This week, the topic is a freebie. I went back over the topics I'd done as freebies before, and those weren't sparking my interest to revisit. So I texted a friend. She didn't have any ideas either. Well I was driving in to work the other day, when it hit me. I could do a top ten on my favorite award winning children's books! I'm limiting it specifically to both Newberry and the Caldecott winners.
Some of you may ask, what are those awards?
The Newberry medal is named for John Newberry, a British bookseller. It is awarded each year to a children's book for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. It was first awarded in 1922, and has been awarded annually since. Some years, there is one winner and several honor books. Other years there is only a winner. If you want to see the entire list of both winners and honor recipients, click
here.
The Caldecott medal is awarded to illustrators. It is named in honor of the 19th century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. Like the Newberry medal, it is awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. If you want to see the entire list, click
here.
I had a hard time narrowing my list down to ten. So I have a total of 20 Newberry and Caldecott winners. I'll list the Newberry books first, and then the Caldecott.
Newberry Books
1. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink - I remember loving this book as a child. It was the 1936 winner.
2. Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson- I remember my mom reading this one aloud to me when I was really little. I think it spent every summer in our house from being checked out of the library. It's a beautiful story. It was the 1945 winner.
3. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White - This book has long been one of my very favorites. I've got one copy that is falling apart, and another one that appears more pristine. It was a 1953 honor book.
4. Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright- I still have my copy of both this book and its sequel. I discovered these either at the library or through one of the Scholastic Book Fairs. It was a 1958 honor book.
5. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare - I read this book for the first time in 6th grade. I've read it multiple times since. It's probably my favorite one of Speare's. It was the 1959 winner.
6. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell - I read this one in either 6th or 7th grade for the first time. It captivated me. It was the 1961 winner.
7. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle - This is probably one my very favorite books to this day. And that says a lot! I've replaced my copy about 3 times now. It was the 1963 winner.
8. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH - I read this one AFTER reading RASCO and the Rats of NIMH. I had found it in my elementary school library and thought why not. It was the 1972 winner.
9. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli - I read this one in 7th grade. Or maybe 8th. I'd never read a book that focused on homelessness before. It was the 1991 winner.
10. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine - This one was required reading in my Children's Literature class in college. I LOVED it! It is still probably my favorite Cinderella retelling. It was a 1998 honor book.
11. Holes by Louis Sachar - I'd long loved his books. This was one that I needed to read for Teaching Reading through Childen's Literature class in college. I loved his style of writing and how he related to his audience. It was the 1999 winner.
Caldecott Books
12. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans - I remember reading, and being read to, the Madeline stories. I don't think I ever owned any, but they were fun to check out from the library. It was a 1940 honor book.
13. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey- Oh my goodness. The charcoal drawings of this book just make the story of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard come to life. If you've not read it yet, I highly recommend it. It's probably one of my all time favorite picture books. It was the 1942 winner.
14. The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton - I loved this book for years. In fact, several years ago, I gave this book and several others by Burton to my best friend for her daughters to enjoy. It was the 1943 winner.
15. Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats - I remember reading this one several times over the years. I also remember it being one of the most popular books for my mom's students. It was the 1963 winner.
16. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak - The first time I read this book, I didn't really care for it. But over time, it came to be a good read. It was the 1964 winner.
17. Rain Makes Applesauce by Julian Scheer- I'm not sure when I discovered this book. Probably when I was a child. But it is probably my 2nd all time favorite picture book. Ever. It was a 1965 honor book.
18. Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg - This book is my all time favorite picture book. I love it. It was the 1986 winner.
19. Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky - This was one I was encouraged to read during our fairy tale unit in my college Children's Literature class. It is beautifully told. It was the 1998 winner.
20. Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick- I'll admit I've only looked at this book. I've not read it yet, but I know the story behind it. And since Winnie the Pooh is my favorite stuffed animal, the story behind it has caused me to add it to my list. I personally think that this is a well deserved honor for this book. It is the 2016 winner.
