Children’s literature is more important than most realize. These are the books that not only help children learn to read but also learn about the world around them. As the publishing world pushes for more inclusive literature, these new books must be recognized for breaking barriers and expectations. This year, author Donna Barba Higuera was surprised with two coveted awards for her outstanding middle-grade book, The Last Cuentista.
While on vacation in Hawaii with her family, Barba Higuera was told to join a couple of weekend meetings about her book Lupe Wong Won’t Dance. The author joined the first meeting without hesitation and believed that she would be on-call with the promotional team of Barnes and Noble. However, within minutes she was greeted with the news that her new book The Last Cuentista had won the Pura Belpré Award. This significant award celebrates Latino or Latina authors and illustrators whose work portrays the Latino cultural experience.
However, there was another surprise in store for Barba Higuera. The second meeting consisted of the news that her book had also won the legendary Newbery Medal. This award is presented to the author who made a significant contribution to children’s literature in the past year. Regarding the two consecutive surprises, the author stated, “‘Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, double shame on gullible me!’ ” You can click here to order Barba Higuera’s award-winning literature.
To read more about other books that won significant awards this year, click here.
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