Newbery Winners From The Nineteen Thirties
During the 1930s, Newbery winners were mainly fiction, with a few fictionalized biographies and non-fiction titles. The quality of children's literature started to improve though it was nowhere near the high standards expected of writers today. Still, these are long-standing classics, and well worth reading for entertainment and educational reasons.
Contents
1939 Newbery Medal Winner
Thimble Summer
Garnet, who is nine or ten, finds a thimble and believes it brings good luck to her family. Her father's Wisconsin farm is saved when he receives a government loan, her pig wins a blue ribbon at the fair, and a homeless boy comes to live with them. This book received good reviews for excellent writing.
1939 Newbery Honor Books
Leader by Destiny: George Washington, Man & Patriot
A biography of George Washington, covering fifty-two years of his adventurous life, detailing the early history of the United States.
Mr. Popper's Penguins
I enjoyed reading this to my son, and then read it to my daughter. I didn't want her to be left out of the fun. Mr. Popper gets a penguin as a pet, and all kinds of crazyness ensues. Richard Atwater started this book, then became to ill to continue. His wife, Florence, finished it. We're glad she did. The book became very popular!
Nino
Nino is a child living in Italy around 1900. He lives with his mother and grandfather. His father has gone to America to work, hoping to be able to earn passage for his family.
Penn
As an English Quaker, William Penn loses everything and ends up in prison until he's allowed to go to North America, where he founds Pennsylvania.
Hello, the Boat!
In 1817 a family takes a store boat along the Ohio River from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati. People along the river shout, "Hello, the boat!" and the family stops to open their store. As they travel they have adventures and good times.
Links to 1939 Newbery Book Information
Phyllis Crawford - Wikipedia
A short biography of Phyllis Crawford.0 points
Elizabeth Janet Gray
Biography, lesson plans and other information about the Newbery Award author, Elizabeth Gray Vining, nee Elizabeth Janet Gray.0 points
Valenti Angelo
Autobiographical notes.0 points
Valenti Angelo - Wikipedia
Short biography.0 points
Penguin Activities For Children
Learn more about penguins after reading the book.0 points
Mr. Popper's Penguins.html
Mr. Popper's Penguins - book review.0 points
Mr. Popper's Penguins - Wikipedia
A Wikipedia page for this great novel!0 points
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Good review by Martin Jones.0 points
Richard and Florence Atwater
Lesson plans and activities for Mr. Popper's Penquins.0 points
Demonstrating Comprehension Through Journal Writing
A journal writing lesson plan using Mr. Popper's Penguins.0 points
Elizabeth Enright - Wikipedia
Good biography of the Newbery Medal winner.0 points
Orange Splot: Elizabeth Enright
Good blog post about Elizabeth Enright and her novels.0 points
Elizabeth Enright 1909-1968
Biography of the winner.0 points
Thimble Summer
Reviews at the Newbery Project.0 points
1938 Newbery Medal Winner
The White Stag (Newbery Library, Puffin)
Many people have found fault with this book that somewhat glorifies Attilla the Hun by telling history from his point of view, but it is a great way to learn about culture, and about the legend of the founding of Hungary.
1938 Newbery Honor Books, part one
Bright Island
A young girl named Thankful grew up on an isolated island, but she is sent to the mainland for school. There, she feels strange and out of place, and when she gets home to the island, she's changed. A story about isolation and what it does to people.
On the Banks of Plum Creek
One of the sweet Little House on the Prairie books. Laura's family is devastated by grasshoppers, but they survive and prosper. I love these books - couldn't stop reading them, one right after the other, about twenty years ago.
Pecos Bill: The Greatest Cowboy of All Time
Pecos Bill was raised by coyotes. He was disappointed to learn he was human. He becomes a cowboy and does amazing things.
Links to 1938 Newbery Book Information
Mabel Louise Robinson Biography
Great literary bio for the author of Bright Island.0 points
Laura Ingalls Wilder - Wikipedia
Extensive biography of the author of the Little House books.0 points
Kate Seredy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Short biography.0 points
Kate Seredy
Short biography.0 points
The White Stag by Kate Seredy
Book reviews at The Newbery Project.0 points
1937 Newbery Medal Winner
Roller Skates (Newbery Library, Puffin)
Lucinda, age ten, is left with two teachers in New York while her parents go overseas for a year. She has a wonderful time meeting people around the neighborhood, all the time, wearing her skates.
1937 Newbery Honor Books
Audubon
A biography of John James Audubon, the famous painter of birds, for whom the Audubon Society is named.
Phebe Fairchild: Her Book (Illustrated)
A girl is sent to live with relatives in the Connecticut countryside in 1830 while her parents are away from home.
The Codfish Musket
Young Dan becomes a secretary for Thomas Jefferson. He's sent on a mission into the frontier to give a message to Merriwether Lewis. On the way he finds gun thieves giving guns to natives.
The Golden Basket
Remember Madeline? She made her first published appearance in this lengthy picture book. The Golden Basket is the name of a hotel that two English girls stay at with their father. One day while out exploring Bruges, Belgium, they come across twelve girls out walking - one of them being our old friend, Madeline. This character was named after the author's wife.
Whistler's Van
Gwilyn decides to wander through Wales after his grandfather disappears. He is lucky to run into the Ringos, a family of gypsies that give him adventures, horses, and fun.
Winterbound
During the depression, two teenagers manage their home and the lives of their two younger siblings during a winter when their parents are gone.
