WOW Currents titles with themes and links are listed below for your convenience. The latest blogs are listed first, with the earliest listed last.
Sometimes, Pacific is NOT Specific Enough
Hesitations About Using Native Language in a Children’s Book
The Emergence of “Fantastic” in Chamorro Literature
The Idea of Simplicity in Chamorro Children’s Literature
Sometimes, Pacific is NOT Specific Enough
El Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead: A Cultural Exploration
Los Gatos Black and the Courage of Children
A Critique of Pablo Remembers: the Fiesta of the Day of the Dead
‘Señor Calavera still isn’t scary’
The Spirit of Tío Fernando: A Day of the Dead Story
A gift for Abuelita: Our entrée into El Día de los Muertos
Adolescents, Adolescent Novels, and Authors Writing the Edges
Adolescents, Adolescent Novels, and Authors Writing the Edges By Holly Johnson
Adolescents & Adolescent Novels on the Edge: Survival By Holly Johnson
Adolescents, Adolescent Novels, and Authors Writing the Edges: Choices By Holly Johnson
Adolescents, Adolescent Novels, and Authors Writing the EdgesBy Holly Johnson
Inspirations for Children’s Books in Saudi Arabia
Inspirations for Children’s Books in Saudi Arabia: Part 5: In our children’s Hands! by Nojood ALsudairi
Inspirations for Children’s Books in Saudi Arabia: Part 4: A Part of a Whole by Nojood ALsudairi
Inspirations for Children’s Books in Saudi Arabia: Part 3, Thobe Recycling by Nojood ALsudairi
Inspirations for Children’s Books in Saudi Arabia: Part 2, Misho and His Laughter by Nojood ALsudairi
Inspirations for Children’s Books in Saudi Arabia: Part 1, Objects and Feelingsby Nojood ALsudairi
Reader Response to The Dreamer
The Dreamer, Part IV: The Political Nature of Writing
by Carmen M. Martínez-Roldán, University of Texas, Austin
Reader Response: Sketch-to-Stretch with The Dreamer, by Carmen M. Martínez-Roldán
Reader Response: The Dreamer Part II, by Carmen M. Martínez-Roldán
Reader Response: The Dreamer, by Carmen M. Martínez-Roldán
Responding to Literature
Responding To Literature as A Community: Transactions with When You Reach Me, by Andrea García
Responding To Literature as A Community: Transactions with Pictures of Hollis Wood, by Andrea García
Responding To Literature as A Community: Transactions with Feathers, by Andrea García
Responding To Literature as A Community: Transactions with Tofu Quilt, by Andrea García
Text Sets
Text Sets: An In-depth Look, by Lauren Freedman
Students and Scholars Respond: Text Sets & Inquiry Deepens and Strengthens Learning, by Lauren Freedman
Learning Centered Classrooms: Where Inquiry and Text Sets are Essential for Literacy and Learning, by Lauren Freedman
The Power of Choice, Voice, and Inquiry: Students and Teachers Talk about Text Sets, by Lauren Freedman
The Way School Should Be: Navigating Learning with Text Sets, by Lauren Freedman
Reading as a Collaborative Act
Reading as a Collaborative Act: Crossing Borders with Pam Muñoz Ryan, by Marie LeJeune and Tracy Smiles
Reading as a Collaborative Act: Sherman Alexie as Mentor, by Marie LeJeune and Tracy Smiles
Reading as a Collaborative Act: Interactions with Linda Sue Park, by Marie LeJeune and Tracy Smiles
Reading as a Collaborative Act: A Framework for Exploring Author Studies, by Marie LeJeune and Tracy Smiles
To be or not to be: Graphic Novels in the Classroom?, by Julia López-Robertson, Amber Hartman, Jennifer Judy, Lillian Reeves
Border Crossings
To be or not to be: Graphic Novels in the Classroom?, by Julia López-Robertson, Amber Hartman, Jennifer Judy & Lillian Reeves
Border Crossing: Children in the Cultural Crossfire, by Julia López-Robertson with Amanda Dunnigan & Rebecca Martin
Border Crossings & Tangled Threads, by Julia López-Robertson, Michelle Metts and Tracy Spires
The Space Between : A beginning journey into border crossing, by Julia López-Robertson & Lillian Reeves
The Importance of Paired Books
