As one of the most sought after and prestigious awards given to writers of children’s literature, the Newbery Medal Award is not just handed out to anyone… even if their books were the best-sellers in the market. Strict criteria set in place by the Association for Library Service to Children is used to qualify books as potential recipients of the award.Below is the following set of criteria that a children’s literature book must meet to be considered for the Newbery Award Medal.
- The book must be published in English in the United States the previous year.
- The author must be a citizen or resident of the United States.
- The book must be considered for its theme, presentation (clarity, accuracy and organization), plot, characters, setting, and style.
- The book must relate to a child audience.
- The book must contribute to literature.
- The book must stand alone and not as a part of a multimedia presentation
It is easy to see that not every book makes the grade, and those that do each qualify as a great book in their own right.
