Newbery Medal - Controversy

Controversy

In October 2008, Anita Silvey, a children's literary expert, published an article in the School Library Journal criticizing the committee for choosing books that are too difficult for children. Lucy Calkins, the Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University's Teachers College agreed with Silvey:

I can't help but believe that thousands, even millions, more children would grow up reading if the Newbery committee aimed to spotlight books that are deep and beautiful and irresistible to kids.

But Pat Scales said,

The criterion has never been popularity. It is about literary quality. How many adults have read all the Pulitzer-prize- winning books and ... liked every one?

Some question a quest for exclusivity, or "equating children's book habits with adults'."

John Beach, associate professor of literacy education at St. John's University in New York, compared the books that adults choose for children with the books that children choose for themselves and found that in the past 30 years, there is only 5% overlap between the Children's Choice Awards (International Reading Association) and the Notable Children's Books list (American Library Association). He has also stated that "the Newbery has probably done far more to turn kids off to reading than any other book award in children's publishing."

Erica Perl responded:

For starters, the real reasons kids don't read don't have anything to do with the Newbery medal—or any award. It has to do with the declining role of the book in our streaming-media culture and with socioeconomic realities.

Others argue that child appropriate books are important, not unpopular assignment of award winners.