The John Newbery Medal has celebrated the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children since 1922. Named after 18th century British bookseller John Newbery, the Newbery Medal, or just Newbery, was proposed by the editor of Publisher's Weekly magazine, Frederic G. Melcher, in 1921. The medal's purpose is:
"To encourage original creative work in the field of books for children. To emphasize to the public that contributions to the literature for children deserve similar recognition to poetry, plays, or novels. To give those librarians, who make it their life work to serve children's reading interests, an opportunity to encourage good writing in this field."
The Newbery Medal was the world's first children's book award, and it continues to be awarded annually. Notable past winners include The Giver by Lois Lowry (1994), A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle (1963), and The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting (1923). Numerous winning books are now collectable. Noteworthy children's books which did not win the Newbery Medal include Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.
The 2025 winner is Erin Entrada Kelly for The First State of Being. Kelly crafts a tale set in the summer of 1999, where twelve-year-old Michael Rosario's ordinary life in Delaware takes an extraordinary turn with the arrival of Ridge, a mysterious time traveller from the future. This compelling story explores themes of friendship, time travel, found family, and the desire to know what lies ahead at the turn of the millennium.
