Newbery Medal (John Newbery Medal)
1 appearances
-
Edition 49 (1970) Winner
William Howard Armstrong
ウィリアム・ハワード・アームストロング
William Howard Armstrong
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1911-09-14 （Lexington, Virginia, US）
- Died
- 1999-04-11 （Kent, Connecticut, US） age 87
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Farm near Lexington, Virginia → Kent, Connecticut, US
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Educator, History teacher
- Active Years
- 1945-1997
- Affiliations
- Kent School (faculty)
- Influenced By
- The Bible (biblical stories), Oral tradition and folktales
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta Military Academy | — | — | — | — | United States |
| Hampden-Sydney College | — | — | — | — | United States |
| University of Virginia (graduate work) | — | — | — | — | United States |
Augusta Military Academy
Country:
United States
Hampden-Sydney College
Year of Graduation:
1936
Country:
United States
Graduated cum laude in 1936
University of Virginia (graduate work)
Country:
United States
Did graduate work; degree not recorded
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Newbery Medal | Sounder | — | American Library Association | 受賞 |
| 1970 | Lewis Carroll Shelf Award | Sounder | — | Unknown | 受賞 |
| 1963 | National School Bell Award | — | — | National Association of School Administrators | 受賞 |
| 1986 | Honorary Doctor of Letters | — | — | Hampden-Sydney College | 授与 |
Newbery Medal
1970
Work:
Sounder
Organization:
American Library Association
Result:
受賞
Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
1970
Work:
Sounder
Organization:
Unknown
Result:
受賞
National School Bell Award
1963
Organization:
National Association of School Administrators
Result:
受賞
Honorary Doctor of Letters
1986
Organization:
Hampden-Sydney College
Result:
授与
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Sounder
1969 Children's literature, Historical novel 128 pagesThe story centers on an African-American sharecropping family and their dog Sounder. Told in a spare, episodic style, it addresses themes of racial injustice, family bonds and resilience. Armstrong employs an economy of detail influenced by biblical storytelling.
Racial injusticeFamilyHope and resilienceWork and poverty
Adaptations
- [Film] Sounder / Martin Ritt (1972)
Sour Land
1971 Children's literatureA work related to Sounder, often considered a sequel. It continues to explore rural life and multi-generational family experiences.
FamilyLand and legacy
Hadassah: Esther the Orphan Queen
1972 Historical/Biblical novelA children's adaptation of the biblical story of Esther, presenting historical and religious context in accessible form.
FaithFate and courage
Bibliography
- Study Is Hard Work (1956)
- Through Troubled Waters (1957)
- 87 Ways to Help Your Child in School (1961)
- Tools of Thinking (1968)
- Word Power in 5 Easy Lessons (1969)
- Peoples of the Ancient World (1969)
- Sounder (1969)
- Barefoot in the Grass (1970)
- Sour Land (1971)
- The MacLeod Place (1972)
- Hadassah: Esther the Orphan Queen (1972)
- My Animals (1973)
- The Mills of God (1973)
- The Education of Abraham Lincoln (1974)
- JoAnna's Miracle (1978)
- Tawny and Dingo (1978)
- Warrior in Two Camps (1978)
- Study Tactics (1983)
- Trueno (1996)
Adaptations
- Film 'Sounder' (1972)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Economical prose emphasizing omissionBiblical storytelling influence and traditional narrative structures
- Recurring Motifs
- Family and bondsDogs and animalsFaith and redemptionRural life and labor
Health
-
Asthma幼少期Contributed to difficulties in school as a child, but helped foster an early interest in reading.
Legacy
William H. Armstrong is best known for Sounder, which won the Newbery Medal; his spare, biblical-influenced prose and focus on family and moral resilience have been influential in children's literature. He also impacted generations as a long-serving educator. His Newbery Medal is held at Hampden-Sydney College's Bortz Library.
Museums
- William Armstrong children's book section, Bortz Library Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia, US
Archives
- Hampden-Sydney College Library (holds Newbery Medal)
In Popular Culture
- The 1972 film adaptation of Sounder raised public recognition of the story.
Quotes
-
No one told me the Bible was not for young readers, so I found some exciting stories in it. Not until years later did I understand why I liked the Bible stories so much. It was because everything that could possibly be omitted was omitted.
Source: Scholastic (author profile)
Trivia
- Taught at Kent School for 52 years.
- Sounder was published in 1969 and won the Newbery Medal in 1970.
- His Newbery Medal is housed in the Hampden-Sydney College library.