Notable Newbery Authors: a new series

Emily: Every year we like to do some form of special series where we look at something in Newbery history. And this year it is AUTHORS. The people behind the Newbery, the people whose lives are changed by the Newand not the author, but it’s also easy to know the “Newbery powerhouse authors.” 

Steven: This may sound obvious, but I think it’s interesting how there can be a writer who doesn’t seem like a “Newbery author,” but as soon as they win one…they are. When I was early in my career, I thought of Sid Fleischman as fun and fairly popular, but you don’t win awards with westerns and tall tales. And then he did (THE WHIPPING BOY), and I looked at every Sid F. book after that as a potential contender. Richard Peck was kind of that way too. He wrote at least 26 kids’ books, most pretty popular, over a span of 25 years without a Newbery…Then he won an Honor in 1999 (A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO) and a Medal two years later (A YEAR DOWN YONDER)

Emily: When I think Newbery authors I think Kate DiCamillo, Lois Lowry, and Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Maybe because these are winners of my youth? Phyllis Reynolds Naylor even went to my high school! I met her once at a book signing and also wrote her an e-mail once thanking her for an impact on me- and she even sent me a fun response.

Steven:  It’s an incredible achievement to win just one Newbery Medal or Honor, but for me, once an author’s done it twice it really elevates them.  Russell Freedman’s LINCOLN Medal was a big deal for sure, but when he won an Honor a few years later (THE WRIGHT BROTHERS), it seemed like, from then on, every book he did had to be a contender. We have a few more recent (and still young) authors in that category, like Christina Soontronvat and Erin Entrada Kelly…and of course Kate D.   

Emily: And don’t forget that Christina Soontronvat won  TWO HONORS in 2021. Now that’s awesome! 

Newbery committees get to spend special time with their winners at Annual Conference. The Newbery gala is when winners make their speeches and the committee typically haas dinners with both the medal winner and honor winners. My year Meg Medina won the medal and then Catherine Murdock and Veera Hiranandani won the honor. I will forever remember these authors and our conversations (and cherish my autographed books by them). And of course that they all met and held my first-born Son “the John Newbery baby.” Any special memories for you Steven?

Steven:  I brought my mom and daughter (80 and 20) to the banquet in Chicago in 2010 when I was chair. My mom loved IVAN (and she usually doesn’t like talking animal books). I was able to bring her up front to meet Katherine Applegate, who of course was so kind and gracious.  My mom still talks about that night.   

Emily: In this series we will look at different authors who won (or not won the Newbery) and we do have a poll of course where we will think about some Newbery legends (or not-yet-legends). We will also take some time to look at notable Newbery speeches (all which are available online) and really fun to look at.

Steven: Doing this sort of thing always reminds me just how rare it is to win this award. So many great books every year and the Committee has to choose just one (plus Honors). I like to think of the Newbery as a way to elevate a few standout books, without devaluing the rest of the contenders in any way.  

Emily: Let us know about any memories with Newbery authors, or authors that stick out to you. And don’t forget to take our poll. We’ll be back next month with a post about Newbery powerhouses.

P.S. SPOILER ALERT- Steven made a beautiful chart with the answer to the “test your knowledge” poll question. But don’t open it until you’ve “tested your knowledge!!”

Filed under: Newbery History