Thursday, August 26, 2010

A New(bery) Beginning

I LOVE books. I particularly love children's literature and especially children's novels. For that reason, I find myself drawn to the Newbery winners. The Newbery Medal was the first children's book award ever given. It is awarded annually to one book written by an American author. Other books considered noteworthy are given the distinguished title of Newbery Honor books. The Association for Library Service to Children, who awards the medal, describes it as such...

"The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."

There have been Newbery winning books that I have loved and others that I have hated. However, in a sea of books, the Newbery medal becomes a compass for me directing my attention towards books that others have found literary value in.

I want this blog to be a space to record my thoughts on the Newbery winners. While much of this blog might be devoted to the Newbery Books, that's not all I read. So this will also be a space for me to record my thoughts on other books and book related topics as well.

Join me as I pick my way through the Newbery Winners and other great reads!