Fifth Grade
Newbery Gold Medal
Reading Challenge
Each spring the fifth grade students are invited
to participate in the library sponsored
Newbery Gold Medal Reading Challenge.
The Challenge is a 6 week reading contest that encourages the 5th graders to read
Newbery gold medal books.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is a Newbery,
and why read Newbery gold medal books?
The Newbery gold medal has been given to one
children's book each year since 1922.
It was the first children's book award in the world
and is still considered the most prestigious award
in children's literature.
The book that receives it is considered the best-written
children's book of that year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So when our 5th graders participate in the
Challenge,
they are reading the best of the best.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The students have a choice of 92 different books to read
(1922-2013).
The books cover various genres and types,
from historical fiction and fantasy,
to biographies, poetry and short stories,
to name a few.
There are both short books and long books.
So there is something for everyone's reading tastes
during the Challenge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The library has copies of all of the Newbery gold medal books,
even those few that are currently out of print.
There are class participation awards,
as well as individual participation awards.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's amazing to see all of the great books read during
each year's Challenge.
In 2012, a total of 698 books were read
by all of the 5th graders.
This year we beat that record; 963 books were read
by the three 5th grade classes. I wonder how many will be read next year...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Real Guys Read!
For a listing of all the Newbery gold medal books,
click on the link below.
