "John Newbery Medal", American Library Association, March 24, 2021. http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newbery (Accessed August 5, 2021) Document ID: 4c554695-91d6-4e23-8299-49318b08dbbb
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2 comments:
Caddie Woodlawn and The Twenty-One Balloons - I adore both of those books! Enjoy.
I've read Caddie Woodlawn, good book. Many of the ones you've chosen I've also read, but not 21 balloons... now I wonder if I should! I had to shorten my list of books I've read since one of the "help you write a better post things" was complaining my list was too long! :)
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