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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:

Americans Before Columbus (1951)

Author(s): Elizabeth Chesley Baity
Illustrator(s): C. B. Falls


The Defender (1951)

Turgen takes pity on the mountain sheep during a hard winter.

Author(s): Nicholas Kalashnikoff
Illustrator(s): Claire Louden
George Louden, Jr.

Details »

Red Sails to Capri (1952)

Author(s): Ann Weil
Illustrator(s): C. B. Falls


Moccasin Trail (1952)

Author(s): Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Illustrator(s): None


Birthdays of Freedom (1952)

Birthdays of Freedom is a children’s history book written and illustrated by Genevieve Foster. The book was originally published in two volumes, Book One was first published in 1952, and Book Two in 1957.

Author(s): Genevieve Foster
Illustrator(s): Genevieve Foster


Charlotte’s Web (1952)

Fern adopts the runt of the litter and names him Wilbur, but it is Charlotte, A. Cavatica, who ensures he will always have a home on the Arable farm.

Read online at archive.org. 

Author(s): E. B. White
Illustrator(s): Garth Williams

Details »

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain (1952)

The bears were nowhere to be seen when Jonathan went over the mountain, but it is getting dark as he starts on his return journey.

Read online at archive.org

Author(s): Alice Dalgliesh
Illustrator(s): Helen Sewell

Details »

Shadrach (1953)

Author(s): Meindert De Jong
Illustrator(s): Maurice Sendak


Magic Maize (1953)

Author(s): Conrad Buff
Mary M. Buff
Illustrator(s): Conrad Buff
Mary M. Buff


Hurry Home, Candy (1953)

Author(s): Meindert De Jong
Illustrator(s): Maurice Sendak


Theodore Roosevelt, Fighting Patriot (1953)

Author(s): Clara Ingram Judson
Illustrator(s): Lorence F. Bjorklund


All Alone (1953)

Marcel takes his family’s three cows to summer pasture on Little Giant all by himself.

Read online at archive.org

Author(s): Claire Huchet Bishop
Illustrator(s): Feodor Rojankovsky

Details »

On the Banks of Plum Creek (1953)

In this fourth volume of her family saga, the Ingalls family moves to Minnesota and settles on the banks of Plum Creek.

Read online at archive.org

Author(s): Laura Ingalls Wilder
Illustrator(s): Garth Williams

Details »

These Happy Golden Years (1953)

In the final installment of Laura Ingalls’ biography she becomes Mrs. Almanzo Wilder.

Read online at archive.org. 

Author(s): Laura Ingalls Wilder
Illustrator(s): Garth Williams

Details »

Banner in the Sky (1954)

Author(s): James Ramsey Ullman
Illustrator(s): D. Chalmers


The Courage of Sarah Noble (1954)

Author(s): Alice Dalgliesh
Illustrator(s): Leonard Weisgard


The Golden Name Day (1955)

Nancy is staying with her Swedish grandparents for a year. They have to figure out how to celebrate her nine year old name day since her name is not Swedish.

Read online at archive.org. 

Author(s): Jennie D. Lindquist
Illustrator(s): Garth Williams

Details »

The Secret River (1955)

Author(s): Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Illustrator(s): Leonard Weisgard


Men, Microscopes, and Living Things (1955)

Author(s): Katherine B. Shippen
Illustrator(s): Anthony Ravielli


Mr. Justice Holmes (1956)

Author(s): Clara Ingram Judson
Illustrator(s): None