The Newbery is not an exotic bird, nor is it a big game animal. It’s an elusive children’s book award bestowed 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. Recently, a group of fifth grade students and Fargo Public Schools librarians “took a shot” at determining their selection for the 2016 Newbery Award.
By Louie Lauer, Jefferson Elementary Library Media Specialist and
Brenda Cain, Washington Elementary Library Media Specialist
Have you ever tried choosing the winner of the Super Bowl without even knowing the teams? What do you think your odds of selecting the winner might be? That’s the challenge a group of fifth graders at Washington and Jefferson Elementary Schools set out to do when trying to identify the Newbery Award winner and Honorees of 2016 for children’s literature.
The Newbery Award is given each year by the American Library Association and is awarded to the author of the most distinguished literature for children. Finding the Newbery can be tricky since the nomination process is a secret and only the judges know which books make the cut and which don’t.
That didn’t stop this group! Students started with a list of ten books that were preselected by Jefferson librarian, Louie Lauer, and they were tasked with reading as many books as they liked before the first week in January. Then, similar to the Newbery committee, students evaluated books based on character development, engaging plot, relatable theme, and appropriateness for age group. Washington students are pictured above right holding books from the selection list.
On Friday, January 8, these Jefferson and Washington fifth graders held a group discussion over Google Hangout (pictured at left) about the selected books and their merits to win the Newbery, and then voted for their favorites. The students met the following Monday to announce their Newbery winners and then to debrief after the actual Newbery Awards and Honorees were announced.
Students and teachers alike were thrilled to see two of their choices, Echo, by Pam Munoz Ryan and The War That Saved My Life by Kim Brubacker Bradley also be selected by the Newbery Committee!
These Jefferson and Washington students will have an opportunity later this month to visit in person with Amber Emery, Children’s Librarian at the Fargo Public Library and a member of this year’s Newbery committee, to compare judging notes, and ask a few questions. All in all, students were energized by the books they read, the discussions they had, and the challenge of hunting the Newbery.
Mock Newbery Results:
Winners: Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan and The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Honors: Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar, Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff, and Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
Jefferson students holding books that were chosen as mock Newbery winners or Honors books by the Washington and Jefferson students. Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff was not available to be included in the photograph.
Actual 2016 Newbery Results:
Winner: The Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena
Honors: Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson, Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan, and The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Left: Washington students react to the official announcement of the 2016 Newbery Award winner.