Trivia Tuesday: Newbery Winners

The Tale of Despereaux. Bud, Not Buddy. The Giver. What do these books have in common? They all won a Newbery Medal.

If your teachers are anything like mine were, they're always keeping track of which books win the Newbery each year. Maybe YOU care more about which books are getting props at the Kids' Choice Awards (in 2008 it was the Harry Potter series), but I bet that your teacher is more likely to create a section for Newbery-winners than roll out the orange carpet for Kids' Choice picks.

Don't despair — Newbery winners aren't all bad and boring, you know! A lot of Newbery picks are among my favorite books, like these:

• Hoot by Carl Hiaasen (Honor Winner, 2003)
• Holes by Louis Sachar (Medal Winner, 1999)
• Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (Honor Winner, 2001)
• Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (Medal Winner, 1991)
• The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (Medal Winner, 1979)
• Charlotte's Web by E. B. White (Honor Winner, 1953)

C'mon, you can't tell me you haven't enjoyed at least one of those books!

How about you? What's your favorite Newbery winner? And which book do YOU think deserved a Newbery but didn't get one?

And now for the trivia question: What was the first ever book to win the Newbery Medal, and in what year?

— Karen, STACKS Staffer

Comments

[Comment #1]

OMG! All of those (besides Hoot) are my favorite books!

[Comment #2]

The Naming by Alison Croggon is great. Maybe a Honor.

[Comment #3]

The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon in 1922

[Comment #4]

1922: The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon (Liveright)

[Comment #5]

umm....1922 the story of mankind by hendrik willem something...i think van loon

did harry potter win a newberry? i think it deserves one.
a lot of newberry ones are a bit boring...but i love Holes and Hoot. those a few exceptions =D