Introduction and Editor’s Note

The second issue of WOW Reviews invites readers to visit communities and cultures across the globe. From Japan to Haiti to Afghanistan, ten books offer opportunities to consider the authenticity of these resources in light of their classroom possibilities. Some of these books are ones selected from the WOW database because of their potential to invite young readers to explore authentic lifestyles, cultural insights, critical issues, and potential personal connections with international communities.

As you enjoy reading these reviews and reflecting on your own perceptions of the books and classroom experiences around these titles, please feel free to offer your insights. We welcome a dialogue that contributes to our understandings of issues surrounding these books and cultures.

The WOW Review committee continues its call for submissions of book reviews for upcoming issues and encourages interested contributors to read the Call for Submissions as well as visit various published reviews for the requested format. The third issue will focus on reviews of the books used in the classroom scenarios in WOW Stories, however, other reviews are encouraged as well as we seek to enhance international perspectives of literature shared on this site. The deadline for submissions to the third issue is January 1, 2009.

The fourth issue will focus on the theme of “Through the Eyes of a Child: Resiliency and Hope across Cultures.” This theme invites book reviews from all countries to consider how children and adolescents have been portrayed in positions of responsibility, leadership, and survival in countries across the globe. The deadline for reviews for the fourth issue is April 1, 2009.

The WOW Review Committee looks forward to receiving your original reviews and comments in response to any literature reviewed in the published issues. As we work to create a community of collaborative learners, we continuously welcome reflective, respectful dialogue around both the literature and the reviews.

Janelle B. Mathis, University of North Texas, Denton, TX