Predicting Newbery Winners 2011
I am excited about the upcoming Newbery Awards! Amanda Struckmeyer served on the Newbery Committee that selected Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book and her list, I believe, is dead on. Here’s a link to the post that has her Mock Newbery event. But more importantly, here’s her list! Maybe your children will have fun reading these books trying to predict the outcome of this year’s Newbery Award? If that is not a reasonable option, then just enjoy some newly published quality books. Check with your library also to see if they are available yet. If you only want one book suggestion, pundits from KidLitCon 2010 have whispered in my ear about how excellent The Keeper by Kathi Appelt is. I wonder if Vegas lets you bet on this?
p.s. For another excellent list of potential 2011 Newbery and Caldecott winners from School Library Journal, click here.
For a list of actual Newbery winners so far, click here.
The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
Countdown by Deborah Wiles
Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan and Peter Sis
A Million Shades of Gray by Cynthia Kadohata
Mockingbird by Katherine Erskine
One Crazy Summer by Rita Garcia-Williams
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
The War to End All Wars by Russell Freedman
To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on the image of the book.
Oh my! I’m going to check some of those books out soon. Thanks for the list 🙂
You are so welcome! Amanda Stuckmeyer put together a great list! I wonder if she will judge future Newberys?
Thank you for posting this list, I have a couple I need to read. Of those I have read it is a tough year for decision making!
The Newbery Awards are my Oscar, Emmy and Golden Golden Globes.
Great list. I disliked The Cardturner so much, though. Have heard lots of good things about other stuff on this list like the Deborah Wiles book. Kadohata is a brilliant writer, can’t wait to read her newest.
I do find Louis Sachar’s work to be puzzling at times — it’s a little quirky for me but kids seem to love it! I haven’t read Holes (though it’s in my house) nor The Cardturner, but I will try to read them both soon.
The only one I would add/change are Alchemy and Megan Swan and The Conspiracy of Kings.
Good to know! Thanks for the additions!!!
Hi there,
Amanda Struckmeyer here… just stumbled across this post. I’m flattered that you featured my list! I generally run a mock Newbery club every fall. As far as serving as a Newbery judge in the future, only time will tell! A person can only serve once every five years, and I was on the 2009 committee (judging 2008 books). Feel free to contact me anytime… amandacmoss at gmail dot com. What a great blog you have!
Thank you so much for stopping by! I would love to get your picks every year. It’s been such a pleasure personally to read ahead and root for our new favs!
I loved The Cardturner and was hoping it would be honored with the Newbery…alas it was not. Have not read the winner but if it beat out The Cardturner AND Keeper, it better be good!
You picked two good choices! It must have been a difficult decision!