100 NEWBERY M&Ms

NEWBERY

100 Medals, 100 Meals

The Newbery Medal is an award given every year, chosen by the American Library Association, to one American book that represents the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature.  The award was named for John Newbery, a British bookseller who promoted children’s literature in the 18th century.  Starting in 1922, the Newbery Medal has been awarded to 100 books, most recently in 2021 to When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller – a Korean(ish) story by a Korean(ish) writer!

While attempting to read them all, I’m also attempting to create one dish for every book, a dish that is directly referenced in or indirectly inspired by the events of the book. The dishes will be featured as posts on Give Me This Day.

Listed below in order of personal preference (preference of the books, not the dishes):

ETERNAL, MUST READ, ALL AGES

  1. Holes (1999) (11.349 Onion Soup)
  2. Flora & Ulysses (2014) (11.331 Eggs Sunny-Side Up)
  3. The Tale of Despereaux (12.072 A Delicate Mingling of Chicken, Minari, and Garlic)
  4. Out of the Dust (1997) (12.027 Apple Sauce)
  5. The One and Only Ivan (2013) (11.265 French Fries and a Strawberry Shake)
  6. The Crossover (2015) (11.285 Orange Creamy Dip with Brown Specks in It)

GOOD, SHOULD READ, ESPECIALLY JUNIORS

  1. Hello, Universe (2018) (11.282 Has Ham, Lettuce, and Tomato and Cuts off All the Crusts)
  2. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler (1968) (11.255 Nouilles et Fromage en Casserole)
  3. When You Reach Me (2010) (12.066 Setup Tray Sandwich)
  4. * Maniac Magee (1991) (11.263 A Zep, A Large)
  5. Bridge to Terabithia (1978) (12.248 A Solemn Meal of Crackers and Dried Fruit)
  6. A Single Shard (2002) (11.278 Truly a Felicitous Combination)
  7. The Graveyard Book (2009) (13.005 Pizza)
  8. Last Stop on Market Street (2016) (12.185 (Mushroom Truffle) Soup)
  9. Bud, Not Buddy (2000) (12.042 Meatloaf)
  10. * Island of the Blue Dolphins (1961) (12.325 (Garlic) Abalones)
  11. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1977) (11.316 Morsels of Golden Squirrel and Rabbit)
  12. New Kid (2019) (11.301 General Tso’s Chicken)
  13. Kira-Kira (2005) (12.159 Fancy Triangle-Shaped Onigiri)
  14. When You Trap a Tiger (2021) (12.075 Bibim Naeng Myeon)

OKAY, IF TIME ALLOWS, STUDENTS NEEDING EXTRA CREDIT

  1. Criss Cross (2006) (12.197 Chicken in the Rough)
  2. Ginger Pye (1952) (11.335 Mincemeat)
  3. A Year Down Yonder (2001) (12.038 Burgoo)
  4. Dear Mr Henshaw (1984) (12.081 Deviled Eggs)
  5. Shiloh (1992) (12.169 Some Frankfurters, Cut Up and Mixed with Sour Cream, and Little Chunks of Cheese)
  6. The Witch of Blackbird Pond (1959) (12.180 Bread and Cheese)
  7. It’s Like This, Cat (1964) (12.113 A Really Good Dinner)
  8. The Midwife’s Apprentice (1996) (12.132 Some Pig Bones for a Stew)
  9. The Higher Power of Lucky (2007) (11.347 Eggz & Beanz)
  10. The Summer of Swans (1971) (12.306 Some Kool Aid and Toast)
  11. * Sounder (1970) (12.019 Jailbreak Cake)
  12. Up a Road Slowly (1967) (12.179 A Weiner Roast)
  13. The Giver (1994) (11.272 Apple)
  14. * Rifles for Watie (1958) (13.087 (Geonbbang) Hardtack)
  15. A Visit to William Blake’s Inn (1982) (11.309 Brisket of Basilisk Treat)
  16. Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1972) (11.321 Clam Chowder, Delicious)
  17. * Julie of the Wolves (1973) (12.064 Eighty Furred Young)
  18. Adam of the Road (1943)(12.156 Roasted Capons (Just Regular Chickens))
  19. * The Whipping Boy (1987) (11.252 Hot-Hot Potatoes!)

