Lowry has been nominated three times for the biennial international Hans Christian Andersen Award. The latter won Newbery Medals for the first two books he published. White (best-known fo this book Charlotte’s Web), Beverly Cleary, Jerry Spinelli, Jacqueline Woodson, and Christopher Paul Curtis. Other winners and honourees of the Newbery Medal include Laura Ingalls Wilder, Hendrik Willem van Loon (who won the first Newbery Medal), Lois Lenski, E.B. This novel follows a young boy, Jonas, who learns the truth about the dystopian community that he’s lived in all his life and chooses to break free of it. The second Newbery medal was awarded for Lowry’s best-known book, The Giver. It was inspired by Lowry’s own experiences when her older sister died at the age of 28. The first of Lowry’s two Newbery medals was awarded for her first novel, Number the Stars, about a young girl dealing with her older sister’s terminal illness and the shift in family dynamics. The medal depicts an author giving their work to a boy and a girl to read on one side and on the other is the following quote:įor the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children The committee hoped that it would help bring new authors into the field.

The award was established in order to encourage quality children’s literature and show the public that children’s books were worth rewarding. It was named for the 18th-century bookseller John Newbery and established as an award in June of 1921. The award is handed out by the Association for Library Service for Children, or the ALSC, part of the American Library Association, or ALA. The most prestigious of Lowry’s many awards is the Newbery medal.

Awarded for: Number the Stars and The Giver.

Lois lowry counting stars