Newbery Medal
The most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, awarded annually by the American Library Association since 1922.
About the Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in the preceding year.
Named after eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery, it was the first children's book award in the world. The gold medal significantly impacts a book's sales and library acquisition.
Eligibility Requirements
- Author must be a U.S. citizen or resident
- Book must be published in the United States during the preceding year
- Book must be written for children up to age 14
- Must be the author's original work (not a translation)
- Self-published books are generally not eligible
Selection Process
A 15-member committee selected by ALSC reads eligible books throughout the year. They meet at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in January to select the winner and Honor Books. The award is announced at the Youth Media Awards.
Recent Newbery Medal Winners
| Year | Title | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The Eyes and the Impossible | Dave Eggers |
| 2023 | Freewater | Amina Luqman-Dawson |
| 2022 | The Last Cuentista | Donna Barba Higuera |
| 2021 | When You Trap a Tiger | Tae Keller |
| 2020 | New Kid | Jerry Craft |
| 2019 | Merci Suárez Changes Gears | Meg Medina |
| 2018 | Hello, Universe | Erin Entrada Kelly |