FORGETTABLE, ONLY IF NOTHING BETTER, HARD CORE READERS ONLY

  1. Merci Suárez Changes Gears (2019) (11.288 Picadillo and Rice)
  2. Thimble Summer (1939) (12.018 A Nice Roasted Elephant with Onions and Brown Gravy)
  3. Lincoln: A Photobiography (1988) (11.326 Corn Cakes)
  4. Johnny Tremain (1944) (12.180 Bread and Cheese)
  5. * Shadow of a Bull (1965) (11.360 Jamón Serrano)
  6. * Call It Courage (1941) (11.293 Umu Puaa)
  7. Missing May (1993) (11.297 May’s Vegetable Soup (plus Chicken plus Cream plus Noodles))
  8. The White Stag (1938) (12.065 Beef Goulash)
  9. * The Secret of the Andes (1953) (12.094 Chuno (Gamja Jeon))
  10. The Hero and The Crown (1985) (12.223 Hot Flat Welsh-Cakes)
  11. * The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (1923) (12.120 Fireless Fish)
  12. * Good Masters!  Sweet Ladies!  Voices from a Medieval Village (2008) (12.006 Three Herrings and a Loaf of Bread)
  13. Strawberry Girl (1948) (11.259 Chicken Pilau)
  14. Sarah, Plain and Tall (1986) (11.310 Ayuh)
  15. * The Matchlock Gun (1942) (11.350 Bread and Ham)
  16. The Twenty-One Balloons (1948) (11.322 Stampot von Zuurkool met Rookworst)
  17. * A Gathering of Days (1980) (12.180 Bread and Cheese)
  18. The Bronze Bow (1962) (11.330 The Holy Roller)
  19. Crispin: The Cross of Lead (2003) (12.186 (French) Bread (Loaf))
  20. * Caddie Woodlawn (1936) (13.087 (Geonbbang) Hardtack)
  21. * Invincible Louisa (1934) (12.180 Bread and Cheese)
  22. The Grey King (1976) (12.223 Hot Flat Welsh-Cakes)
  23. The Trumpeter of Krakow (1929) (12.209 Deconstructed Polish Boys)
  24. The Dark Frigate (1924) (12.196 ‘Tis Rare Fine Beer)
  25. * Waterless Mountain (1932) (12.360 Roasted Mutton Ribs)

AWFUL, TO BE AVOIDED, UNLESS TO COMPLETE THE NEWBERY COLLECTION or FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES

  1. MC Higgins the Great (1975) (12.347 Special Potato Soup)
  2. * I, Juan de Pareja (1966) (12.163 Olives and Slices of Strongly Flavored Sausage)
  3. * Young Fu on the Upper Yangtze (1933) (11.348 Beggars’ Food)
  4. Miss Hickory (1947) (12.107 Acorn with Bright Red Vines)
  5. * The Cat Who Went to Heaven (1931) (11.359 A Bowl of Fish Soup)
  6. The High King (1969) (12.223 Hot Flat Welsh-Cakes)
  7. * Amos Fortune, Free Man (1951) (13.010 Oyster Stew)
  8. * The Slave Dancer (1974) (13.010 Oyster Stew)
  9. * Dobry (1935) (12.186 (French) Bread (Loaf))
  10. Miracles on Maple Hill (1957) (12.016 Pancakes à la Marly)
  11. * Roller Skates (1937) (11.308 Potatoes Golly Too)
  12. * Shen of the Sea (1926) (12.116 Undescribed Roast Duck)

* These books contain portrayals of ethnic/racial groups that may be considered offensive, especially by modern readers.  Written by white authors about non-white people, often in distant would-be exotic places, the racism was presumably unintended, probably intended to be entertaining or enlightening; in fact, the ALA may have recognized the books because they touched on subjects outside of what would’ve been considered mainstream “American” culture at the time, especially in the early years.

In order of offensiveness, from outright to subtle:

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