Father of Children’s Literature

1. Father of Children’s Literature By: Sandra Rice Introduction of Library & Information Sciences Professional Topics- John Newbery & the Newberry Award

2. Do you know who published Mother Goose’s Melodies and Goody-Two-Shoes? Mother Goose’s Melodies book cover . Retrieved October 16, 2011, from blog.moonshadowecommerce.com John Newbery Goody Two Shoes book cover. Retrieved October 16, 2011, from www.librarything.com

3. This man, John Newberry John Newbery (1713-1767) John Newberry image retrieved October 16, 2011, from http://lorenasecomolinero.blogspot.com/2011/05/ultima-parte-bloque-iv-perrault-y-el.html

4. Built Successful Newspaper Business John Newbery was born in 1713 in Waltham St. Lawrence, Berkshire, England. He was born into a farming family and at the age of 16 he became an apprentice for Carnan’s newspaper, the Reading Mercury. When Carnan died, John Newbery took over half of the printing business with Carnan’s brother. John soon married Carnan’s widow and raised her children, along with three of their own. In 1740, Newbery published his first book, beginning the career he became most famous for. However, most of his income was generated from his side business ventures, including the selling of patented medicines (“John Newbery Biography,” n.d.).

5. Created High-Quality Children’s Books In 1744, Newbery produced A Pretty Little Pocket Book, a high quality work, featuring an entertaining and colorful style. The book included expensive copperplate engravings and a gilt cover. Earlier books contained dull and cheap appearances. The public responded by purchasing at least 10,000 copies. In the 18th century this amounted to a tremendous success. Circle of the Sciences: Writing and Circle of the Sciences: Arithmeticwere published by Newbery in 1746. This introduced the ideas of the English physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton. There was a huge controversy on who actually wrote the books. Once again, these books were a great success (“John Newbery Biography,” n.d.).

6. Other Associations Newbery’s role in literature and publishing included many aspects besides children’s literature. Leading English writers, including Samuel Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith, and Christopher Smart were associates of his. He founded The Universal Chronicle or Weekly Gazette in1758. Famous works by Johnson and Goldsmith were featured in the publications (“ The World Book Encyclopedia,” 1971). Oliver Goldsmith image. Retrieved October 16, 2011 from http://www.thefullwiki.org/Oliver_Goldsmith Samuel Johnson image. Retrieved October 16, 2011 from http://www.thefullwiki.org/Samuel_Johnson

7. Money To Spend John Newbery’s success was partially due because the British middle class during this period had a greater amount of money and more leisure time. They were able to purchase more for their children (“Encyclopedia of World Biography,” 2004). Another Factor For Success The roles of children were changing. They were no longer considered little people reading adult material. As a result of Newbery’s work, adults realized that children had interests, energies, and attention spans that were different than their own (“Encyclopedia of World Biography,” 2004).

8. Trivia John Newbery produced 30 children’s books. He made sure all of his books contained a moral so parents would buy them. Some of his books were published anonymously or under alliterative pseudonyms such as Abraham Aesop and Tommy Trapwit (Hegel, 2000). Death John Newbery died at the young age of 54 on December 22, 1767. No records could be found about how he died (“yourdictionary,” n.d.).

9. Legacy After Newbery’s death, his publishing business was carried on by his son, Francis Newbery, then later by a nephew and his wife. The business remained open until 1801 but it never again reached the level of success that John Newbery attained. Other companies, however, continued with his commitment to children’s literature (“yourdictionary,” n.d.).

10. Memorializing A Great Man Frederic G. Melcher , editor of Publisher’s Weekly was looking for ways to encourage reading, especially among children. During the June 1921 meeting of the Children’s Librarians’ Section of the ALA, he proposed a creation of a children’s book award. He suggested it be named for John Newbery. Melcher’s proposal was approved by the ALA executive board in 1922. The official purpose of the award was to encourage originality and excellence in the field of children’s books and to let the public know that children’s literature deserved the same recognition as adult works (“First Newbery Medal” , n.d.).

