Newberry Award Winners and Honor Books

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Newberry Medal-winning novel about Marty Preston, who finds an abused dog, Shioh, and debates whether he should keep him and save him from his brutal owner Judd Travers, or return him in order to do the right thing. Marty sees Judd shooting a deer out of season and uses that as blackmail for Judd to sell Shiloh to him. This story is one that focuses on moral dilemmas and following your instincts to do the right thing.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

A Newberry Medal-winner from 1968 tells the story of Claudia Kincaid, an 11-year-old girl who runs away from home and goes to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with her brother Jamie. After coming across a beautiful angel statue at the museum, Claudia is determined to find the statue’s maker. This leads Claudia and her brother on an adventure to Connecticut where they meet the statue’s owner Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and try to uncover the answer to their question by going through her mixed up filing cabinet.

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett 

A Newberry Honor book about a young boy, Elmer Elevator, who runs away to Wild Island to rescue a baby Dragon. With the help of an alley cat, Elmer jumps onto a ship that will take him to the island where he can rescue the baby Dragon from the lazy animals who use the dragon to fly back and forth. This tale is one that will be enjoyed by all young readers with its use of black and white drawings on every other page and the clever way Elmer is able to outsmart each animal he comes across in order to save the dragon.

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Winner of the 1995 Newberry Medal and a personal favorite from my childhood, Walk Two Moons tells the story of 13-year-old Sal Tree Hiddle as she travels with her grandparents to find her mother in Idaho. Along the way, Sal tells a story of Phoebe Winterbottom, but in reality, reveals a story more about herself.

Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos

This Newberry Honor book is both entertaining and loveable, with its main character Joey who has controlled his attention deficit disorder with new and improved meds. When he reconnects with his estranged dad, his dad gets rid of the meds Joey has depended upon and is forced to decide if being friends with his dad is worth giving up the control he had over his ADD.

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh

This Newberry Award winning book is about a boy name Jonathan who is asked to run an errand for his family to Aunt Emma's house in search of a big pot for their family dinner. Reassured there were no bears on the mountain, Jonathan can't help but imagine running into one when the cold winter air blows. This tale instills a sense of pride within Jonathan as he runs an errand for the sake of his family.

On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer 

This is a Newberry Honor award winner book about two boys named Joel and Tony who go swimming in a dangerous and forbidden river. Tony gets sucked into the current and cannot swim. Joel tries to save him but it is too late. With Tony dead, Joel is afraid to tell his parents and Tony’s parents about this horrible incident. In the end, Joel learns about life’s uncertainties, unfairness, and also life’s forgiveness.

Along Came a Dog by Meindert DeJong
This Newberry Honor book is a cute tale of a cocky red hen that befriends a lonesome dog. Though they were an unlikely pair, the hen and the dog compliment each other and the lonesome dog finally finds his place with the farmer and the hen.