In 1921, Frederick G. Melcher had the Newbery Medal designed by Rene Paul Chambellen. The bronze medal is engraved with the winner's name and the date on the back. The award is named for eighteenth-century English bookseller John Newbery. It is given to "to encourage original creative work in the field of books for children. To emphasize to the public that contributions to the field of literature for children, deserve similar recognition to poetry, plays or novels. To give librarians, who make it their life work to serve children's reading interests, an opportunity to encourage good writing in the field."
Other books noted as worthy of attention are considered "honor books."
The 1998 Newbery Medal winner was Karen Hesse's Out of the Dust, a lyrical novel for readers nine to 12.
Honor Books recognized were: Ellen Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine, Lily's Crossing, by Patricial Reilly Giff, and Wringer, by Jerry Spinelli.
The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. This award is presented annually by the Association of Library Service To Children, to the artists of the most distinguished American Picture Book for children.
The 1998 winner is Rapunzel, retold and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky.
Caldecott Honor Winners for 1998 are:
The Gardener, illustrated by David Small, text by Sarah Stewart,
Harlem, illustrated by Christopher Myers, text by Walter Dean Myers, and
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, by Simms Tabach.
Next week we'll cover some of the other awards and honors from the field of children's literature.
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