2016 Newbery Award and Honor Books

2016 Medal Winner

Last Stop on Market Street, written by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

CJ’s journey with his Nana is not just a simple bus ride; it is a multi-sensory experience through which he discovers that beautiful music, nature and people surround him. CJ’s questions are familiar, and Nana answers him with gentle wisdom. Right up until their arrival at the last stop on Market Street, Nana guides CJ to become “a better witness for what’s beautiful.”

“Read it aloud to someone. The use of language to elicit questions, to spark imagination and to make us laugh is at its best when spoken,” said Newbery Medal Committee Chair Ernie J. Cox.

Audio Speech Cover: 2016 Newbery, Caldecott and Wilder Acceptance Speeches

Listen to Matt de la Peña's Newbery Medal Acceptance Speech [Link downloads MP3 audio file/24MB]

Read Matt de la Peña's Newbery Medal Acceptance Speech

2016 Honor Books

The War that Saved my Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

Bradley’s powerful plot, remarkably drawn characters and sparse language are outstanding components of this novel about courage, community and conviction.

Roller Girl, written and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

Astrid falls in love with roller derby and learns how to be tougher, stronger and fearless. Jamieson perfectly captures the highs and lows of growing up in this dynamic graphic novel.

Echo, by Pam Muñoz Ryan and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Four stories, one harmonica. This original fairytale intertwines with historical fiction to explore music and its power to save, heal and set free.

Members of the 2016 Newbery Medal Selection Committee are: Chair Ernie J. Cox, Prairie Creek Intermediate School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Eric Barbus, San Francisco Public Library; Shawn S. Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, Wis.; Allie Jane Bruce, Bank Street College of Education, New York; Ty R. Burns, University of Houston Clear Lake, Texas; Amber Emery, Fargo (N.D.) Public Library; Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.; Cheryl Lee, Santa Clara City (Calif.) Library; Karen R. Lemmons, Detroit School of Arts; Penny S. Markey, Manhattan Beach, Calif.; Christine E. Scheper, Queens (N.Y.) Library; Mary Schreiber, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, Ohio; John P. Scott, Friends School of Baltimore; Destinee Sutton, King County (Wash.) Library System; and Joanna Ward, County of Los Angeles Public Library.

The Newbery and Caldecott Medals and Honor Book seals are property of the American Library Association and cannot be used in any form or reproduced without permission of the ALA Office of Rights and permissions.