Newbery Honor Book
The Newbery Honor Books are runners-up to the Newberry Medal, which is awarded each year for the preceding year’s most distinguished American picture book for children.
The medal is named in honor of John Newbery. He was an eighteenth-century British publisher of juvenile books. He made it a priority to create books specifically for children.
No Award was given in 1923, 1924, or 1927. That is because no book was considered suitable.
Learn more: official Newberry Medal and Honor homepage.
Winners:
Bright Island (1937)
The story of Thankful Curtis, her island home, her time at school and her return.
Read online at archive.org.
On the Banks of Plum Creek (1937)
In the fourth volume of her history Laura and the Ingalls family move to Minnesota and live in a dugout on the banks of Plum Creek.
Helen Sewell
Pecos Bill: The Greatest Cowboy of All Time (1937)
Mr. Popper’s Penguins (1938)
When Mr. Popper unexpectedly becomes the proprietor of a troupe of penguins, he takes them on the road to make ends meet.
Read online at archive.org.
Richard Atwater
Leader By Destiny: George Washington, Man and Patriot (1938)
Hello the Boat! (1938)
By the Shores of Silver Lake (1939)
Pa takes a job on the railroad and move Ma, Laura, Mary, Carrie and Grace to the Dakota Territory where they spend the winter in a surveyor’s shanty.
Helen Sewell
Boy with a Pack (1939)
Bill Crawford sets out from New Hampshire with a peddlar’s pack for the Ohio country.
The Singing Tree (1939)
Jancsi and Kate must manage the ranch when the Good Master is called up to fight in World War I.
Read online at archive.org.
Runner of the Mountain Tops: The Life of Louis Agassiz (1939)
A short biography of the nineteenth century scientist who first theorized the existence of past ice ages. He was known for opposing Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Read online at archive.org.
The Long Winter (1940)
The Indians warn that there will be a hard winter so Pa moves Ma, Laura, Mary, Carrie and Grace to his store building in town for the winter.
Helen Sewell
Down Ryton Water (1941)
An account of the Pilgrims’ voyage to America, from the point of view of a young boy.
Little Town on the Prairie (1941)
In the seventh book of her biographical series, Laura is living with Ma, Pa, Mary, Carrie and Grace in De Smet and earns her teaching certificate.
Helen Sewell
George Washington’s World (1941)
Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison (1941)
The story of a twelve year old English girl who was captured by a raiding party of Shawnee Indians and French Canadians. Her family was killed and she spent the rest of her life living with the Delaware and later the Seneca tribes.
Read online at archive.org.