And the 2021 Newbery Award Goes to…

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The John Newberry Medal is awarded each January to recognize the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The Newberry Medal and the Newberry Honor Books make for a great reading list for your child (or the kids at heart).
This year, you’ll notice that Christina Soontomvat has not one but two books recognized as a Newberry Honor Book.
And the 2021 Newbery Award goes to…
2021 Newbery Medal
When You Trap a Tiger, which was written by Tae Keller won the 2021 Newbery Medal. This masterpiece is a reminiscent story of love, loss, and hope that makes Korean legends and fables to life. The tale helps us recognize the tiger within ourselves – by displaying our power and bravery if needed.
2021 Newbery Honor Books
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team, is a story written by Christina Soontornvat that perfectly portrays the intense real-life rescue of the Thai boys’ soccer team in 2018. Christina vividly emphasized cave divers’ attempt to rescue the twelve boys and their coach.
BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom is written by Carole Boston Weatherford. A true story of Henry “Box” Brown who managed to ship himself to freedom in a box.
Fighting Words, a story written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is about a story of survival that surpasses the hardest issues with hope, honesty, and a touch of humor.
We Dream of Space, written by Erin Entrada Kelly is a compelling story of Thomas’s siblings that navigated the dangerous space of middle school who only found success after abandoning their own solitary orbits.
A Wish in the Dark is a story that is set in the Thai-inspired world of Chattana. The book, written by Christina Soontomvat tackles light and dark that symbolizes contrasts between the rich and the poor. Definitely a masterpiece that emphasizes social imbalance and the real essence of friendship.
Jann Fujimoto, MS CCC-SLP is an avid reader and looks forward to the announcement of the Caldecott Medal each January. She’s a speech-language pathologist and owner of SpeechWorks. SpeechWorks helps children become confidence communicators and provides in-person and online speech therapy services.