Worlds of Words is overjoyed to be part of the 2018 Tucson Festival of Books! Look for our tent in the children’s area, where we will have crafts and activities for children of all ages!
To learn more, visit https://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org
Tucson Festival of Books
In the Shadow of the Sun: Understanding Complex Identities
By Dorea Kleker, University of Arizona
Google “North Korea” right now and a flurry of presidential tweets and news stories of missiles is surprisingly absent. This week, the Olympics overwhelmingly trump (pun intended) impending war and dangerous egos. The top three hits include an Australian Kim Jong-Un impersonator, the North Korean Olympic delegation and 229 members of the North Korean cheerleading squad. On the surface, they’re light stories. Read beyond the headlines and the deeper issues persist: dictators, brutal regimes, extreme human rights abuses and nuclear threats.
Truth Behind Stories in I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
By Dorea Kleker, The University of Arizona
This month’s WOW Currents focuses on four books whose authors will present at the 2018 Tucson Festival of Books: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, When Dimple Met Rishi, The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and In the Shadow of the Sun.
Tucson Festival of Books Hoopla
Join us for a sneak peek of the authors and illustrators for children and teens coming to the Tucson Festival of Books in March. Participate in stations set up around Worlds of Words to gather ideas and resources, such as:
– Brief book talks and introductions to the books and festival authors
– Gather information to use in introducing these books and authors to children and teens
– Sign up for author visits and find out how to conduct a successful visit
– Receive festival bookmarks, flyers, and information
While you’re here, make sure you visit our new exhibit!
TFOB YA Authors Empower Teens to Speak Out
By Angel Stone, Worlds of Words Intern, The University of Arizona
Politicians admit to using their status to take advantage of women. Movie directors and actors use their power to assault young people. Mental health concerns are at an all-time high for children and teens. The novels we look at this month, written by authors attending the 2018 Tucson Festival of Books, address the issues of assault, unfounded judgment and mental illness. These TFOB YA authors provide a way to initiate conversations on difficult topics between young people and those who care about them.
Session Spotlight: Confronting Difficult Life Events through Story III
Young people understand more than we give them credit for. Reading books about difficult topics allows them to think about strife in their lives before they have to face it.— Jewell Parker Rhodes
Today’s blog concludes a discussion by authors Ruta Sepetys, Jim Deem, and Jewell Parker Rhodes at the 2012 Tucson Festival of Books in March entitled “Confronting Difficult Life Events through Story.” In this section, the authors examine their feelings as they worked on books that contained difficult material, and what they are working on next.
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Session Spotlight: Confronting Difficult Life Events through Story II
by Ann Parker, Pima Community College, Tucson, Arizona
I realized that the lowlands were always given to the poor, so naturally the Ninth Ward would flood.
“I’ll tell you what happened to me, but you have to promise never to use my name.”
. . . Kristallnacht was a blink in time . . .
Today’s blog continues the discussion between authors Ruta Sepetys, Jim Deem, and Jewell Parker Rhodes at the 2012 Tucson Festival of Books in March entitled “Confronting Difficult Life Events through Story.”
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Session Spotlight: Monica Brown
by Ann Parker, Pima Community College, Tucson, Arizona
” . . . the story also spoke to her because it contained the themes of finding your voice, of imagination and determination, of social justice and what we can do to spread literacy . . .“
Session Spotlight: Karen Lynn Williams
by Ann Parker, Pima Community College, Tucson, Arizona
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Books can be very powerful, and be careful what you give your children to read!
Karen Lynn Williams
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I attended a presentation at the 2012 Tucson Festival of Books entitled “Picture Books as Global Passports” with authors Karen Lynn Williams and Monica Brown in March. Karen Lynn Williams has published 14 children’s books, many of them about children in other countries, including Africa, Haiti, and Pakistan.
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Wishes for the World at Tucson Festival of Books
Have you ever blown out candles on a birthday to make a wish? What about wishing on a shooting star? Children all around the world make wishes, and so do we. Worlds of Words invited visitors to our Tucson Festival of Books booth to make wishes for the world. We used Wish: Wishing Traditions Around the World by Roseanne Thong with illustrations by Elisa Kleven to start our conversations.