By Mary L. Fahrenbruck, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM

Each week in November, WOW Currents will feature an online resource that teachers and families can access to support literacy instruction in their virtual learning spaces. This week’s post features Imagination Friday hosted by Worlds of Words: Center of Global Literacies and Literatures and Tucson Festival of Books. WOW offers many amazing resources for teachers and families, and Imagination Friday is no exception.

WOW hosts a children’s author and/or illustrator through a live-stream, 40-minute webinar each Friday from August through December 11, 2020. During the live webinar, authors and illustrators share recent publications and engage the audience through a writing or illustrating activity. After the activity, the audience can submit questions through the Q&A chat box for the authors and illustrators to answer. The Imagination Friday webinars offer teachers and families a convenient way to bring authors and illustrators into their virtual learning spaces.

Previous authors and illustrators include Jon Scieszka and Steven Weinberg sharing their new series Astronuts, David Bowles and Charlene Bowles talking about their new graphic novel Rise of the Halfling King, and Adam Rex explaining how he created his newest picturebook, On Account of the Gum–just to name a few.

Upcoming authors and illustrators include Gordon C. James (Nov. 13), Max Brallier (Nov. 20), Molly Idle and Beth Ferry (Dec. 4), and Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal (Dec. 11).

The best way to attend Imagination Friday live is by registering from the event page, which can be found on the WOW Calendar. One of the reasons I like this option is that you will receive convenient reminders to help you find the event quickly and on time. You will also be notified when the recording is ready. You can find recordings for previous Imagination Friday webinars on the WOW website too. Watch them all. This convenient option allows teachers and families to enjoy Imagination Friday any day of the week!

Signed copies of the books featured on Imagination Fridays can be ordered from UArizona BookStores.

Check WOW Currents next week to learn more about literacy learning resources available from Enchanted Lion Books, an award-winning independent publishing company located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy, and be kind to each other.

Journey through Worlds of Words during our open reading hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To view our complete offerings of WOW Currents, please visit its archival stream.

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• Themes: Imagination Fridays, Mary Fahrenbruck
• Descriptors: Student Connections, WOW Currents