The Newbery Medal is awarded to the year's most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The medal is presented by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.
The award, commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and honoring his widow, Coretta Scott King, honors African American writers and illustrators and celebrates the African American experience through artistic expression. It is presented annually by the Coretta Scott King Task Force of the American Library Association's Social Responsibilities Round Table.
