newbery criteria
newbery official website
Most Newbery books should not be the most popular or teach the best lesson. A book may not be your favorite, but it should be the one that meets the criteria the best. “Because the literary qualities to be considered will vary depending on content, the committee need not expect to find excellence in each of the named elements. The book should, however, have distinguished qualities in all of the elements pertinent to it.” |
Another Way to Look at the Criteria
What’s the book like? Information + plot + characters + setting What does it make us think about? Theme or concept How does the author do that? Style If all of these come together excellently… The book just might be a “Distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” |