Strategies for Reading and Discussing Paired Books, by Kathy G. Short
Text Sets as Contexts for Understanding, by Kathy G. Short
Paired Books: Reading a Book in the Context of another Book, by Kathy G. Short
Never Read a Book Alone, by Kathy G. Short
Small Presses
What Makes Small Presses Successful, by Ann Parker
A Conversation with Just Us Books, by Ann Parker
A Conversation with Children’s Book Press, by Ann Parker
A Conversation with Lee and Low Books, by Ann Parker
A Conversation with NorthSouth Books, by Ann Parker
Confronting History with Historical Fiction
Confronting History: Using Realistic Fiction to Reflect on Historical Journeys, by Yoo Kyung Sung
Confronting History: Young Korean Diasporas During WWII and the Chinese Cultural Revolution, by Yoo Kyung Sung
Confronting History: Experiencing Historical Tragedy Through Stolen Voices, by Yoo Kyung Sung
Korean Rediscovery of the Power of Historical Fiction, by Yoo Kyung Sung
Responding to Literature
Responding to Literature in the 21st Century: Challenges and Resources, by Janine Schall
Responding to Literature in the 21st Century: Tools to Share Current Understandings, by Janine Schall
Responding to Literature in the 21st Century: Tools for Collaboration, by Janine Schall
21st Century Tools for Thinking About Literature, by Janine Schall
Moving Beyond the Graffiti Board, by Janine Schall
Children’s Books and Diverse Cultures
Children’s Books & Diverse Cultures in an Undergraduate Course, by Marilyn Carpenter
Visual Journeys with Immigrant Readers, by Marilyn Carpenter
Resilient Children in International Literature, by Marilyn Carpenter
Global Perspectives on Social Change in the World, by Marilyn Carpenter
Children’s Books & Diverse Cultures in an Undergraduate Course, by Marilyn Carpenter
Unthemed
Visual Journeys with Immigrant Readers, by Carmen M. Martínez-Roldán
Resilient Children in International Literature, by Janelle Mathis
Global Perspectives on Social Change in the World, by Kathy G. Short
Illustrations and the Reading Experience
Connecting Text and Illustrations, by Prisca Martens
Learning to Read the Written and the Pictorial, by Prisca Martens
Reading Multimodally, by Prisca Martens
Words Aren’t Everything, by Prisca Martens
Francisco Jimenez
Resources on the Life and Work of Francisco Jiménez, by Sandy Kaser
Part 4 – His words to you: quotes from Francisco Jimenez, by Sandy Kaser
Part 3 – Students’ Correspondence with Francisco Jimenez, by Sandy Kaser
Part 2 – Reading the words of Francisco Jimenez, by Sandy Kaser
Part 1 – Discovering the words of Francisco Jiménez, by Sandy Kaser
Illustrations and the Reading Experience
Visual Symbolism as Meaning-Making, by Cheri Anderson
Conveying Meaning through Visual Elements, by Cheri Anderson
Cultural Issues in Reviewing Illustration, by Cheri Anderson
Evaluating Illustrations in Reviews of International Picture Books, by Cheri Anderson
Families as Critical Partners in Reading
Families Matter: Combining Literacy Reflections – Part IV, by Charlene Klassen Endrizzi
Families Matter: Reaching Out to Reluctant Parents –- Part III, by Charlene Klassen Endrizzi
Families Matter: Expanding Our Community of Readers –- Part II, by Charlene Klassen Endrizzi
Families Matter: Family Stories and School Literacy — Part I, by Charlene Klassen Endrizzi
Invitations and Negotiations: International Literature in the Classroom
Invitations and Negotiations: Reflections on a Month of Mondays, by Marie LeJeune & Tracy Smiles
Invitations and Negotiations: Preservice Teacher Education, by Marie LeJeune & Tracy Smiles
Invitations and Negotiations: Informal Spaces, by Marie LeJeune & Tracy Smiles
Invitation and Negotiation: K-12 Classrooms, by Marie LeJeune & Tracy Smiles
Invitations and Negotiations, by Marie LeJeune & Tracy Smiles
Learning About Life Through Others
Those “Blank Stares”, by Mary Starrs Armstrong
Learning about Life through others’ Lives, Part 3, by Mary Starrs Armstrong
