Welcome to Berkeley Schools Mock Newbery!

Welcome friends -- this site will help facilitate our Berkeley Schools Mock Newbery group of leaders. We are a group of librarians, teachers and literacy coaches who love getting kids engaged with reading.

Over the summer, we're sharing potential 2016 Newbery book we're reading. If you would like to join our Google email group, please email Mary Ann Scheuer (maryannscheuer@berkeley.net). Here are some books that are potential titles for us to consider.

Potential titles for Berkeley Schools Mock Newbery (links are to Goodreads):

• As Brave As You, by Jason Reynolds 
• Booked, by Kwame Alexander 
• Forest of Wonders, by Linda Sue Park 
• Hour of the Bees, by Lindsay Eager 
• The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson School, by Laura Shovan 
• Paper Wishes, by Lois Sepahban 
• Pax, by Sara Pennypacker 
• Raymie Nightingale, by Kate DiCamillo 
• Some Kind of Courage, by Dan Gemeinhart 
• Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard, by Jonathan Auxier

Here are the Newbery criteria, translated into kid-friendly terms:

1. Any book for children published in 2016, written by an American author is eligible. Traditionally, we focus on middle grade fiction, but the committee looks at all genres/formats.
2. The Newbery committee chooses the most "distinguished" book written for American children. The committee specifically discusses the following features of a book: plot, characters, language, setting, information and theme. We work with our students to help them think more deeply about these qualities of the books they read.
3. All genres of children's books are eligible. We will focus on books that appeal to our 4th and 5th grade readers, seeking titles with a diverse range of characters, style and content.

Thanks so much! Mary Ann and Becca