Catalog Search Tips
Like Jella Lepman's International Youth Library, the Worlds of Words catalog connects young readers with stories from different cultures. Use these search tools to discover books that help young people understand our interconnected world.
Filter Categories
Age - Filter by reader age ranges
Awards - Find award-winning books
Genre - Browse by literary genre (Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, etc.)
Region - Filter by geographic region. Expand categories to see specific options:
- Africa - Specific countries and cultures
- Americas - Including Latin America and United States
- Asia - Including East Asia, China, South Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia
- Caribbean - Including West Indies and island nations
- Europe - Specific countries
- Middle East - Specific regions
- Oceania - Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands
Themes - Search by content themes (Identity, Family, Social Issues, etc.)
Additional Options
Text Search - Enter keywords to search titles and descriptions
Contributor Search - Find books by specific authors or illustrators using the autocomplete field
Reset - Clear all filters to start a new search
Using the Filters
Filter Logic
All filters work together with AND logic - books must match ALL selected criteria. Example: "refugee" + "Asia" + "Fiction" + "Middle Grade" shows only books that match all four criteria.
How to Search
- Expand Categories - Click any heading to see options
- Select Filters - Check boxes across categories to narrow results
- Expand Nested Options - Click "Region" → "Americas" → "United States" to drill down
- View Results - Results update automatically as you select filters
Note: Parent categories (like "Asia" or "Americas") must be expanded to select specific child options.
Additional Tips
- Start broad, then narrow - Begin with one or two filters
- Combine searches - Use text search with other filters (e.g., "immigration" + "Latin America" + "Young Adult")
- Use contributor search - Find specific authors or illustrators with the autocomplete field
- Explore regions - Discover diverse, multicultural, and global literature
- Check active filters - See the count next to the Reset button