Age: Intermediate (Gr. 4-8)

Material appropriate for intermediate age groups

The Boy and the Wall

The Boy and the Wall is a children’s book made and illustrated by youth at the Lajee Centre in the Aida Refugee Camp in the West Bank, telling the story of their everyday lives and struggles as refugees. Click here to read the Worlds of Words Review.
Other Descriptors: Fiction, Palestine » Themes: » Leave a comment

Goal!

A lyrical, strikingly illustrated story celebrates the unifying power of soccer. In a dusty township in South Africa, Ajani and his friends have earned a brand-new, federation-size soccer ball. They kick. They dribble. They run. They score. These clever boys are football champions! But when a crew of bullies tries to steal their ball, will [...]
Other Descriptors: Africa, Picture Book, Primary (Gr. K-3), Realistic Fiction, South Africa » Themes: , , » 1 Comment

Raining Sardines

Wealthy landowner Don Rigol practically owns the town. To expand his coffee plantation, he will lay waste the mountain jungle and the secret valley where the ancient breed of Paso Fino horses roams wild. Best friends Enriquito and Ernestina search for a way to save the ponies, ensure justice at a trumped-up trial, and reclaim [...]
Other Descriptors: Caribbean, Cuba, Fantasy » Themes: , , , , , » Leave a comment

Morning Girl

Morning Girl, who loves the day, and her younger brother Star Boy, who loves the night, take turns describing their life on an island in pre-Columbian America; in Morning Girl’s last narrative, she witnesses the arrival of the first Europeans to her world.
Other Descriptors: Caribbean, Historical Fiction » Themes: , , , , , , , , , » Leave a comment

Under The Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba

In this companion volume to Alma Flor Ada’s Where the Flame Trees Bloom, the author offers young readers another inspiring collection of stories and reminiscences drawn from her childhood on the island of Cuba. Through those stories we see how the many events and relationships she enjoyed helped shape who she is today. We learn [...]
Other Descriptors: Caribbean, Cuba, Nonfiction, Short Stories » Themes: , , , , , , , » Leave a comment

La Flor de Oro: Un Mito Taino de Puerto Rico (Spanish Edition)

Nina Jaffe’s acclaimed retelling of an indigenous creation myth about the birth of Puerto Rico, The Golden Flower, is available for the first time in Spanish. Her account of the Taíno’s legend draws the reader to the island before the Spaniards arrived. The Taínos called their beloved island, Boriquén. This is their story of how [...]
Other Descriptors: Caribbean, Folklore, Puerto Rico » Themes: , , , , , » Leave a comment

The Galapagos Islands (Nature’s Wonders)

The Galapagos Islands are a natural wonder in every way. They are home to an array of flora and fauna found no other place on earth. In The galapagos Islands explore the beauty and mystery surronding these islands, as well as their geography, wildlife, history, people, and the importance of the preservation of these isles.
Other Descriptors: Ecudor, Latin America, Nonfiction, Young Adult (Gr. 9-12) » Themes: , , , , , , , » Leave a comment

Wanting Mor

Jameela and her family live in a poor, war-torn village in Afghanistan. Even with her cleft lip and lack of educational opportunities, Jameela feels relatively secure, sustained by her Muslim faith and the love of her mother, Mor. But when Mor dies, Jameela’s father impulsively decides to start a new life in Kabul. Jameela is [...]
Other Descriptors: Afghanistan, Realistic Fiction » Themes: , , , , , » 1 Comment

Millicent Min: Girl Genius

Millicent Min is having a bad summer. Her fellow high school students hate her for setting the curve. Her fellow 11-year-olds hate her for going to high school. And her mother has arranged for her to tutor Stanford Wong, the poster boy for Chinese geekdom. But then Millie meets Emily. Emily doesn’t know Millicent’s IQ [...]
Other Descriptors: Fiction » Themes: , , , » Leave a comment

The Year of the Dog

It’s the Chinese Year of the Dog, and as Pacy celebrates with her family, she finds out that this is the year she is supposed to “find herself.” Universal themes of friendship, family, and finding one’s passion in life make this novel appealing to readers of all backgrounds. Read more about The Year of the [...]
Other Descriptors: Fiction, United States of America » Themes: , , , , , » Leave a comment
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    Visiting Author: Rosemary Wells

    On October 20, 2010 at 7:00 P.M., Rosemary Wells, illustrator and author of the preschool series Max and Ruby, will be at Worlds of Words physical location on the 4th floor of the College of Education at the University of Arizona.
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    2011 Tucson Festival of Books

    The list of visiting children’s authors for the 2011Tucson Festival of Books is nearing completion. Make your plans to attend the festival on March 11th and 12th. Some of the authors already committed are David Wiesner, Rafael Lopez, Thacher Hurd, E. B. Lewis, Mike Lupica, Margaret Read McDonald, and Lauren Myracle. For more on the book festival . . .

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