Special Sub-Topic: Newbery Medal Click Here To Play: Newbery Medal

What year was the medal first awarded?

1922. It was originally proposed to the Children's Section of the American Library Association in 1921 by Frederic Melcher.

Who designed the medal?

Rene Paul Chambellan. It is bronze and has the winner's name and the date of the award engraved on the back.

What organization gives out the award?

American Library Association. The medal is still inscribed 'Children's Librarians' Section,' however the current name for the group is the 'Association for Library Service to Children' which is a division of the American Library Association.

Does the author have be a citizen of the United States?

no. The winner just has to be a resident of the United States. The book must however be first published in this country.

This book takes place in England during the Middle Ages. Robin, the son of Sir John de Bureford is supposed to be on his way north to begin training as a page. Instead he lies ill while plague ravishes London. He is rescued by Brother Luke and taken to the hospice of St. Mark's. Which book is it?

The Door in the Wall. Marguerite de Angeli wrote this book about life in the Middle Ages. It won the Newbery Medal in 1950 and also won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1961. 'Call it Courage' 1941 'The High King' 1969 and 'Onion John' 1960.

Will Stanton is the last of the Old Ones. He has come to Wales to recuperate from a serious illness. He meets Bran and Bran's dog Cafall. His task is the wake the six sleepers with the lost golden harp. Which book is it?

The Grey King. 'The Grey King' by Susan Cooper won the Medal in 1978. It is the fourth book in 'The Dark is Rising' series. 'The Dark is Rising,' the second book of the series was a Newbery Honor Book. 'Miracles on Maple Hill' 1957, 'The Door in the Wall' 1950 and 'Tales from a Silver Land' 1925.

Claudia wanted to run away from home. She planned it carefully. She chose her brother Jamie to come with her because he was quiet and since he saved all his money he was 'rich.' They ran away and lived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Which book is it?

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. This book was written by E.L. Kongisburg and won the medal in 1968, that same year her book 'Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley and Me, Elizabeth' was chosen as a Newbery Honor Book. 'Miss Hickory' 1947, 'Summer of the Swans' 1971 and 'Shadow of a Bull' 1965.

This book is about a Bulgarian peasant boy who wants to be a sculptor. His mother cannot understand why he would want to leave the land that gives his family bread. His grandfather is a farmer and a very good farmer but he is also a storyteller who understands the need of an artist to express himself. Which book is it?

Dobry. 'Dobry,' written by Monican Shannon won the award in 1935. 'Tales from Silver Lands' 1925, 'Walk Two Moons' 1995 and 'Summer of the Swans' 1971.

Jeff Busey 16, is plowing on his family's Kansas farm in 1861. An emergency summons from the farm house sends him running. His entire family must fight off an attempt by pro-slavery forces to take their father. Convinced that there is no other way Jeff gets his father's permission to join the union forces. Which book is this?

Rifles for Watie. Harold Keith won the medal for 'Rifles for Watie' in 1958. He grew up in Oklahoma. He was gathering information for his master's thesis in history when he thought that he might like to write a novel about the Civil War in the Indian country. 'Up a Road Slowly' 1967, 'Call It Courage' 1941 and 'Number the Stars' 1990.

Noah, Nadi, Ethan and Julian were chosen by Mrs. Olinski to be on her 6th grade Academic Bowl team. They win the 6th grade Academic Bowl at Epiphany Middle School and then they go on to beat the 7th and 8th grade teams as well. Which book is it?

The View from Saturday. This is Ms. Konigsburg's second Newbery Medal, she won in 1968 for 'From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.' 'A Year Down Yonder' 2001, 'Miracles on Maple Hill' 1957 and 'The Wheel on the School' 1955.

This book is about a 13-year-old Eskimo girl who has to decide between an arranged marriage or running away. She decides to leave and cross the tundra on her way to visit her pen pal in San Francisco. Which book it it?

Julie of the Wolves. Jean Craighead George, who won the Newbery Medal in 1973, spent a summer studying wolves and the tundra in Barrow Alaska. This gave her the inspiration for this book. 'Dicey's Song' 1983, 'Walk Two Moons' 1995 and 'Missing May' 1993.

This book is about a young girl growing up on a Chesapeake Bay island during the 1940's. She is a twin. Everybody loves her sister who is selfish and spoiled. Louise becomes friends with Captain Wallace and learns about the watermen and the island. Which book is it?

Jacob Have I Loved. Katherine Paterson won for this book in 1981. She also won the Newbery Medal in 1978 for 'Bridge to Terabithia.' 'Number the Stars' 1990, 'Summer of the Swans' 1971.

On a trip from Ohio to Idaho, 13-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle tells her grandparents the story of Phoebe Winterbottom. The book is about both Phoebe's story and Salamanca's own story. Which book is it?

Walk Two Moons. Sharon Creech won the Newbery Medal in 1995. She teaches English and American Liberature in the American School in Surrey, England. During the summer returns to Lake Chitauqua in New York State. 'Up a Road Slowly' 1967, 'Thimble Summer' 1939 and 'Strawberry Girl' 1946.

Mafatu is a Polynesian and son of a great chief. He is afraid of the sea, it took his mother when he was a baby. Everyone taunted him because of his fear. He is determined to master his fear, so he leaves on a journey with only his dog and his pet albatross. Which book is it?

Call it Courage. Armstrong Sperry won the Newbery Medal in 1941. 'Shen of the Sea' 1926, 'Island of the Blue Dolphin' 1961 and 'Number the Stars' 1990.

It is 1943 Copenhagen and the Nazis are coming. Ellen Rosen moves in with her best friend Annemarie Johansen's family and pretends to be part of their family. Annemarie must show great courage to protect her friend. Which book am I?

Number the Stars. Lois Lowry won the Newbery Medal for 'Number the Stars' in 1990. She won another Newbery Medal in 1994 for 'The Giver.' 'Call it Courage' 1941 and 'Up a Road Slowly' 1967.