Worlds of Words Center of Global Literacies and Literatures recognizes our global lives.
Open a book. . . Open a mind. . . Change the world!
No matter where we live, our daily lives interconnect through global mobility and rapid economic, social and technological changes. Knowledge of the world and an understanding of global perspectives have thus become a necessity, not a luxury. Children no longer have a decision about whether they will lead global lives — but they do need to decide how they will live in a global society — and literature can play a role in opening their options.
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The Worlds of Words Center is located in the University of Arizona College of Education, Room 453.
Featured Journals
WOW Stories is a regular on-line publication of Worlds of Words containing vignettes written by educators about children’s experiences reading and responding to literature.
WOW Review is a regular on-line publication of Worlds of Words containing reviews of selected books to be published quarterly. The reviews are careful examinations of the books, primarily focused on the cultural authenticity of the text and illustrations.
WOW Libros is a regular on-line publication of Worlds of Words containing Spanish-language reviews of Spanish-language books.
We're Accepting Submissions!
Our online journals are available to you without subscription, membership or fee requirements. We are proud to offer these journals and want to hear from you.
Current Calls, Guidelines and Submission Instructions:
WOW Blog Features
Check out our latest blog collections for insights, updates, and expert perspectives.
Prepare for the 2026 Tuscon Festival of Books! This WOW Currents covers the visiting authors and illustrators for the children's and teens section of the festival and some of the panels that will be presented during the weekend.
To open any news source or social media platform today is to witness stories of migration: opinions and debates about what counts as home(s), the multitude of journeys connected to these and the challenges encountered along the way. Wildlife Crossings of Hope reminds us that these stories of movement, loss and survival extend far beyond human experience.
There have been people from many cultures, times and places who have been driven by the urge to seek new knowledge of the world, challenge their own limitations, do something that’s never been done before or simply to seek riches and treasure. Those who go on expeditions and journeys know that it may be risky, but the reward can be great. In this WOW Dozen, I share books about brave explorers and fascinating journeys.
Author/illustrator Jose Pimienta discusses their wide range of work and their process of creating. They share more about their work and the experience of guiding a illustration workshop with the Middle School Reading Ambassadors.
Looking for more?
Browse our resource collection for book recommendations and teaching tools.
Global Children’s and YA Literature Initiatives
Our students live in a global world. The opportunities we offer through literature in our classrooms can invite them into the richness of cultural diversity and global communities. To globalize the text exemplar lists included in standards documents that guide instruction in many states and countries, we developed global book lists of recommended fiction and nonfiction books organized by themes within K-12 grade level bands.
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