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An interview with author Neil Gaiman is presented. When asked about winning the 2009 Newbery Medal for his book "The Graveyard Book," Gaiman comments on responses from such media outlets as the "Guardian" and the "School Library Journal." Gaiman discusses his surrealist literary style, his inspiration from "The Jungle Book," and going to awards banquets.

The author reflects on the Newbery Medal awarded by the journal to the winning books. Topics discussed include an outline of the Newbery Medal in 1996, the winners of the medal, the responses to the editorial "A Wider Vision for the Newbery" in the 1996 issue, the criteria of the medal, and the 2016 winner "Last Stop on Market Street" by Matt de la Peña.

The article considers the right of the press to ask book award committees about their evaluation procedure. The criteria for prize selection for the Caldecott, Newbery and Sibert awards are ambiguous; many books qualify for multiple awards. The article praises the overlap in prize nominees, saying it helps to establish quality in books.

The author reflects upon the Newbery awards. He discusses the phrase "most distinguished" and believes the phrase is biased at best. The author ponders the impact of a Newbery award on the book and its author. Details are given for the criticism editors face from the Newbery committee if they offer their opinions in their respective magazines and journals about what book titles they would like to see win.