Worlds of Words Center

Grow Your Book Stack at the 2026 Tucson Festival of Books • Worlds of Words Prepare for the 2026 Tucson Festival of Books! This WOW Currents covers the notable authors/illustrators attending for children's and teens.

"Authors and illustrators become people I know rather than just a name on a book cover, and I read their books with greater insight and connection," says Kathy Short of Tucson Festival of Books sessions. wowlit.org/blog/2026/02...

WOW Reads: TRAP Considers Disability Experiences in Literature - WOW Reads Join the Worlds of Words Teen Reading Ambassadors as we discuss disability experiences in K-12 literature.Books mentioned:Red Apple (picturebook), by Tadahiro OgawaFlutter Forest (picturebook), concep...

Teen Reading Ambassadors discuss disability experiences in K-12 literature in this ep of WOW Reads. Text set incl portrayals of disability & accessibility features with inspo from the 2025 IBBY Outstanding Books for Children with Disabilities honor list.

worldsofwords.buzzsprout.com/2080893/epis...

WOW Recommends: A Sea of Lemon Trees • Worlds of Words This month, Cynthia discusses the impact of A Sea of Lemon Trees by Maria Dolore Aguila for WOW Recommends Book of the Month.

A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by Maria Dolores Águila provides an emotional look into the events leading up to the 1931 court battle in which 12-year-old Roberto Alvarez stood against racism and school segregation in Lemon Grove, CA. #WOWRecommends wowlit.org/blog/2026/02...

The Partition: 1947, Part 1 • Worlds of Words This month, Seemi Aziz explores children's literature that provide Hindu and Muslim perspectives on the Partition of 1947. Part one looks at four books.

Explore multiple perspectives of the Partition of 1947, which lead to the creation of Pakistan through the redrawing of boundaries in India. This month’s two-part WOW Currents looks at children’s literature that share these perspectives. Part 1: wowlit.org/blog/2026/02...

WOW Reads: Bonus - Our Mock Caldecott 2026 Prediction - WOW Reads Join the Worlds of Words Center Reading Ambassadors (RAP) as we recap our experience around predicting the 2026 Randolph Caldecott Medal winner for picturebook illustration.In this episode, we discuss...

Over 40 educators, artists & members of our community participated in our Mock #Caldecott competition. We named one clear favorite & four honor books. Our Middle School Reading Ambassadors share their perspectives on the process in a bonus episode of WOW Reads. www.buzzsprout.com/2080893/epis...

Join AZPM for a Screening and Panel Discussion of The Librarians Librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment Rights.

Join @azpm.org for a screening & panel discussion of The Librarians, a powerful documentary exploring libraries, censorship & the freedom to read. We’re excited to highlight Rebecca Ballenger, our associate director, as one of the panelists. www.eventbrite.com/e/join-azpm-...

WOW Dozen: The Visibility of Asian and Asian American Stories in Young Readers’ Nonfiction Books • Worlds of Words Closing 2025, Yoo Kyung and Junko present a WOW Dozen on nonfiction for Asian American history that includes picturebooks and chapter books.

This WOW Dozen booklist highlights individuals whose creativity, resilience & courage reshape their fields & expand how young readers understand the diverse contributions of Asian & Asian American communities.

#BookSky

wowlit.org/blog/2025/12...

Author's Corner: Jose Pimienta • Worlds of Words This author's corner explores the work of Jose Pimienta, an author/illustrator who visited Tucson to meet with the Middle School Reading Ambassadors.

Jose Pimienta's books provide a range of readers multiple ways to connect. In this profile, they reflect on these connections, their approach to life & work, & their favorite ways to engage with readers. wowlit.org/blog/2025/12...

WOW Recommends: Old as Stone, Hard as Rock of Humans & War • Worlds of Words This month, Cynthia Ryman recommends a visual narrative by Italian illustrator Alessandro Sanna, which depicts the history of war.

"Old as Stone, Hard as Rock of Humans and War" is a book that must be experienced and deeply reflected upon, according to this month's WOW Recommends by Cynthia Ryman.

#books #VisualNarratives #AlessandroSanna

wowlit.org/blog/2025/11...

Promoting Global Literacy with Manga Inside and Outside the Classroom • Worlds of Words November's WOW Currents discusses how manga can be used in the classroom, with recommendations of fiction and nonfiction manga for teens.

