WOW Recommends: The Village Beyond the Mist

October is the month to shine for cosplayers and Trick-or-Treaters. One of the most popular costumes in the last two decades has been that of No-Face from the movie, Spirited Away. This 2001 fantasy/adventure movie was inspired by the book, The Village Beyond the Mist by Sachiko Kashiwaba. Although the movie draws inspiration from the book, the story and atmosphere vary significantly.

The middle grade novel begins with Lina setting off from home under direction by her father to find Misty Valley. With some effort and a little magic, she arrives at Picotto Hall. She’s told by the proprietor that she must work for her keep. Each week, Lina visits a new shopfront where she is presented with tasks to complete and fantastical people who need help. Any one of the wise and caring characters in The Village Beyond the Mist can serve for costuming inspiration as do the characters in Spirited Away. Continue reading →

Invest In Youth as Readers 2025

Contact Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Associate Director

Worlds of Words renews our commitment to make a meaningful impact on middle and high school readers through the Worlds of Words Center Reading Ambassador program. Since its inception in 2018, the Reading Ambassador program has been instrumental in creating a community for young people around reading, equipping them with real-world skills and experiences that extend beyond the pages of a book. We hope that you will contribute to the success of the Reading Ambassadors by participating in our crowdfund campaign at crowdfund.arizona.edu/wow.

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WOW Recommends: Outside Mom, Inside Mom

Outside Mom, Inside Mom captures the everyday experiences of a Korean American boy and his mother. In their daily lives, they navigate between two selves, the person they truly are and the version shaped by how others see them. Through the contrasting versions of how they act inside and outside the home, this book invites readers to reflect on what it means to be themselves and on how we see and understand others.

On the morning of the first day at a new school, both mother and son carefully choose their outfits, not based on what they like, but on how they might be seen by others. At school, the mother is quiet, reserved and avoids asking questions when speaking with the teachers. But once she returns home, she becomes a completely different person, filled with joy, curiosity and vibrant energy. While she is cautious and quiet in public, she is warm and lively at home. This contrast illustrates the tension between an authentic sense of self and the constant awareness of how one is perceived by others, a dynamic that often shapes how immigrants navigate the struggles and challenges of everyday life. Continue reading →

2025 Trends in K-12 Global Literature

By Kathy G. Short, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Each year, we report the annual trends in global literature for young people after updating the annual global recommended reading lists. These lists consist of books published and/or distributed in the U.S. between July 2024 and July 2025. What is interesting this year is that the major trend is the lack of dominant trends in themes, topics, genres and countries.

The updated K-12 global recommended reading lists are published on the Worlds of Words website, organized by grade level bands, K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-10 and 11-12, with separate fiction and nonfiction lists. The lists are organized around broad themes, including strength through relationships, forced journeys, taking action, locating self in the world, adventures and mysteries and mythological quests. Books that remain in print are kept on the lists each year, while new books from 2024 and 2025 are added. Continue reading →

WOW Dozen: I am a Child of the Village

By Monique C. Storie, University of Guam

A young Micronesian student recently remarked, “I am a child of the village.” This powerful declaration resonates with many Pacific Islanders because it captures an enduring connection to deep-seated values, cultural heritage and social norms that shape personal identity as well as one’s place within the community. Inspired by her words, this collection explores what life as an islander truly looks like, highlighting the many ways our Pacific identities are expressed through family, tradition and everyday island life.

In many Pacific Islander communities, multigenerational living is a natural part of life, with extended family present in the small, everyday moments. Grandparents help raise their grandchildren, sharing stories and wisdom between chores, meals and play; cousins grow up as lifelong companions (and at times, cherished partners-in-mischief), and aunties, uncles and other relatives are never far, ready to guide, to encourage, or to join in laughter and celebration. These daily connections by both blood and chosen family build strength and resilience, shape character and foster a spirit of togetherness that helps form the heart of the village. The stories in this collection emphasize that being a child of the village means growing and thriving with the unwavering support of family and community, carrying forward the deep-seated values and wisdom that shape Pacific Islander life. Continue reading →

IBBY’s 2025 Selection of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities

A new traveling exhibit featuring international books for and about young people with disabilities makes its U.S. debut in the Worlds of Words Center in time to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The books in this exhibit show how children around the world can read independently, learn alongside their peers and enjoy all life has to offer.

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WOW Recommends: Being Home

Being Home is a contemporary story of a young Cherokee girl making the move from her current house in the city back to her ancestorial lands. Life in the city is chaotic and lacks the rhythm, family and natural surroundings of “home.” The young girl is ready to return home to the land of her people and Native culture. When moving day comes, the girl joyfully tells her old home good-bye and draws out her journey to her new home where she is greeted by relatives eager to help the family settle. When the move is done, the family gathers for a feast, the children play and explore their natural surroundings and the girl comes to “love the rhythm of being home.” Continue reading →

Back to School: Essential Read Alouds for Human-to-Human Connection and Empathy

By Angelica Serrano, Tucson Unified School District, Tucson, AZ

The start of a new school year is a time of excitement, anticipation and a whirlwind of emotions—for both students and teachers. The classroom is organized, stocked with brand-new school supplies and decorated with care. A clean slate if you will.

But beyond the bulletin boards and labeled bins is the heart of it all: a brand-new community of learners. Each student walks through the door carrying their own story—shaped by culture, family, experiences, dreams and so much more.

As educators, one of the most important things we can do in these early days is to begin building authentic, meaningful relationships with all students. We know that before diving into routines, or curriculum, we must first create a space for connection. After all, we are first and foremost engaging with human beings. It’s in these early interactions—learning how to pronounce each name correctly, noticing who hangs back, who’s eager, who’s unsure—that we begin laying the groundwork for a year of learning, growing and connecting with each other. Continue reading →

WOW Dozen: Picturebooks to Encourage Empathy and Helping

By Cherish Kisto (Gila River Indian Community), Tohono O’odham Community College, Haivana Nakya, AZ, with Rebecca Ballenger, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Our world is intrigued and distracted by the Internet and social media, which may desensitize children towards their peers. This list focuses on empathy because in the real world, plenty of us seem to lack, provide or teach it. Empathy here is expressed in multiple ways depending on the person and situation. Common topics that come up in this set are communication and play with people of varying abilities, community supporting one another using different helping methods and acknowledging and accommodating a character’s mental health. This booklist also includes stories of people working towards empathy through policy, societal change and inclusion of communities of people who have been historically oppressed. Additionally, this WOW Dozen allows readers to consider how empathy can be extended to the natural world and how we can protect it while enjoying its beauty. Children who engage with books that feature empathy may be better able to perceive real-life experiences and react to those with a more empathetic understanding of and helping attitude towards their peers. Continue reading →

WOW Recommends: Jella Lepman and Her Library of Dreams

Jella Lepman and Her Library of Dreams: The Woman Who Rescued a Generation of Children and Founded the World’s Largest Children’s Library is by award winning author Katherine Paterson. This book is a biography of Lepman whose vision and dedicated efforts set up exhibits and later libraries for German children after World War II. Paterson starts with a short description of Lepman’s early years growing up in Germany with a Jewish family from her birth in 1891. Later, when Lepman was widowed with two young children, she found work as a journalist and then became the first woman editor of a liberal, German newspaper. When Hitler took power, promising to “make Germany great again,” she lost her job because she was Jewish. She was able escaped with her children to England where she eventually found work with the BBC, became an author and started a magazine. Continue reading →