Heavy Medal
Posts by Steven Engelfried
What About All That Buzz?: Newbery Committee Inside Insights
"What will the Newbery winner be?" is the subject of conversation all year in the children's book world: in articles, blogs, and countless conversations. How much does this award book "buzz" impact the members of the actual Newbery Committee? Our bloggers share thoughts from their own committee experiences.
How to Pick the Last Two: Ideas and Strategies for the Final Mock Newbery Nomination
As the year nears its end, Heavy Medal readers (and real Newbery Committee members) select two final books to add to the official list of nominated titles. Do you pick your personal favorite? The most likely winners? Take a chance with a long shot? We offer some possible strategies for this final choice and invite readers to share their own.
Marshmallows, Wordplay, and a School Garden: Poetry Collections for Newbery Medal Consideration
It's been 33 years since a collection of poems for children has won the Newbery Medal. Could 2023 be the year that poetry breaks through again?
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The Early Six: The half-dozen books that will definitely be part of our Heavy Medal Book List
The final list of 15 (or so) titles for our Heavy Medal Book List isn't ready yet, but today we reveal the "Early Six." Find out what we chose and get an early start on your Mock Newbery reading...
The Results Are In! Here’s our updated list of Heavy Medal Mock Newbery nominations
The results are in! Our Heavy Medal Mock Newbery list now includes 58 books, and at least one reader feels that each one of them could wind up winning the 2023 Newbery Medal as the most distinguished children's book of the year.
Graphic Novels + Middle School: A Newbery Medal Combination?
Graphic novels have earned Newbery recognition three times in the past eight years. Will they break through again in 2023? We take a look at five possible Newbery contenders in the graphic novel format, all of which take place during the middle school years.
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A Look Ahead: The Heavy Medal Award Committee, the Final Book List, and the Selection of the Mock Newbery Winner
The Newbery Medal announcement is just three months away. Here's a preview of Heavy Medal activities between now and then, which will include more reader nominations, a mock award committee, a final booklist, high-level book discussion, and two separate Mock Newbery elections.
Newbery Criteria Deep Dive: Presentation of Information
What does excellence in the area of "Presentation of Information" look like in a children's book? Today we take a deep dive at how "accuracy, clarity, and organization" can play a role in the selection of the Newbery Medal.
Mock Newbery Fantasy Contenders: Mapmaker, Ogress and Windswept
In what looks like a strong year for children's fantasy fiction, we look at three excellent titles, each written by an author that has had Newbery recognition in prior years.
Mock Newbery Nomination Surprises: SWIM TEAM and LOVE IN THE LIBRARY
A graphic novel and a historical picture book were among the surprise leaders from our first round of Mock Newbery nominations. Here's a closer look at SWIM TEAM by Johnnie Christmas and LOVE IN THE LIBRARY by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, illustrated by Yas Imamura.
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