Newbery Medal Winners

The John Newbery Medal is named in honor of John Newbery, a British publisher and bookseller of the eighteenth century. He has frequently been called the father of children's literature, since he was the first to conceive the idea of publishing books especially for children. The award is presented each year to "the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." To be eligible for the award, the author must be an American citizen or a permanent resident of the United States. The selection of the winner is made by a committee of the Children's Services Division of the American Library Association.