Learning about Life through others’ Lives, Part 2, by Mary Starrs Armstrong
Learning about Life through others’ Lives, by Mary Starrs Armstrong
Return to Sender , by Julia Alvarez
Living Between Two Cultures: A Digital Literature Discussion of Return to Sender , by Julia Alvarez, Part 5, by Andrea García
Living Between Two Cultures: A Digital Literature Discussion of Return to Sender , by Julia Alvarez, Part 4, by Andrea García
Living Between Two Cultures: A Digital Literature Discussion of Return to Sender , by Julia Alvarez, Part 3, by Andrea García
Living Between Two Cultures: A Digital Literature Discussion of Return to Sender , by Julia Alvarez, Part 2, by Andrea García
Living Between Two Cultures: A Digital Literature Discussion of Return to Sender, by Julia Alvarez, by Andrea García
Interview with Yuyi Morales
Interview with Yuyi Morales, Part 4, by Jeanne Fain & Julia López-Robertson
Interview with Yuyi Morales, Part 3, by Jeanne Fain & Julia López-Robertson
Interview with Yuyi Morales, Part 2, by Jeanne Fain & Julia López-Robertson
Interview with Yuyi Morales, by Jeanne Fain & Julia López-Robertson
Windows to the World
Windows to the World — Part 4, by Barbara Thompson-Book
Windows to the World — A Quick Look at Haiti, by Barbara Thompson-Book
Windows to the Worlds — Part 3, by Barbara Thompson-Book
Windows to the World — Part 2, by Barbara Thompson-Book
Windows on the World — Part 1, by Barbara Thompson-Book
Small Presses
The Role of Small Presses in Multicultural Children’s Books, by Ann Parker
Creating Book Brands, by Ann Parker
Independent Publishers Feature Bilingual Books, by Ann Parker
Publishing Bilingual Books, by Ann Parker
Books , by Xavier Garza
Children Respond to Xavier Garza’s Books, by Janine M. Schall
“Is the Chupacabras Real?” Xavier Garza Answers Questions from Children, by Janine M. Schall
Interview with Xavier Garza, Part 4, by Janine M. Schall
Interview with Xavier Garza, Part 3, by Janine M. Schall
Interview with Xavier Garza, Part 2, by Janine M. Schall
Interview with Author Xavier Garza, by Janine M. Schall
Immigrant Experiences
Immigration Literature: Bridging Global Cultures for Classroom Communities, by Andrea Baily, April Sanders, Patricia Sosa-Sanchez
After the Journey: Immigrants in a New Country, by Ragina Shearer & Mary Amanda Stewart
The Immigrant Experience in Children’s/Adolescent Literature, by Tami Morton, Lois Knezek, & Betty Reily
The Immigrant Experience in Children’s/Adolescent Literature, by Janelle B. Mathis
What Fairy Tales Tell us About Culture
Fairy Tales: Zero Tolerance?, by Marilyn Carpenter
Culturally Authentic Fairy Tales, by Marilyn Carpenter
Exploring Fairy Tales Part II, by Marilyn Carpenter
Exploring Fairy Tales Part I, by Marilyn Carpenter
Thoughts on International Literature
Geography & International Literature, Part II, by Holly Johnson
Geography & International Literature, Part I, by Holly Johnson
“Travel” and International Literature, by Holly Johnson
Social Responsibility and the Reader, by Holly Johnson
A Language for the Literature, by Holly Johnson
Neal Gaiman & Nick Glass
Nick Glass Interview – Part 4, by Judi Moreillon
Nick Glass Interview – Part 3, by Judi Moreillon
Summary of Gaiman’s Newbery Speech, by Judi Moreillon
Nick Glass Interview – Part 2, by Judi Moreillon
An Interview with Nick Glass, by Judi Moreillon
Book Reviews: A Need to Look at Culture
Details Matter—Especially if it’s my culture!, by Kathy G. Short
Stepping Back in Time in Contemporary International Books, by Kathy G. Short
A Book Never Stands Alone: Do Reviewers Have a Social Responsibility?, by Kathy G. Short
Reviewer’s Assumptions about Audience, by Kathy G. Short
The Lack of Culture in Book Reviews, by Kathy G. Short
Unthemed
Wishing for Books, by Ann Parker
Children’s Hope in the Midst of Despair, by Kathy G. Short
Wishes for the Necessities of Life, by Judi Moreillon
WOW: Wishes for the World
