Newbery Awards

During the post, we will be talking about 5 Newbery Award Books. Also, we will be utilizing a story pyramid to provide you all with a description of the last book. Before we start, I would like to talk about the Newbery awards. The Newbery Award is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a member of the American Library Association, to the author of the most outstanding contribution to American literature for children.

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

Publication Date: April 2, 2019

Awards: Caldecott Medal, Coretta Scott King Award, and Newbery Honor Medal

Plot: The book is a poem that helps the reader understand the impact of black people in American History. The book touches on delicate topics like segregation and racism. From my perspective, the purpose of the author is to unite the readers. 

• Kwame Alexander developed a piece of art that helps the reader understand a social problem. I was getting chills as I was reading it. Also, at the end, I felt that the author was speaking directly to me.  

Here is a video of Alexander reading his book to a class. 

Savvy by Ingrid Law and illustrated by Elizabeth Parker

Publication Date: May 1, 2008

Award: Newbery Honor Medal 

Plot: Mibs is about to turn thirteen years old, and at that age, her family receives their savvy powers. Before her birthday, her father suffers a car accident and gets transported to Kansas for treatment. During her birthday party, she discovers that her savvy is to awake hurt creatures. She then decided to travel to Kansas to help her dad wake up.  

• I would recommend this book to promote emotional growth within your students. 

The voice that challenged a Nation: Maria Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman 

Publication Date: 2004

Award: Sibert Medal, Newbery Honor Medal 

Plot: The book is a biography of Maria Anderson, a talented singer who faced all types of discrimination to sing in Washington D.C. 

• The book builds background information on America's history. The book is a biography based on real-life events that happened. The reader can learn about Eleanor Roosevelt, Maria Anderson, and all the different laws that segregated minorities. The book can help students appreciate each other's company as we have grown into a culturally responsive community.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz and illustrated by Robert Byrd

Publication Date: July 24, 2007

Award: Newbery Medal recipient 2008

Plot: This book has many different monologues and dialogues happening between medieval characters. From my perspective, the plot can vary depending on who the readers are! 

• I love this book, and I would use it as a read-aloud book. The book can help students enjoy the lecture. Also, it helps them gain knowledge about medieval times.

Holes by Louis Sachar 

Publication Date: August 20, 1998

Award: Newberry Medal recipient 1998

Plot: Stanley gets falsely accused of stealing some shoes, and he ends up in Camp Green Lake. He becomes friends with Hector (Zero), who ends up being related to Madame Zeroni. Madam Zeroni had cursed Stanley’s family a long time ago. Then, Stanley carries Zero up a mountain and breaks the curse. Finally, both of them escape camp green lake. 

• The book provides engaging dialogues between the characters.  The story itself talks about a dream that we all had as a child, finding a treasure.

Lastly, here is the story pyramid for Holes: 

Holes

Louis Sachar

Stanley

14 years 

Camp Green Lake

Falsely accused of Theft

Zero and Stanley become friends

They both escape Camp Green Lake 

Stanley sings Madame Zeroni’s song to Zero

Stanley and Zero both leave the Camp forever!