Lois Lowry is the author most associated with the Newbery Medal for Number the Stars.

Let’s start with a simple truth about kids’ books: awards don’t just decorate a shelf; they help guide readers, educators, and librarians toward titles that balance honesty, heart, and craft. The Newbery Medal is one of the crown jewels in that ecosystem. And when you hear which author is most closely tied to that honor, you probably think of Lois Lowry. Yes—Lowry’s name is the one that often comes up in conversations about the Newbery, and for good reason.

What the Newbery Medal is, in plain terms

Here’s the thing: the Newbery Medal isn’t a popularity contest. It isn’t about which book sold the most copies or sparked the most buzz. It’s a recognition by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) of outstanding contribution to American literature for children. The award spotlights books that illuminate the human experience—books that kids can read, think about, and carry with them long after they’ve turned the last page.

For media specialists—librarians, teachers, and those who curate classroom collections—the Newbery serves as a trusted compass. It signals books that often blend accessible storytelling with deeper themes, inviting discussion, critique, and empathy. It’s not a mandate to abandon popular favorites; rather, it’s a nudge to explore titles that can open new conversations with students.

Lois Lowry and Number the Stars: a lasting association

Lois Lowry is a towering figure in children’s literature, and her work has become a touchstone for many readers who want literature to grapple with weighty topics in age-appropriate ways. The most commonly cited connection to the Newbery is her novel Number the Stars, which earned the medal and became a compass for teachers exploring World War II, courage, and moral choices with younger readers.

Number the Stars is set in Denmark during the Nazi occupation. It follows a family and a community as they navigate danger, resistance, and quiet acts of bravery. It’s not a book that shouts its themes; it speaks softly but clearly, inviting readers to consider what it means to help others, what courage looks like in ordinary moments, and how fear can coexist with hope. That’s precisely the kind of balance the Newbery often recognizes: books that don’t simplify history, but make history feel human.

Lois Lowry’s knack isn’t just about telling a good story. It’s about shaping a reading experience that feels both intimate and expansive. She can write scenes that readers can almost smell—the salt air, the dust of a crowded room, the tremor in a character’s voice—without losing sight of a bigger moral thread. When a Newbery is awarded, it’s often because the author has achieved that double aim: a story that works on a personal level and a narrative that bears weight in a broader, enduring way.

A gentle nudge toward other names, and why they matter

You’ll sometimes hear the names of other well-known authors mentioned in the same breath when people discuss children’s literature. J.K. Rowling, for example, is widely celebrated for the immersive world of Harry Potter, and Tomie dePaola is cherished for his distinctive illustrations and storytelling. Ann Martin’s Babysitters Club series has inspired countless readers to imagine friendships, responsibility, and growing up. But when you’re talking about the Newbery Medal specifically, Lois Lowry’s name is the one that stands out as emblematic of the award’s core mission.

That doesn’t diminish the impact of those other authors. It just helps us differentiate the kind of literary achievement the Newbery is designed to honor: books that push beyond mere entertainment to offer thoughtful, sometimes challenging, experiences that stick with readers over time. For media specialists, noticing which works carry the Newbery label—and which authors frequently appear in that circle—can help shape a library’s curated shelves with titles that invite discussion across grades and cycles of study.

Why this matters in a school library or classroom

Let me explain with a quick, practical take. Awards like the Newbery aren’t just badges on a book’s cover; they’re indicators of a certain quality of writing, a certain respect for readers, and a certain ability to spark conversations that matter. When you’re selecting titles for a diverse group of young readers, having a few Newbery-winning or -recognizing books on the shelf can seed conversations about text complexity, historical context, and ethical choices.

Consider how Number the Stars works in a classroom: read alouds or independent readings that touch on history, courage, and human rights, paired with guiding questions that help students connect the dots between a character’s personal risk and a community’s broader decision to resist oppression. The book’s accessible prose makes it approachable for younger readers, while its themes invite older students to unpack symbolism, narrative point of view, and historical nuance. That’s exactly the kind of layered experience media specialists aim to provide.

