A Newbery indulgence and its explicable pleasures

Simple, subtle and readable; these for me are the basic criteria to get a Newbery Medal and be listed in the shelf of Newbery Honor Books.

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The Newbery Medals

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I first came across a Newbery Medal awardee in 2005 with the book “Adam of the Road” by Elizabeth Janet Gray, which I found on sale in University Bookstore at University of the Philippines-Los Banos. A few months after, I found another honor book in a thrift shop. The two books had the same denominator; it is the story of children for children. Thus started my search to collect books with the Newbery Medal and Newbery Honor Book award seal.

The Newbery Medal is considered as the first literary awards for children and one of the most prestigious book awards for children in the United States. It is granted to authors who have distinguished contribution to American Literature for children and for the runner-ups that deserve the honor as well. To be awarded a Newbery, the book must be published in the United States, must relate to a child audience and contribute to literature.
Books are just one of my fetishes, for a good book does not only fulfill the craving of an eager mind but also satisfies the heart of a hungry soul.
Again, Newberys are simple because of the plots, storylines and settings that relate to children; readable since these are stories of children (with adults mostly in supporting roles); and subtle because these convey the lessons in life that are important in developing the morals of young minds which adults oftentimes miss and needs to be reminded of.