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It's time to start taking a closer look at the children's books of 2020. Participating in the Mock Newbery is an opportunity to read the newest children’s books and to discuss them with other passionate readers. A letter certifying participation is available for those applying the Mock Newbery program towards professional development.

Program registration: https://tinyurl.com/y3o8zauj

Mock Newbery webpage: http://www.olis.ri.gov/youth/newbery/index.php

Please read at least 7 books for the first meeting. Books that have not been read by half the number of participants at the meeting will not be discussed and will be removed from subsequent lists.

1. The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman
2. Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes
3. Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk
4. From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
5. A Game of Fox and Squirrels by Jenn Reese
6. The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead
7. The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate
8. The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert
9. Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
10. Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte
11. Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
12. Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim
13. Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson
14. When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
15. A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

This year's Mock Newbery discussions will be held using Zoom. Please register for each discussion no later than 4:59pm the day of the discussion. Registrants will be emailed the Zoom login information one hour before each meeting begins. We will experiment with the polling feature for determining which titles should be dropped or stay on the list for voting in January. If Zoom polling seems to work, we will use it for real time voting in January.

We'll also be using the RI Mock Newbery Goodreads Group to discuss each of the titles on the first reading a list. A thread has been created for each title and we'll use the comments from the Goodreads discussions as a springboard for our virtual discussions. Start out by introducing yourself in the Introduction thread! Not a member of the group? Click the button below to join now!

Our first reading list brings us new stories from several authors who have already taken home the gold or silver. Will the 2021 awards recognize some familiar names?

Additional new or forthcoming 2020 books from previous award and honor winners:

Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan
On the Horizon by Lois Lowry
We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly
When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson
All the Days Past, All the Days to Come by Mildred D. Taylor

Village of Scoundrels by Margi Preus

Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Return of the Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

The Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in the United States during the preceding year. The Award is restricted to authors who are citizens or residents of the United States.

Criteria:
1. In identifying "Distinguished Writing" in a book for children,

a. Committee members need to consider the following:

• Interpretation of the theme or concept

• Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization

• Development of a plot

• Delineation of characters

• Delineation of setting

• Appropriateness of style

Note: Because the literary qualities to be considered will vary depending on content, the committee need not expect to find excellence in each of the named elements. The book should, however, have distinguished qualities in all of the elements pertinent to it.

b. Committee members must consider excellence of presentation for a child audience.

2. Each book is to be considered as a contribution to American literature. The committee is to make its decision primarily on the text. Other components of a book, such as illustrations, overall design of the book, etc., may be considered when they make the book less effective.

3. The book must be a self-contained entity, not dependent on other media (i.e., sound or film equipment) for its enjoyment.

Note: The committee should keep in mind that the award is for literary quality and quality presentation for children. The award is not for didactic content or popularity.

Adopted by the ALSC Board, January 1978. Revised, Midwinter 1987. Revised, Annual 2008.

Email: danielle.margarida@olis.ri.gov
Website: http://www.olis.ri.gov/youth/newbery/index.php
Location: RI Office of Library and Information Services, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Phone: 401-574-5309
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olisri
Twitter: @olisri