Two Caldecott Honor books were chosen: 'Ten, Nine, Eight,' illustrated and written by Molly Bang (Greenwillow Books) and 'Little Red Riding Hood,' retold and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman (Holiday House). The four Newbery Honor books were: 'Sign of the Beaver,' by Elizabeth George Speare (Houghton Mifflin) 'A Solitary Blue,' by Cynthia Voigt, who received the Newbery last year for 'Dicey's Song' (both from Atheneum) 'Sugaring Time,' by Kathryn Lasky (Macmillan) and 'The Wish Giver,' by Bill Brittain (Harper & Row). Besides the Cleary and Provensen titles, the ALA groups also selected the Newbery and Caldecott Honor books-runners-up, in effect, to these Oscars of children's literature. Two 15-member committees, composed of librarians, critics and teachers, wrangled throughout the weekend in closed session to choose the winners. The Caldecott Medal for the best picture book of the year went to Alice and Martin Provensen's 'The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel With Louis Ble'riot' (Viking). Henshaw' (Morrow) as the best children's book of 1983. Mouse series comes an epistolary novel about how to navigate and heal from life’s growing pains.The American Library Association yesterday awarded its prestigious Newbery Medal to Beverly Cleary's 'Dear Mr. Henshaw responds, the two form an unexpected friendship that will change Leigh’s life forever.įrom the beloved author of the Henry Huggins, Ramona Quimby, and Ralph S. Struggling to make friends and deal with his anger toward his absent father, Leigh loses himself in a class assignment in which he must write to his favorite author. It’s a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.Īfter his parents separate, Leigh Botts moves to a new town with his mother. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling. Recommended by: Barb Langridge, īeverly Cleary’s timeless Newbery Medal-winning book explores difficult topics like divorce, insecurity, and bullying through the thoughts and emotions of a sixth-grade boy as he writes to his favorite author, Boyd Henshaw. Keywords: boys and men, divorce and marriage, growing up, finding yourself, letters, author, bullies, Newbery Medal, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old This is a touching journey and a sensitive story. Henshaw, Leigh explores bullies, divorce, loss and himself. Through the letters and the connection with Mr.

Leigh is writing letters to his favorite author. He is trying to cope with divorce and change and growing up. This is the Newbery award winning tale of Leigh Botts, a young boy who is struggling with his feelings and his sense of himself.

Leigh botts dear mr henshaw