About the John G. Newbery Medal

Newbery Award Winning Books

Neihardt Newbery Club Members

All students in the fifth grade may participate in the Newbery Club. The Newbery prize is the highest honor awarded to an author of children's books. Each year the best book and several honor books are chosen by a panel of librarians, teachers, and publishers. To qualify for Newbery Club students must follow these guidelines:

1. Students must read 10 Newbery award winning books and pass a comprehension-oriented test over each before the second Friday of May of the current school year.

2. A passing grade on any test is considered to be 80% or better.

3. Books may not be used during the tests.

4. Tests may be taken anytime during school. Before and after school are also options, but must be scheduled with Mrs. Ward ahead of time.

5. Newbery honor books do not count.

6. Tests do not leave the Information Center.

7. Students may count up to 3 Newbery winners read aloud in class if they can pass the test.

8. There are no retakes of tests not passed.

9. All books must be completed during the current school year. Summer reading completed before the 5th grade can be used if the student can pass the test over the book.

10. Students who have completed the books and passed the 10 tests before the second Friday in May of the current school year will have their name engraved on the Newbery plaque in the Information Center and will be invited to an end-of-school-year celebration.