Aika explores ways manga can be used to encourage global literacy with high school students specifically, both inside and outside the classroom.

wowlit.org/blog/2025/11...

WOW Dozen: Engaging with People of All Abilities • Worlds of Words This WOW Dozen presents twelve titles that offer examples, and sometimes instruction, on initiating conversation and play between people of all abilities.

Meaningful inclusion in play & conversation among children of all abilities starts with every day activities. These 12 picturebooks & novels provide perspectives on & approaches to invitations between children with disabilities & their typical peers.

#Books #EduSky

wowlit.org/blog/2025/11...

WOW Recommends: The Village Beyond the Mist • Worlds of Words This month, Rebecca recommends the inspiration for Studio Ghibil's Spirited Away: The Village Beyond the Mist by Sachiko Kashiwaba.

If you think Spirited Away inspires cool costumes, consider its recently-translated inspiration, The Village Beyond the Mist. Any one of its wise and caring characters serves as inspiration. Read more in this month's WOW Recommends by @reblnation.bsky.social. #MGLit

wowlit.org/blog/2025/10...

Crowd Funding - WOW Reading Ambassadors '25 View the interactive image by Worlds of Words

Last year, the WOW Reading Ambassadors distributed 250 books, met 7 authors & recorded 10 podcast episodes. Don't ask how many bagels we ate! Checkout their interactive graphic for how we fund this free program for middle & high school students.
www.thinglink.com/scene/202973...

Worlds of Words Presents Imagination Fridays • Worlds of Words Learn about Imagination Fridays, presented by Worlds of Words and the Tucson Festival of Books, every Friday at 1pm - 1:40pm.

Imagination Fridays return with virtual events for classroom teachers. Join Pam Muñoz Ryan, @adamrex.bsky.social, Duncan Tonatiuh, & Mac Barnett & Shawn Harris as they share their latest book & an activity while taking student questions. Free, registration required.

wowlit.org/blog/2020/11...

WOW Review: Volume XVII, Issue 4 • Page 9 of 12 • Worlds of Words The Last Straw: Kids vs. Plastics Written by Susan Hood Illustrated by Christiane Engel HarperCollins, 2021, 48 pp ISBN: 978-0062981394 From the introduction to the “News You Can Use” at the end of th...

On this Sun Day when we celebrate the power of solar and other renewable energy, #TLSky #EduSky please take time to read my @worldsofwords.bsky.social book reviews of The Last Straw: Kids vs. Plastics and Black Beach: A Community, Oil Spill, and the Origin of Earth Day. wowlit.org/on-line-publ...

WOW Dozen: I am a Child of the Village • Worlds of Words This month Monique Storie presents a dozen titles that feature Pacific Islander characters, inspired by the phrase "I am a child of the village."

The stories in this WOW Dozen emphasize that being a child of the village means growing & thriving with the unwavering support of family and community, carrying forward the deep-seated values & wisdom that shape Pacific Islander life.
#BookSky #EduSky
wowlit.org/blog/2025/09...

2025 Trends in K-12 Global Literature • Worlds of Words For September's Currents, Kathy Short explores trends in global children's literature, highlighting titles from around the world.

Our new Global Reading List is out! Visit our website to learn what trends we see & download our lists by grade level (with the caveat that comfort reading & stretch reading are both valuable - ignore the levels if that serves your needs). wowlit.org/blog/2025/09...

#EduSky #BookSky #GlobalKidLit

IBBY's 2025 Selection of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities • Worlds of Words A traveling exhibit featuring international books for and about young people with disabilities makes its U.S. debut in the Worlds of Words Center.

We are fortunate to host this selection of international books on disability experiences in time to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act!

#IBBY #GlobalKidLit #BookSky

wowlit.org/blog/2025/08...

Pink graphic with the words: World Kid Lit Month Read the world through children's literature #WorldKidLitMonth

Pink graphic with the words: World Kid Lit Month Where will you travel by book? #WorldKidLitMonth

Pink graphic with the words: World Kid Lit Month September: the month to explore the world through books for young people #WorldKidLitMonth

Pink graphic with the words: World Kid Lit Month This September I'll be reading... Insert book here :) #WorldKidLitMonth

September is World Kid Lit Month: a month for everyone of any age to explore the world through international children’s books.

