Tag Archives: newbery medal

The Story of Mankind

We live under the shadow of a giant question mark. Who are we? Where do we come from? Whither are we bound? Slowly, but with persistent courage, we have been pushing this question mark further and further towards that distant line, beyond the horizon, where we hope to find our answer. The winner of the first Newbery Medal in 1922 was “The Story of Mankind” by Hendrick Willem van Loon. It is a book about the origins and rise of mankind and tells all about history. Now, this book has been updated since its original release in 1921. It includes … Continue reading →

The John Newbery Medal

Here we go, readers, on another adventure in children’s books. For those of you who read my reviews on the Caldecott Medal winners, you may enjoy this series even more. The Newbery Medal has been awarded every year since 1922 (16 years before the Caldecott Medal) to “the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children” — to quote the Association for Library Service to Children (a division of the American Library Association). It became the first children’s book award in the world. Although John Newbery was a British publisher and bookseller, he is often credited with … Continue reading →

The Caldecott Medal and the Man for Whom It was Named

Those of you who have ever picked up a children’s picture book most likely have heard of the Caldecott Medal. Books which have been awarded this honor sport a bronze medal on their covers. But what exactly does this medal mean? How does a book earn the Caldecott Medal? Furthermore, who was Caldecott? Well, as I explore books which have won this medal, I hope to answer all of these questions for you. And if I don’t, make sure you let me know. Randolph J. Caldecott was a high school dropout — not the type of man you would expect … Continue reading →