Worlds of Words Center Exhibit Asks, “Who Are You as a Reader?”

By Rebecca Ballenger, Associate Director, Worlds of Words Center

Literary Identities, a new exhibit in the Worlds of Words Center featuring the De Natura Libris project, offers people the opportunity to examine themselves as readers. The exhibit of altered photographs about books and reading also includes picturebooks where reading is central to the book or characters’ identities along with hands-on activities to encourage visitors explore their own identities as readers.

“While public media overemphasizes the mechanics of reading, this exhibit highlights our identities and joy as readers — how we view ourselves as a reader, what we enjoy reading, where we like to read and what stories have changed our lives,” says Kathy Short, director of Worlds of Words and Regents Professor.

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WOW Recommends: Just in Case

In this time of severe changes in weather, international conflicts and concern about the environment due to man made interferences, have you considered the complex challenges confronted by plants? More specifically, what happens to the seeds that hold the future of our physical environment, food sources and economic survival amidst a crisis that could endanger and make extinct these valuable resources? The notion of seed banks in general and their importance to our future is a topic not often pursued, even in circles of those concerned about the environment. The focus of Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is on the building and use of this amazing creation. Continue reading →

The Popularity of Dystopian Novels

By Holly Johnson, Emeritus Professor, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

The growth of dystopian novels for all ages has exploded in the last 20 years. A genre that addresses societal fears as well as aspirations, dystopian literature is often considered an essential part of literature/reading programs from middle school through university. Dystopian books and series have been popular for over a hundred years with the publication of H.G. Well’s novel War of the Worlds serving as the first novel of alien invasion, which was published in 1898. Many of us have read a number of dystopian novels including seminal works such as 1984 by George Orwell (1949), Animal Farm by George Orwell (1950) and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953). It is an interesting phenomenon that this genre has become so popular with that popularity gaining significant growth after World War I and II. With the steady propulsion of progress across the 20th century, it is an interesting juxtaposition that dystopian thought has kept pace with such advancement. Continue reading →

Author’s Corner: Jose Pimienta

By Rebecca Ballenger, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Author/illustrator Jose Pimienta, or Jo to those who know them, spends a lot of time on their feet running cross country, taking long walks near home and exploring new places. On a recent visit to Tucson, the Middle School Reading Ambassadors were curious about what goes on in Jo’s mind during these solo activities. “Everything,” they reply. Continuing, “I think about how my day is going. I think about what is currently happening in my life. The most recent song I heard, the book I read a month ago but still have so much to say about, or the comics I believe deserve more recognition, etc. I have fictional conversations with people I want to talk to. I think about my current projects and how to make them better. Or I think about what I’d like to eat next. But, every once in a while, I’m just looking at my surroundings without thought.”

Jo’s busy brain is put to good use as a cartoonist, author and illustrator who has worked with Random House Graphic, Iron Circus Comics, Dark Horse Comics and the Disney Digital Network. Their books include Suncatcher (YA), Luminous Beings (YA), Twin Cities (MG), Halfway to Somewhere (MG), The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur (MG) and Let’s Rumble (picturebook). This body of work provides a range of readers multiple ways to connect. Their work is relatable for those who see their family and friends in the characters or who relate with the thoughts and concerns we have as we grow and learn about ourselves and those around us. Continue reading →

The Importance of Coming Home: A Hopi Resistance Story

By Celeste Trimble, St. Martin’s University, Lacey, WA

Children’s literature with a focus on the Hopi Tribe has almost exclusively been written by non-Indigenous people both in past and contemporary publishing. The romanticization of Hopi ways of life has inspired many books about the tribe from outsiders’ perspectives, yet there are increasing examples of contemporary children’s literature by Hopi creators that can be used as a counterstory to outsider perspectives. Coming Home: A Hopi Resistance Story by Mavasta Honyouti (Hopi), published November 5, 2024 by Levine Querido, stands out as an exceptional informational text from a Hopi perspective created for young readers. Continue reading →

WOW Dozen: The Visibility of Asian and Asian American Stories in Young Readers’ Nonfiction Books

By Yoo Kyung Sung, University of New Mexico, and Junko Sakoi, Tucson Unified School District

Asian American history and voices have long been rendered invisible in children’s and young adult literature, and nonfiction texts are no exception. This list brings together a range of nonfiction titles—including picturebooks, chapter books, informational texts and biographies—that offer renewed visibility for Asians and Asian Americans. These works foreground intersectional stories that challenge historical erasure and deepen collective memory. From the artistry of George Nakashima, Ruth Asawa and I. M. Pei to the athletic trailblazing of Wataru Misaka and the mountaineering achievements of Junko Tabei, these books highlight individuals whose creativity, resilience and courage reshaped their fields and expand how young readers understand the diverse contributions of Asian and Asian American communities. Continue reading →

WOW Recommends: Taro Gomi’s Big Book of Words

Taro Gomi’s Big Book of Words is an interactive and engaging picture dictionary that inspires curiosity and offers rich opportunities for literacy practices. Through playful and whimsical illustrations, English words and phrases are introduced in two sections: 1) Words and Phrases That Name Things and 2) Words and Phrases to Use in Conversation. Vocabulary is organized by familiar topics such as home, school, animals, transportation and the natural world. These are presented with creative and imaginative perspectives that invite children to see and use language in various ways. The text also supports concept building by encouraging children to make meaningful connections between words and the real-life contexts in which they are used. Continue reading →

Promoting Global Literacy with Manga Inside and Outside the Classroom

By Aika Adamson, Worlds of Words, Tucson, AZ

Manga, a popular form of graphic novels and comics from Japan, has seen a boom in popularity following the pandemic in 2020. In a time where literacy rates are falling slightly for students across the United States, as reported in the Nation’s Report Card for 2022, and fewer people in all age-ranges are reading for pleasure (Iyengar, 2024), encouraging literacy among children and teenagers is more important than ever. Recent publishing trends have shown that children of all ages are reading more comics, graphic novels and manga annually. Graphic novels have seen a 90% jump in popularity in school libraries, with manga comprising 43% of high school graphic novel purchases, according to the School Library Journal’s 2023 survey.

With such a rise in popularity for manga, more and more middle and high school-aged readers can engage in international stories that have been translated for U.S.-based audiences. Manga tend to be published in long series, with chapters coming out weekly or monthly in Japanese magazines such as Weekly Shounen Jump, Ultra Jump, Hana to Yume or Be Love. Once a series reaches a certain number of chapters, provided the manga is popular enough, those chapters can be collected into volumes that are translated and distributed overseas. Continue reading →

WOW Recommends: Old as Stone, Hard as Rock of Humans & War

News of war around the world has been painful to hear and difficult to process. The unrelenting war in Ukraine, the utter devastation of Gaza, and the continuing civil war in the Sudan are daily reminders of the chaos, inhumanity and devastating consequences of war. When I came across the 170-page visual narrative on the history of war created by Alessandro Sanna, I was intrigued. The description printed on the inside flap of the front cover states that this book is “a visionary voyage in paint, shining a light on the unspeakable and on the twinned infinities of stone and stars.” Continue reading →

WOW Dozen: Engaging with People of All Abilities

By Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Some children have disabilities; many people will gain a disability in their lifetimes; and all people benefit from engaging with the disability community. These facts may be uncomfortable for people who don’t have disabilities and don’t have much interaction with people who do; however, engaging in accessible activities and inclusive communication eases discomfort and brings new understandings and joy. These twelve titles offer examples, and sometimes instruction, on initiating conversation and play between people of all abilities. Continue reading →

Worlds of Words

International Collection of Children’s and Adolescent Literature

Author: wowstudent