Press Clippings

The University of Arizona, in partnership with several community groups, will present a series of public literary events focused on two award-winning books by Indigenous authors. At least 1,000 free copies of the books will be given out. Big Read Tucson will be directed by Sandra Soto, associate professor in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies, and Carol Brochin and Leah Durán, both associate professors in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies. Professor Kathy G. Short, director of the College of Education’s Worlds of Words: Center for Global Literacies and Literatures, will also collaborate on the programming, which will include public readings, workshops, children’s events and more.

On the morning of the 2nd of last month (local time), a psychology class was being held at Worlds of Words, a children’s book library installed at the University of Arizona in the United States. Under the guidance of the librarian, the college students began looking at the bookshelves of children’s books divided according to various cultural identities such as ‘Indian’, ‘European’, ‘Asian/East Asian’, and ‘Latin’. Emma McWilliams took a close look at the Asian/East Asian bookshelves. “My mother is from Myanmar,” so she naturally wondered if there was a book about Myanmar’s culture.

“On Oct. 27, the Worlds of Words Center hosted a reception for artist Wilson Ong, the illustrator of “Paper Son: Lee’s Journey to America.” Set in 1926, this dynamic children’s book tells the story of 12-year-old Fu Lee who immigrates to America under a false name as a “paper son.” During the reception at the WOW center, Ong discussed how the inspiration for his work came from his own life.”