Worlds of Words hosts a new cadre of Teen Reading Ambassadors in the 2025/26 school year using refreshed programming. The information on this page may or may not be updated to reflect such changes, however it serves to provide an understanding of the program.

QUICK NAVIGATION
Introduction
How It Works
UArizona Office of Youth Safety
Paperwork
Guidelines and Helpful Information
Reading List
Schedule

 

INTRODUCTION

Worlds of Words Center of Global Literacies and Literatures Teen Reading Ambassador initiative offers high school students a college experience within the University of Arizona College of Education that focuses on books for teens. Ambassadors learn about young adult literature under the direction of faculty and staff with expertise in children’s literature, education, library science and marketing.

The new program structure supports the reading interests of teens and their ability to share those interests within their community contexts. Worlds of Words Teen Reading Ambassadors read on a theme, engage in a lightly facilitated conversation on books around that theme and engage in a project of their choosing. In the process, they will receive at least four free books on themes of their choosing, share their thoughts on those themes in a social setting with their peers, engage in an action or project based on their discussion (and may interact with published authors of young adult literature or other guest speakers) and reflect on the process on the WOW Reads podcast.

“The new structure arose out of thoughtful input from experienced Reading Ambassadors. It’s more social, more flexible and more teen-centered,” says Rebecca Ballenger, Associate Director of Worlds of Words. “Young adult literature resonates with teens because it depicts the challenges they experience. The main characters problem solve and take action. The new format for meetings allows Reading Ambassadors to do the same thing — with their friends!”

 

HOW IT WORKS

This program offers teens a unique opportunity to explore books in ways they rarely experience in other contexts. Each book cycle occurs over the course of two months. Reading Ambassadors first pick a theme they want to explore. Worlds of Words will offer 3-4 books on that theme with each Reading Ambassador selecting one free book from the offering. In the first month, teens discuss the books and create plans for a project. The next meeting, they receive the instruction, materials, supervision and whatever else they need to complete their project. Reading Ambassadors can create book displays for their school or public library, create ‘zines, design a public art installation or complete whatever project they envision and the center can realistically support. Finally, the Reading Ambassadors will record an episode on WOW Reads.

To become a Teen Reading Ambassador, students must complete the online application. Applications will be accepted through the summer each year with start dates in the Fall. Meetings typically occur from 1 to 3 p.m. on one Saturday a month at Worlds of Words, 1430 E. Second St., Rm. 453. For more information on the Teen Reading Ambassadors or general information about Worlds of Words, email wow@arizona.edu.

 

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA OFFICE OF YOUTH SAFETY

Worlds of Words follows University of Arizona policies regarding unenrolled minors. For more information about youth safety on the U of A campus, please visit the Office of Youth Protection website. All personnel overseeing the Teen Reading Ambassadors have been through a background check through UAPD. Additionally, they have gone through youth safety training through the U of A, and at least one person on staff is CPR certified. For questions about policies regarding unenrolled minors on the U of A campus, please contact the Office of Youth Protection at youthprotection@arizona.edu.

 

2025/26 PAPERWORK

Download permissions as as PDF

 

GUIDELINES AND HELPFUL INFORMATION

Worlds of Words

Worlds of Words is committed to creating an international network of people who share the vision of bringing books and children together, thereby opening windows on the world. We encourage thoughtful dialogue around global literature so that children can reflect on their own cultural experiences and connect to the experiences of children across the globe.

Worlds of Words is a center within the University of Arizona College of Education. The collection holds 40,000 books and original art from published picturebooks. The space includes our main collection, the Mary J. Wong collection, classroom, studio and several private work areas. The space is typically open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. We follow the U of A vacation and holiday schedule and closures.

In addition to the literature discussions and author visits ambassadors participate in, WOW offers free programming for the public all year around. Please feel free to join us at any of our author/illustrator workshops for younger children, exhibits and other events. WOW also offers free tours and school field trips.

Worlds of Words has extensive online content for preservice teachers, teachers, teachers educators and others who share our interest in global stories for young people. This includes three peer-reviewed academic journals, a blog with five distinct features, and a catalog of international books. All these online resources are available free to the public.

Sanctioned Activity

While ambassadors are encouraged to promote reading as part of their experience, the only sanctioned activities take place during scheduled meetings.

 

READING LISTS

Ambassador literature discussions include whole group and small group work to explore books in depth. By participating in literature discussions students engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books.

Typically, ambassadors have a choice in the books they choose and so we can’t always give parents/guardians advance notice. For this reason, we encourage parents/guardians to stay engaged with their teens regarding the program. In this way, parents/guardians can approve readings if they feel it necessary, but also this will allow ambassadors a chance to practice their advocacy for reading. Books are typically selected based on thematic connections and student interest. These selections will also be read by personnel overseeing the Teen Reading Ambassador program; however, because some of the books may contain mature content, we want parents/guardians to be engaged.

To help you get to know the types of books selected by ambassadors and program coordinators, please see the following list of books/authors the ambassadors encountered in previous programming. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to do further research on these books and discuss book selections with their teen.

2018-2025 Reading List

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
Ancestor Approved by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro
Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Barely Missing Everything by Matt Mendez
Blacklisted!: Hollywood, the Cold War, and the First Amendment by Larry Dane Brimner
The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg
The Broke Hearts by Matt Mendez
The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee by Ellen Oh
Day Zero by Kelly deVos
Dear Manny by Nic Stone
Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg
Distress Signal by Mary E. Lambert
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer
Echoes of Grace by Guadalupe García McCall
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow
Glitter by Aprilynne Pike
How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow
Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer
A Little Like Waking by Adam Rex
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
The Porcupine of Truth by Bill Konigsberg
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Sad Perfect by Stephanie Elliot
The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley by Melissa Marr
Up In Flames by Hailey Alcaraz
The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert
Walk On Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan
Wings of Ebony by J. Elle
Your Heart, My Sky: Love In a Time of Hunger by Margarita Engle

2025-2026 Reading List

REFUGEE EXPERIENCE
We Are Displaced by Malala Yousafzai
The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown
Ink Knows No Borders edited by Patrice Vecchione and Alissa Raymond
Internment by Samir Ahmed
From the Tops of the Trees by Kao Kalia Yang and Rachel Wada
To the Other Side by Erika Meza
Dounia and the Magic Seeds by Marya Zarif
A Star Shines Through by Anna Desnitskaya
We Are Not from Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

We have not finalized the books for the 2025/26 cadre. Worlds of Words will select the first theme and ambassadors select subsequent authors or illustrators after selecting a theme and participating in a book browse. The February/March 2026 cycle will center on authors/illustrators confirmed for the Tucson Festival of Books.

“Joining the Teen Reading Ambassadors gave me the chance to meet other teens who were truly excited to read, and allowed me to share and discuss books for fun. I was exposed to stories that I had never considered reading, and discussing the books lead to more questions, making me want read and reread books for my own benefit,” says Teen Reading Ambassador alumna, Pilar Muller. “Being a Teen Reading Ambassador helped me gain confidence when talking to my peers, telling them about all the amazing books I read.”

 

Predicted 2025/26 Schedule for Ambassadors

August 23, 2025: Orientation, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
September 27, 2025: Lit Discussion, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
October 18 or 25, 2025: Action Project, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
November 15, 2025: Lit Discussion, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
December 6, 2025: Action Project, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Nothing in January
February 21, 2026: Lit Discussion, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
March 15 and 16, 2026: Tucson Festival of Books
April 18, 2026: Read-A-Thon, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
May 2 or 9, 2026: Author Event and Certificate Presentation, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.