Newbery Medal Books Presentation, July 13
Dr. Kristy Spann, BCD member and educator, spoke about her collection of Newbery Medal Winners. Starting in 1922, the Newbery Medal has been awarded every year to a children’s book published in the previous year. The Newbery Medal was created to encourage good writing for children. Dr. Spann, who is superintendent of Bentley Community Schools in Michigan, explained how great literature can help young people develop empathy and deal with difficult issues.
Dr. Spann also shared how she uses the Excel spreadsheet program to catalog her collection. The spreadsheet includes such information as edition, printing, book quality, author information, genre, and photos. Read more about this event in the FABS blog, “Book Talk.”
Newbery Medal winner A Wrinkle in Time is the first work of science fiction with a girl as the protagonist.
Bridge to Terabithia deals with the the death of the protagonist’s best friend. Children’s literature can help young people confront difficulty and loss in their own lives.