Cannonball Archives • Worlds of Words

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 →

Janelle Mathis, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

Week three of reflecting on trends I observed while serving on the Notable Children’s Book Committee of ALA finds me thinking about the many books that speak to the social-emotional aspects of a child’s life. Specifically, I was impressed by the number of picturebooks that had the potential to support the development of identity and agency while acknowledging that such development is a process that is impacted by how one approaches life situations and how the self is positioned and perceived within these situations. The previous year, 2019 publications seemed to reveal many books focused on worry, sadness, and dealing with such through mindfulness and awareness of emotions. This year, I was drawn to various books that take these feelings into positive spaces across different situations. As a reminder, I am not making generalizations about the publishing field as a whole during 2020 but only sharing titles that impressed me out of the many diverse books explored while on this committee. Continue reading →

Worlds of Words

International Collection of Children’s and Adolescent Literature

Cannonball

WOW Dozen: I am a Child of the Village

Children’s Picturebooks on Social-Emotional Challenges