NEWBERY THEMES- 1950's

1950:

The Door in the Wall - MIDDLE AGES - ADVENTURE - HISTORIC ELEMENTS
Tree of Freedom
The Blue Cat of Castle Town
Kildee House
George Washington - BIOGRAPHY - COLONIAL - AMERICANA
Song of The Pines - A Story of Norwegian Lumbering in Wisconsin

tbc

1951:

Amos Fortune, Free Man - BIOGRAPHY - COLONIAL - SLAVERY - AMERICANA - MULTICULTURAL
Better Known as Johnny Appleseed - BIOGRAPHY - AMERICANA
Gandhi, Fighter Without a Sword - BIOGRAPHY - INDIA
Abraham Lincoln, Friend of the People - BIOGRAPHY - CIVIL WAR - AMERICANA
The Story of Appleby Capple - RHYMING

tbc

1952:

Ginger Pye - FAMILY - ANIMALIA/PETS
Elizabeth Baity Americans Before Columbus Honor
Minn of the Mississippi - PICTURE - NATURE/LIFE CYCLE/ECOSYSTEM - GEOGRAPHY - ANIMALIA/TURTLE
The Defender - ETHNOGRAPHIC - MULTICULTURAL - SIBERIA - PRESERVATION - ANIMALIA/WILD GOATS
The Light at Tern Rock - OCEAN/SEASIDE - LIGHTHOUSE
The Apple and the Arrow - LEGENDS - SWITZERLAND - MIDDLE AGES

tbc

1953:

Secret of the Andes Winner
E. B. White Charlotte's Web Honor
Eloise Jarvis McGraw Moccasin Trail Honor
Ann Weil Red Sails to Capri Honor
Alice Dalgliesh The Bears on Hemlock Mountain Honor
Genevieve Foster Birthdays of Freedom, Vol. 1

tbc

1954:

...And Now Miguel Winner
Claire Huchet Bishop All Alone Honor
Meindert DeJong Shadrach Honor
Meindert DeJong Hurry Home, Candy Honor
Clara Ingram Judson Theodore Roosevelt, Fighting Patriot Honor
Mary & Conrad Buff Magic Maize

tbc

1955:

The Wheel on the School Winner
Alice Dalgliesh The Courage of Sarah Noble Honor
James Ullman Banner in the Sky

tbc

1956:

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch Winner
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings The Secret River Honor
Jennie Lindquist The Golden Name Day Honor
Katherine Shippen Men, Microscopes, and Living Things

tbc

1957:

Old Yeller Honor
Meindert DeJong The House of Sixty Fathers Honor
Clara Ingram Judson Mr. Justice Holmes Honor
Dorothy Rhoads The Corn Grows Ripe Honor
Marguerite de Angeli Black Fox of Lorne

tbc

1958:

Rifles for Watie - HISTORICAL FICTION - CIVIL WAR
Mari Sandoz The Horsecatcher Honor
Gone-Away Lake - CONTEMPORARY - CHILDHOOD DELIGHTS - FAMILY
Robert Lawson The Great Wheel Honor
Leo Gurko Tom Paine, Freedom's Apostle

tbc

1959:

The Witch of Blackbird Pond Winner
Natalie Savage Carlson The Family Under the Bridge Honor
Meindert DeJong Along Came a Dog Honor
Francis Kalnay Chucaro: Wild Pony of the Pampa Honor
William O. Steele The Perilous Road

tbc

In the 1950's, there is another slight transition. History and Biographies keep continuity, but there is an upswing toward nature, animals, more science related themes, and contemporary childhood themes. Children as protagonists abound across the decades, but at last the children dress and play in a manner that, I, as a child of that generation, can more readily recognise; play and imagination for the sake of play and imagination, free of duty and responsibility. Some of this was introduced in the 40's, with characters such as the Moffats; However, to my perspective, the Moffatts felt less like real children and more like enjoyable storybook characters.

Additionally, books that focus upon or include animals increase. Dog and wildlife books were published prior to this period; though, this genre did not seem to garner Newbery attention. While some of these works, seem harsh compared to modern standards, they are less gritty than the dog versus nature publications of the Turn-of-the-Century.

tbc