Search Results for: blog newbery medal winners 1971 1980

Newbery Medal Winners: 2001-2006

In 2001, special effects really rocked the movies in films such as “Shrek” and “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Amazon.com became a popular place to purchase movies and such in 2002, and continues its popularity today. 2003 was a big year for literature as the “Harry Potter” series was accused of being satanic, yet defended by its fans. Also, it was estimated that approximately one-third of all books purchased in the U.S. was romance novels. Interesting, I think. In 2004, it was estimated that 95% of U.S. public libraries offered Internet access. I wonder where that number is today. … Continue reading →

Newbery Medal Winners: 1991-2000

1991 brought on the start of the grunge music scene, as well as Oscars for Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster for “The Silence of the Lambs.” EuroDisney opened in Paris in 1992, bringing the fun of a Disney park to Europe. And lucky for those of us with Families.com, the first blogs were created in 1997. 1991 Medal Winner: “Maniac Magee” by Jerry Spinelli Honor Book “The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle” by Avi 1992 Medal Winner: “Shiloh” by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Honor Books “Nothing But The Truth: a Documentary Novel” by Avi “The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the … Continue reading →

Newbery Medal Winners: 1981-1990

The 1980’s had a huge boom of video games. Just with the releases of Donkey Kong and Pac Man in 1981 and 1982, respectively, the video game came alive. However, did you also know that Centipede, released in 1981, was the first arcade video game designed by a woman? Cool, right? In 1982, Thomas Keneally’s novel, “Schindler’s List” has its beginning as “Schindler’s Ark.” The term cyberspace was coined in William Gibon’s novel “Neuromancer” in 1984. In 1990, Michael Chrichton’s gargantuan novel “Jurassic Park” was released. 1981 Medal Winner: “Jacob Have I Loved” by Katherine Paterson Honor Books “The Fledgling” … Continue reading →

Newbery Medal Winners: 1971-1980

You might be amazed to discover that e-mail first appeared in the 1970’s. That’s “write!” Electronic mail made its debut in 1971 — the same year that the cell phone was invented. In 1973, my dad’s favorite movie “The Sting” — starring a dashing Robert Redford and handsome Paul Newman — won the Oscar for Best Picture. A literature leap comes about in 1974, with Stephen King’s “Carrie” becoming a thrilling hit. The movie was released in 1976 and starred Sissy Spacek as the title character. 1971 Medal Winner: “Summer of the Swans” by Betsy Byars Honor Books “Knee Knock … Continue reading →

Reading Rodents: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Before it was a movie, The Secret of NIMH was a book: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Published in 1971, Robert C. O’Brien’s book won the Newbery Medal in 1972. Mrs. Frisby is a widowed field mouse. Her late husband was a companion of the mysterious and intelligent rats of NIMH. NIMH is the National Institute of Mental Health. The rats had been subject to various experiments that left them highly intelligent and organized — more like humans than rats. They escaped the lab and set up a literate, mechanized society under a rose bush near where the … Continue reading →

Come Sing, Jimmy Jo – Katherine Paterson

In “Come Sing, Jimmy Jo,” we meet James Johnson, who is the eleven-year-old son of Jimmy Lee and Olive Johnson, untraditional parents to say the least. For decades, the Johnson Family has had their own band, comprised of Grandpa, Grandma, their son Earl, and other son Jimmy Lee. When Olive married into the family, her soprano singing voice was just what the band needed. They traveled from town to town, playing at fairs, family reunions, and church gatherings. Grandma’s voice gave out right around the same time James was born, so she kept him on the farm and raised him … Continue reading →

Child of the Owl – Laurence Yep

Laurence Yep is another one of my favorite young adult authors. In “Child of the Owl,” he takes us to a world he knew well – Chinatown in the 1960’s. Our character is Casey, the twelve-year-old daughter of a compulsive gambler named Barney. He’s taken her all over the country, following one hot tip after another, most of the time having to live in run-down hotels and washing dishes in restaurants for their dinner. He keeps telling her that someday, he’ll hit it big and they’ll have a penthouse full of comics and games and clothes, and she pretends to … Continue reading →

The Black Cauldron

“The Black Cauldron“, based on the novel by Lloyd Alexander, is a Disney animated feature from 1985. It’s quite possible that you’ve never heard of it. It’s the first animated Disney film to garner a PG rating and it is certainly a bit darker than the usual Disney fare. It actually bombed when it was first released to the theaters, but has since found a new audience since its release on DVD. Young Taran is an assistant pig-keeper who dreams of adventure. But one day, he learns that the pig he helps take care of, Hen Wen, is no ordinary … Continue reading →