The Children's Room

Newbery Controversies

The Newbery Medal is awarded each year by the American Library Association to the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year. But the medal has come under attack by some children's literature experts, who contend that recent Newbery Medal winners have limited appeal to young readers. In addition, a new study shows that minorities are underrepresented in Newbery Medal-winning books, despite the growing diversity of the U.S. population.

I focus on these controversies in my weekly column for Scripps Howard News Service. To read more about it, click on this link: Newbery Medal weathering stiff challenges | ScrippsNews