HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY, NEWBERY MEDAL

The Newbery Medal is 100 years old this year!

Have you ever picked up a book at the library or bookstore and noticed that mysterious gold label on the front cover? Maybe you already know that that particular book has been awarded the Newbery Medal, an annual award given to the best middle-grade book of the previous year. But what kind of books are eligible? How is a book chosen? Who are the past winners? And how many Newbery winning books have you read?

The 2022 Newbery Medal was awarded to Donna Barba Higuera for her book, The Last Cuentista. What led her to write this book? Read her acceptance speech and discover the answer.

Listen to (or read) my interview about the Newbery Medal with podcaster Terrie Hellard-Brown and check out her other podcasts while you're at it. 

Did you know that I wrote about about the first 75 years of the Newbery award, with profiles on all the authors up until then? The book, Winning Authors: Profiles of the Newbery Medalists isn't easily available anymore, but if you're interested, you can find it on my website under "Books for Adults." Leave a comment and let me know which authors are your favorites!

Be sure to spell "Newbery" with one "r!"

Here's an interesting Newbery Nugget:
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"I truly believe that reading can help dreams come true. Whatever you want to become in your life, whatever you want to do, reading can help you get there!"
                                              - Linda Sue Park, 2002 Newbery Medalist for A Single Shard

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A WOOF FROM SOPHIE GRACE

Hi, everyone! Sophie here. I'm 5 months old now and growing fast!
When I came home the end of March, I weighed 6.5 pounds and now I'm 13.5 pounds. Mom can still carry me around sometimes, but only when I hold still which I don't always do. Guess what? I got bitten by a baby rattlesnake, but Mom and Dad took me to the animal hospital. I had to stay overnight. I did not like being bit one bit! I was so glad to come home! I love all my family and they love me. Aren't we lucky?