How to take part? Simply read a book for young people from another country. If you use social media, share what you’ve enjoyed with the hashtag #WorldKidLitMonth

WOW!

Delighted to THE CAN CARAVAN by Richard O'Neill, illustrated by @cindysykang.com in WOW Dozen: Picturebooks to Encourage Empathy and Helping booklist!
wowlit.org/blog/2025/08...

More via our bio #kidlit #WorldsOfWords #empathy
@worldsofwords.bsky.social @pubspotlight.bsky.social

Back to School: Essential Read Alouds for Human-to-Human Connection and Empathy • Worlds of Words To celebrate the start of a new school year in August, Angelica Serrano shares titles to explore and embrace differences with students in read alouds.

As #educators, one of the most important things we can do in these early days of the school year is to begin building authentic, meaningful relationships with all students.

#edusky #picturebooks #ReadAlouds #empathy

wowlit.org/blog/2025/08...

It’s nearly World Kid Lit Month! Next month is September, World Kid Lit Month: the time to explore the world through international and translated children’s books. September is a busy month for many of us, so how can we get …

It’s almost #WorldKidLitMonth - a time to explore the world through children’s literature! Read all about how to get involved here 📚 🌍 #kidlit #readtheworld

worldkidlit.org/2025/08/01/i...

WOW Dozen: Picturebooks to Encourage Empathy and Helping • Worlds of Words August's WOW Dozen brings together a dozen picturebooks on empathy, showing how children can help others and encouraging helping in communities.

These 12 #picturebooks show children the ways they can be empathetic towards their peers and encourage kinder, more involved communities. The stories show people working towards empathy through policy, societal change and inclusion.

#WOWDozen #booksky

wowlit.org/blog/2025/08...

WOW Reads: S3, E7 - RAP Reads The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley by Melissa Marr Podcast Episode · WOW Reads · 06/18/2025 · 24m

In a special combined group of middle & high school readers, the Reading Ambassadors came together where story worlds collide - in this strange case: DC Comics, Robert Lewis Stevenson & @melissamarrwriting.bsky.social. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

WOW Dozen: Books About Hair • Worlds of Words This month, Janine Schall shares a dozen titles that celebrate hair and all that it can mean for different people and communities.

This #WOWDozen on hair could easily be three times as long; however, a dozen is 12, so we narrowed the book list to provide a variety of depictions and representations with the underlying belief that all hair (or lack thereof) is good hair. wowlit.org/blog/2025/06... #GlobalKidLit

WOW Recommends: Oasis • Worlds of Words The May WOW Recommends Book of the Month is Guojing's graphic novel, Oasis, a touching narrative about family set in a post-apocalyptic landscape.

Guojing's nearly monochromatic illustrations in Oasis convey the emotional depth of loneliness and loss for millions of children due to family separation while the story and her use of traditional media take a stance against AI replacing humans in the creation of art. #WOWRecommends #BookSky #MGLit

8 Nonfiction Titles to Inspire Young Animal Conservationists From a picture book about whales to middle grade books on rescuing red wolves and honeybees, these informational texts will encourage burgeoning environmentalists to take on a cause.

8 Nonfiction Titles to Inspire Young Animal Conservationists
www.slj.com/story/8-nonf...

WOW Reads: S3, E6 - TRAP Reads Dear Manny by Nic Stone - WOW Reads Join the Worlds of Words Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss Dear Manny by Nic Stone.Nic Stone is open and warm, just like her favorite color -- orange. We discuss her commentary on l...

#NicStone is open & warm, like her favorite color - orange. In this ep of WOW Reads, teens discuss Nic's assertion of fiction as truth through the lens of a lie, how a psychology degree helps character development & that pursuit of discomfort contributes to growth & staves off boredom. #YALit

Travel $ deadline for summer PD=Monday! This interactive workshop w/ @worldsofwords.bsky.social explores children's literature on refugee/immigrant experiences. Goal: encourage children to critically engage w/ story to make sense of their own lives/understand others'.
cercll.arizona.edu/wowinst25/

Our Reading Ambassadors just completed hour one of our four-hour Read-A-Thon. They are hosting it on IG this year. Join us if you are engaged in sustained, focused reading this afternoon. If there's Sky interest, we can post here too. #MGLit #YALit