How to talk about awards with students (without turning it into a trophy chase)

A good way to frame Newbery-worthy books for students is to shift the focus from “which is the best book?” to “what makes this book work—and for whom?” Here are a few friendly prompts you can toss into a discussion:

• What do the characters learn, and how does their growth feel real to you?

• How does the author handle heavy themes in a way that still feels accessible?

• What choices does the narrator make, and how do those choices affect what we understand about the story?

• If this book were a movie, what scenes would you keep or change to preserve its heart?

You’ll find that students respond to questions that invite personal reflection. And when you tie those reflections back to the author’s craft—how Lowry builds atmosphere, how she handles historical elements, how she makes moral questions feel intimate—you’re helping readers become sharper critical thinkers, not just consumers of stories.

A few tips for curating with an future-forward mindset

• Mix formats thoughtfully. If a student loves Number the Stars, they might also appreciate companion materials—author interviews, historical documents, or graphic novels that illuminate the era from different angles. Media specialists can braid traditional text with multimedia resources to deepen understanding.

• Highlight themes over trends. While it’s tempting to chase the latest hits, the Newbery connection encourages you to pick books that sustain conversation across years. A rotating display of award-winning titles keeps a library vibrant and purposeful.

• Celebrate diverse voices within the award framework. The Newbery Medal has a history of recognizing varied storytelling styles and perspectives. When possible, pair Lowry’s work with other award-winning or notable titles that broaden representation, helping students see themselves and others in literature.

A quick glossary you can rely on

• Newbery Medal: A prestigious recognition given to a work that makes a significant contribution to children’s literature in the United States.

• ALSC: The Association for Library Service to Children, the group that administers the Newbery.

• Number the Stars: Lois Lowry’s historical novel about Denmark during World War II, which earned the Newbery Medal.

• Literary merit in practice: The idea that a book’s craft—its language, structure, and how it invites readers to think—matters as much as the story’s subject matter.

A gentle digression that still lands back on the main point

If you’ve ever helped a kid through a tough book, you know what makes the experience meaningful: listening, guiding, and letting the text do the heavy lifting. The Newbery Medal is a beacon in that process, not a verdict on taste. It signals that a title has stood up to careful reading, thoughtful discussion, and sustained engagement. Lois Lowry’s association with the award illustrates a particular blend of clarity, courage, and care that resonates with readers across ages. And that resonance—well—that’s what makes a book worth keeping on a library shelf or a classroom reading list.

Bringing it full circle: what this means for today’s readers and educators

In the end, the link between Lois Lowry and the Newbery Medal is more than a trivia tidbit. It’s a reminder that great children’s literature often lies in the quiet spaces where a author invites a reader to consider big questions through an intimate lens. The experiences chosen for the Newbery spotlight the kind of reading that helps young people become thoughtful observers of their world—curious, compassionate, and willing to wrestle with difficult ideas.

If you’re shaping a library or classroom collection, let Lowry’s example guide your curation as well as your conversations. Look for titles that balance accessibility with depth, that invite discussion about history, ethics, and humanity, and that offer enough texture to deserve multiple readings. Pair such books with dynamic supports—discussion prompts, historical contexts, author notes, or related multimedia—and you create an reading culture that grows with students, year after year.

To close with a practical nudge: start where curiosity lives. A student might pick up Number the Stars because the cover looks compelling, or because they heard it’s connected to a famous award. Once they crack the spine, let the dialogue open naturally—about characters who act with courage, about choices that change lives, about the responsibility of readers to think critically and empathetically. In that space, Lois Lowry’s work—and the Newbery Medal’s enduring legacy—continue to invite young readers to see the world through a broader, more humane lens.

If you’re exploring the shelves for your next read-aloud or looking to enrich a lit circle, keep a close eye on award-recognized works. They’re not just prizes; they’re guarantors of thoughtful storytelling that helps young people grow into informed, engaged readers. And sometimes, the most powerful influence comes from a single, well-tuned sentence that makes a reader pause, reflect, and connect with someone else’s experience—across time, across pages, and across the classroom.