The story begins on Earth in the summer of 2061 but concludes 380 years later, on a distant planet called Sagan. This study guide and all of its page citations are based on the Kindle edition of the novel. Some material may be intense for younger readers, though the overall tone of the book is hopeful, despite its dystopian classification. It is intended for readers aged 10 and up. The novel falls into the genres of children’s dystopian science fiction and children’s fantasy. Her feelings for this environment are lovingly rendered, emphasizing the stakes for the novel’s characters as Earth is on the cusp of destruction. The book stresses the urgent need to take care of Earth's water.Higuera grew up in the central California desert in a landscape similar to the setting she describes at the beginning of The Last Cuentista. Last year, the Caldecott Medal went to We Are Water Protectors illustrated by Michaela Goade and written by Carole Lindstrom. The book's central character is a girl, Lily, whose family moves in with her dying grandmother and a tiger from Korean folklore shows up looking for something that was stolen. In 2021, the Newbery was awarded to When You Trap A Tiger by Tae Keller. Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo and Firekeepers Daughter by Angeline Boulley were among those winning multiple awards. Nikki Grimes was honored with a Coretta Scott King lifetime achievement award. Illustrator Floyd Cooper won the illustrator award for this book as well - and the book also won a Silber award. Other Caldecott honor books were: Have You Ever Seen A Flower Mel Fell Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre and Wonder Walkers.ĪLA's Youth Media Awards include many other honors, such as the Coretta Scott King Award, which was given to Carole Boston Weatherford for Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre. Other Newbery honor books were Red, White and Whole A Snake Falls to Earth and Too Bright to See. The story focuses on a little girl who comes to learn about her heritage after her family stops the car by the side of a road to collect watercress. The Randolph Caldecott Medal, which the American Library Association awards to the most distinguished American picture book for children, went to Watercress by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Jason Chin. In the book, a girl named Petra must travel to another planet to carry on the human race after Earth has been destroyed. The John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished children's book this year went to The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera. The Newbery - celebrating its 100th year - and Caldecott medals, as well as several other honors, were among those awards. America's librarians awarded top honors to their favorite children's books of the year on Monday.

The last cuentista barnes and noble