11. Presentation of Medals The medals were donated by Frederic Melcher and presented to recipients by him until his death in 1963. Facsimiles of the medals are placed on copies of the winning books, gold on winning books and silver on honor books. The award winning author is determined in January or February, but they do not receive the actual medals until the ALA Annual Conference in June or July (ALA, 2009, p. 8).

12. Terms & Criteria For Newbery Medal Terms: The Medal shall be awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published by an American publisher in the United States in English during the preceding year. There are no limitations as to the character of the book considered except that it be original work. Honor books may be named. These shall be books that are also truly distinguished. 2. The Award is restricted to authors who are citizens or residents of the United States. The committee in its deliberations is to consider only the books eligible for the award, as specified in the terms (American Library Association, 2011 “Newbery Terms & Criteria” ). Criteria: In identifying “distinguished contribution to American literature,” defined as text, in a book for children. Each book is to be considered as a contribution to American literature. The book must be a self-contained entity, not dependent on other media for its enjoyment (American Library Association, 2011, “Newbery Terms & Criteria” ).

13. Who chooses? • The American Library Association (ALA) announces the awards every January (American Library Association, 2011, “Newbery Terms & Criteria”). • Medal and Honor books are chosen by a committee selected by the ALA (American Library Association, 2011, “Newbery Terms & Criteria”). • The Committee members include various educators from many different sizes and types of libraries, including special and public librarians, university educators and professional reviewers(ALA, 2009, p. 8).

14. In 1921 Frederic G.Melcher had the Newbery Medal designed by René Paul Chambellan. The Newbery Medal is awarded each year to the author of the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature. The bronze medal has the winner's name and the date engraved on the back (American Library Association, 2011.) Image retrieved October 16, 2011 from: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/aboutnewbery/aboutnewbery.cfm The first children’s book award in the world.

15. Newbery Honor Books Other books that were considered “runners-up” for the Medal are designated as Newbery Honor Books back (American Library Association, 2011.) Image retrieved October 16, 2011 from: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/aboutnewbery/aboutnewbery.cfm

17. References American Library Association. (2009). page 8. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberycommittee/newbery_manual_9Oct2009.pdf American Library Association. (2011). “Newbery Terms & Criteria”. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberycommittee/newbery_manual_9Oct2009.pdf American Library Association. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/aboutnewbery/aboutnewbery.cfm First Newberry Medal. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-newbery-medal-for-childrens-literature

18. References • Goody- Two- Shoes book cover image. Retrieved October 16, 2011 from www.librarything.com • Hegel, C. (2000). Newbery and Caldecott: trivia and more for every day of the year. • Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. • John Newbery. (n.d.). Encyclopedia of World Biographyonline. Retrieved from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-3404704736.html • John Newbery. ( n.d.). The Encyclopedia of World Biography online. Retrieved from http://www.bookrags.com/biography/john-newbery/ • John Newbery Biography.(n.d.). Your Dictionaryonline. Retrieved from • http://biography.yourdictionary.com/john-newbery • John Newbery Honor Seal image. Retrieved October 16, 2011 from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/aboutnewbery/ • aboutnewbery.cfm

19. References • John Newberry image. Retrieved October 16, 2011 from • http://lorenasecomolinero.blogspot.com/2011/05/ultima-parte-bloque-iv-perrault-yel.htm • John Newbery Medal image. Retrieved October 16, 2011 from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/aboutnewbery/aboutnewbery.cfm • Mother Goose’s Melodies book cover image. Retrieved October 16, 2011 from blog.moonshadowecommerce.com John Newbery • Newbery, John. (1971). Biography. The World Book Encyclopedia (Vol. 14, pp. 286-287). Chicago, IL: Field Enterprises Educational Corp. • Oliver Goldsmith image. Retrieved October 16, 2011 from • http://www.thefullwiki.org/Oliver_Goldsmith

20. References Samuel Johnson image. Retrieved October 16, 2011 from • http://www.thefullwiki.org/Samuel_Johnson This day in History, (2011). “First Newbery Medal for children's literature”. Retrieved from • http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-newbery-medal-for-childrens-literature