Worlds of Words Center

Join the Middle School Reading Ambassadors as we recap our experience around reading "Xolo" & meeting Donna Barba Higuera. Post includes our episode prep booklist! wowlit.org/blog/wow-rea... #BookSky #YouthVoices

Bear Essential News for Kids gets you Dreadtime Reading ready for spooky season (& all year-'round). wp.bearessentialnews.com/ghosts-and-l... #BookSky #KidLit

Explore the concept of awe in every page of the beautifully written & illustrated book, Awe by Chana Stiefle & Susan Gal. Recommended by Kathleen Crawford-McKinney. wowlit.org/blog/wow-rec...

Travel around the world in twelve birds with this month's WOW Dozen by Aika Adamson. From Australia to Iceland and beyond, explore the world through birds in a literary birdwatching journey. wowlit.org/blog/wow-doz...

A recent headline reads, "The End of Reading Is Here." Not for the Worlds of Words Middle School & Teen Reading Ambassadors! Learn about the program & how you can support these young people in reversing a reported reading slump through our annual crowdfund campaign. crowdfund.arizona.edu/wow

Let books be. Today kicks off #BannedBooksWeek, an annual observation started more than 40 years ago in response to a sudden surge in attempts to censor or remove books in libraries, schools, and bookstores. Sound familiar? Find ways to get involved and spread the word: https://bit.ly/4yvixbB.

It's World Teachers' Day! Thank you to all of the #educators who are creating a brighter future for our children and our world. 🌎📚✏️ Art from I CAN HELP by Reem Faruqi, illus. by Mikela Prevost #worldteachersday #teachers #education

From @lantanapub.bsky.social "Letters in Charcoal shows how literacy can restore agency and access to education.... This book inspires children’s learning and engagement in reading and writing in their first years of school" says @wowlit.org doi.org/10.2458/wowr...

For those of you who expressed interest in the IYL exhibit, "We Are Family!", please enjoy this list of books available in English in the U.S. wowlit.org/blog/wow-doz...

We are Family is a warm post from @wowlit.org this week. Bonus: ALL OUR FAMILIES ARE AWESOME from @florisbooks.bsky.social in a photo! wowlit.org/blog/we-are-...

Children learn to cook as a practical preparation for adulthood & as a bonding activity that connects them to family & community. And, of course, sharing food can be an expression of love. Enjoy these 12 titles on preparing, sharing & eating food. wowlit.org/blog/wow-doz... #BookSky

We conducted an analysis of international children's & adolescent books published in the U.S. with our colleagues @usbby.bsky.social. Read our reports, access the data & play with interactive maps on our website => wowlit.org/resources/in... #BookSky

Protect students' right to read! Guide students as they deal w/#censorship! Read my @wowlit.org WOW Review of graphic novel "Wake Now in the Fire" by Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by AJ Dungo. #TLSky #EduSky we must uphold #FirstAmendment rights! journals.librarypublishing.arizona.edu/wowreview/ar...

A Home on the Page by Kao Kalia Yang & illustrated by Seo Kim sheds light on both overt and subtle forms of racism and its impact on those targeted by it. #WOWRecommends #BookSky wowlit.org/blog/wow-rec...

Invite students to examine how Black communities across the world use storytelling, music, hair, family memory, spiritual traditions, migration & resistance to preserve identity & reclaim place in this text set from our July WOW Currents. #EduSky #BookSky wowlit.org/blog/global-...

That's a "WRAP" on season 4 of the WOW Reads podcast. In the teen's finale, they discuss slow reading, share the joy of art, & thank their parents & caregivers. Enjoy the whole season by visiting the WRAP blog. wowlit.org/go/wrap-blog #BookSky #TeenVoices

We are increasingly separated from how we grow, harvest & distribute what we eat. This #WOWDozen list includes fiction & nonfiction books that can help children think about where their food comes from. Visit our website to add your favorite food production-related titles. wowlit.org/blog/wow-doz...

All the Blues In the Sky by Renée Watson, a novel in verse about adolescent grief, healing & hope, is this month's #WOWRecommends! wowlit.org/blog/wow-rec... #BookSky

Daniel Nayeri talks function & form, the beauty of the delayed punchline & a broad spectrum of his work in this Authors' Corner by @reblnation.bsky.social. He also shares his love for teachers who "pour a lot into you." wowlit.org/blog/authors... #EduSky

Looking for innovative ways to celebrate #PrideMonth2026? #TLSky #EduSky please take a moment to learn about Read With Pride Relay UK founder Kate O'Connor's radical response #RadicalSchoolLibrarianship in support of teens' #FreedomToRead on @wowlit.org WOW Currents blog. wowlit.org/blog/readwit...

This WOW Dozen presents titles that feature characters traveling to a new world, whether dropped in suddenly and finding a way back home or discovering magic that leads to fantasy lands in search of answers. #Isekai wowlit.org/blog/wow-doz...

WOW Recommends: The Lions' Run by @sarapennypacker.bsky.social "To not only withstand but resist [Nazi] cruelty is evidenced in [this] story of an orphan boy who determinedly embraces the opportunities he sees to be human in a world that is so much less so. wowlit.org/blog/wow-rec...

The Orbis Pictus Award from @ncte.org (National Council of Teachers of English) recognizes excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children & commemorates Johannes Amos Comenius' Orbis Pictus (1657), considered the first book planned for children. wowlit.org/blog/orbis-p...

Middle schoolers process heavy topics in this recap of their experience reading "The Freedom Seeker" & meeting @ruchiragupta.bsky.social at the Tucson Festival of Books in this WOW Reads podcast episode. wowlit.org/blog/wow-rea...

WOW recommends, Vida: The Mice, the Cat, and the Alebrije by Duncan Tonatiuh. The book celebrates the strength of community as a modern-day fable inspired by Aesop’s story of the belling of the cat. #BookSky @ wowlit.org/blog/wow-rec...

Share: A dozen picturebooks that can touch the hearts and minds of young people (and their educators and parents): "Picturebooks to Build Empathy for the Experiences of Immigrant and Refugee Children." #TLSky #EduSky #kidlit @worldsofwords.bsky.social WOW Dozen page: wowlit.org/blog/wow-doz...

Celebrate International Children's Book Day #ICBD2026. Read / share global #kidlit #mglit #yalit books. #TLSky #EduSky learn about the ASLA #Diversity in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand Children's Book Award (DANZ) on the @worldsofwords.bsky.social Currents blog! wowlit.org/blog/diversi...

Join Worlds of Words & @cercll.bsky.social for a 2-day workshop to engage in experiences & books that invite students to immerse themselves in an appreciation & awareness of the multiple languages in their lives & world. Details & registration: wowlit.org/event/multil... #Edusky

To open any news source today is to witness stories of migration: opinions about "home," journeys connected to these & challenges along the way. Wildlife Crossings of Hope reminds us that these stories of movement, loss & survival extend beyond human experience. wowlit.org/blog/wow-rec...

"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...

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...

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...

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...

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.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-...

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...

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...

"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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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