Links to 1937 Newbery Book Information
Ludwig Bemelmans
Biography of the author of The Golden Basket.0 points
Ludwig Bemelmans - Wikipedia
Good biography.0 points
The Newbery Project: Roller Skates
A review by Joanne.0 points
Lois Lenski's Bibliography
The many books of Lois Lenski.0 points
Roller Skates by Ruth Sawyer
Book reviews at The Newbery Project.0 points
1936 Newbery Medal Winner
Caddie Woodlawn
The adventures of an eleven year old girl and her brothers while living in rural Wisconsin, in 1864. Based on the life of the author's grandmother.
1936 Newbery Honor Books
All Sail Set: A Romance of the Flying Cloud (Nonpareil Book, 35.)
Thach, age fifteen, helps to design and build a clipper ship, the Flying Cloud. Then he joins the crew and travels around the Horn. Lots of adventure.
Honk The Moose (Nature)
A moose takes shelter in Ivar's stable during a miserably cold winter. The townsfolk try to get the moose to leave.
The Good Master (Puffin Newbery Library)
Jancsi's cousin, Kate, is from the city, but while visiting amuses the country folk in Hungary.
Young Walter Scott
A fictionalized biography of the childhood of Sir Walter Scott - set in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Links to 1936 Newbery Book Information
Wisconsin Kids Paper Dolls - Caddie Woodlawn
Cool paper doll site for young readers.0 points
Carol Ryrie Brink - Wikipedia
Biography of the author of Caddie Woodlawn.0 points
Carol Ryrie Brink
Teacher resource file for Caddie Woodlawn.0 points
Carol Ryrie Brink
Good biographical information on Caddie Woodlawn's author.0 points
The Armstrong Sperry Home Page
Comprehensive tribute site by one of his grandchildren.0 points
All Sail Set, by Armstrong Sperry
A page for All Sail Set on the Armstrong Sperry website.0 points
Honk the Moose is Reborn
Review from Minnesota Public Radio.0 points
Honk The Moose
The book is based on a true story, with most of the characters in the book being actual residents of Biwabik.0 points
Kate Seredy - Wikipedia
Biography of the author of The Good Master0 points
American Indians in Children's Literature
Review of Caddie Woodlawn by Debbie Reese, critical of derogatory Native American stereotyping.0 points
Caddie Woodlawn - The Scalp Belt
A blog post by Debbie Reese discussing the scalp belt scene in Caddie Woodlawn.0 points
Elizabeth Gray Vining - Wikipedia
Biography of Elizabeth Janet Gray, author of Young Walter Scott.0 points
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Book reviews at The Newbery Project0 points
1935 Newbery Medal Winner
Dobry (Puffin Newbery Library)
Dobry, a Bulgarian peasant boy, wants to become an artist, but his mother doesn't appreciate his choice. She wants him to become a farmer as his ancestors were.
1935 Newbery Honor Books
A Day on Skates: The Story of a Dutch Picnic
The story of a day-long ice skating picnic in Holland.
The Pageant of Chinese History: From 3000 B.C. To the end of World War II
A well-researched history of China from mythical times, to 1912.
Links to 1935 Newbery Book Information
Dobry by Monica Shannon
Reviews at The Newbery Project.0 points
1934 Newbery Medal Winner
Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women
Popular biography of Louisa May Alcott.
1934 Newbery Honor Books
The Abc Bunny (Fesler-Lampert Minnesota Heritage Book Series)
A bunny hops through the alphabet on its way home from an adventure.
Links to 1934 Newbery Book Information
Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women by Cornelia Meigs
Book reviews at The Newbery Project.0 points
1933 Newbery Medal Winner
1933 Newbery Honor Books
Links to 1933 Newbery Book Information
Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze - Wikipedia
Extensive information about the Newbery Medal winn more...0 points
1932 Newbery Medal Winner
1932 Newbery Honor Books
Links to 1932 Newbery Book Information
Laura Adams Armer - Waterless Mountain
Biography of the author of Waterless Mountain.0 points
Waterless Mountain - Wikipedia
A short summary of the book.0 points
Waterless Mountain by Laura Adams Armer
Book reviews at The Newbery Project.0 points
1931 Newbery Medal Winner
1931 Newbery Honor Books
Links to 1931 Newbery Book Information
The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth
Book reviews at The Newbery Project.0 points
1930 Newbery Medal Winner
1930 Newbery Honor Books
Links to 1930 Newbery Book Information
Hitty, her first hundred years
A plot summary (with spoilers).0 points
Hitty: Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field
Book reviews at The Newbery Project.0 points
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About the Lensmaster
Lensmaster Linda Jo Martin writes children's novels, so has spent many years reading books from the Newbery list. From the 1930 selections she's read The Cat Who Went To Heaven, Calico Bush, Caddie Woodlawn, Phebe Fairchild: Her Book, Roller Skates, On The Banks of Plum Creek, and Mr. Popper's Penguins.Her lenses about children's literature include:
Tips For Writing Middle Grade Novels.
Linda maintains a writer's blog: Perspectives on Writing.
Linda's lensography: Linda Martin - My Lensography.
Your comments are welcome.
Let me know what you think.
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Reply
- Jason_Wright Jason_Wright Nov 21, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
- What a great lens! You've put a lot of work into this and it really shows. I'd love it if you'd stop by my lens and say hello when you have the chance.
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Reply
- Martyn Martyn Oct 27, 2008 @ 7:49 am
- The 1930 Newbery Honor book, The Jumping-Off Place, has been reprinted by the South Dakota State Historical Society Press. The new edition has a new afterword by children's author Jean L. S. Patrick, new maps, and completely new packaging. The Press has more information at www.sdshspress.com
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Reply
- Ener-G Ener-G Oct 21, 2008 @ 10:31 pm
- Linda, you must be the most well-read Squidooer out there. All I've read is On the Banks of Plum Creek.
You are invited to follow me on Twitter

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