Growing the Mock Newbery Reading List: May suggestions are now open
Our list of possible Newbery contenders looks good so far, but the good books keep coming. It’s time to add May suggestions to the list. The real Newbery Committee members typically share title suggestions with each other on a monthly basis, and we follow that practice here on Heavy Medal. Our guidelines for suggestions vary a bit: we limit suggestions to 5 per month per person, for instance, and ask that only titles that have been published in print form be suggested. More details can be found on this earlier post from March.
If you have any titles that you think should be considered, please provide titles and authors in the comments below. It’s fine to include books that others have suggested already in previous months. May suggestions are open from now through May 9th, and we’ll share the results on the blog shortly after that.
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Filed under: Heavy Medal Mock, Process, Suggestions
About Steven Engelfried
Steven Engelfried was the Library Services Manager at the Wilsonville Public Library in Oregon until he retired in 2022 after 35 years as a full-time librarian. He served on the 2010 Newbery committee, chaired the 2013 Newbery Committee, and also served on the 2002 Caldecott committee. You can reach him at sengelfried@yahoo.com.
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BILLY MILLER MAKES A WISH by Kevin Henkes
Red White and Whole by Ranjani LaRocca
Delicates by Brenna Thummler
Ancestor Approved edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF AIDAN S by David Levithan
The Fabulous Zed Watson! by Basil Sylvester & Kevin Sylvester
365 DAYS TO ALASKA by Cathy Carr
RED, WHITE, & WHOLE by Rajani LaRocca
Saving American Beach by Heidi Tyline King , is a powerful historical picture book sure to ignite curiosity and empathy in all who read it. A perfect read aloud for classroom teachers of all ages, providing great prompts for discussion and projects such as, but not limited to, racism, Earth Day, and cultural diversity.
Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh
Starfish by Lisa Fipps
One Jar of Magic by Corey Ann Haydu
Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz
Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff
ALMOST THERE AND ALMOST NOT by Linda Urban
THE ROCK FROM THE SKY by Jon Klassen
I would love to see either, The Boy from Berlin or One Boy’s War, both by author Nancy McDonald, on the list. Both considered historical fiction, the books take readers on breathless journeys through the events of WWII and one boy’s quest to thwart the Nazis.
Neither book was published in 2021 and Nancy McDonald is Canadian so they may be excellent books but not eligible.
Thanks for catching, Cherylynn. The 2021 publication date and “citizens or residents of the US” are requirements. No worries if someone suggests an ineligible title here;’ that happens on the real Committee too, and someone will catch it. Also, every year I seem to read at least one book that I’m excited about, then realize afterwards that it’s ineligible…last year it was EELS by Rachel Poliquin (from Canada).
TOO BRIGHT TO SEE by Kyle Lukoff
AMBER AND CLAY by Laura Amy Schlitz
STARFISH by Lisa Fipps
WAY OF THE HIVE by Jay S. Hosler – I’m not done with it yet, but so far, it’s really cool, and very different.
It’s gearing up to be a strong year! My TBR just keeps getting longer!
So it looks like THE WAY OF THE HIVE was previously published in another format, so I don’t think it’s eligible. But it’s still very good and I urge people to check it out!
Thanks for catching, Aud. From one catalog record: “This book was previously published as Clan Apis .. originally published in 2000 by Active Synapse.”
Root Magic by Eden Royce
Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca
Ground Zero by Alan Gratz
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
MILO IMAGINES THE WORLD by Matt de la Pena
THE SEVENTH RAVEN by David Elliott
STARFISH by Lisa Fipps
ALONE by Megan Freeman
GONE TO THE WOODS by Gary Paulsen
Finding Junie Kim
Starfish
The Elephant in the Room by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Strarfish by Lisa Fipps
The Lion of Mars by Jennifer Holms
1. Red, White and WHole, by Rajani LaRocca.
2. Leonard (My Life as a Cat), by Carlie Sorosiak.
Root Magic by Eden Royce
TOO BRIGHT TO SEE by Kyle Lukoff
THE LION OF MARS by Jennifer L. Holm
One Jar of Magic by Corey Ann Haydu
The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. by David Levithan
May suggestions are now closed. Next chance to suggest: June 7th – 13th.