The School of Education’s Words
Take Wing: Honoring Diversity in Children’s Literature program
was created in 2005 by Joanne Banducci, EdD. Words Take Wing
developed as a natural extension of Banducci’s long-time
commitment to children’s literature. Back when she was a
third-grade classroom teacher and reading specialist in Dixon,
Banducci began inviting local children’s book authors, including
Newbery Award-winning author Ashley Bryan, to meet her students.
When Banducci joined the School of Education’s teacher education
faculty in 1994, she expanded her scope by reaching out to
student teachers, making the case that children’s literature
should be an integral part of their curricula. In keeping with
the School’s commitment to educational equity for all students,
she also wanted to promote children’s authors and illustrators
from groups that were underrepresented in the field. School
librarian and UC Davis volunteer Wendy Chason co-chaired the
Words Take Wing program with Banducci from 2015-2021. Committee
member and School of Education faculty member Nancy Tseng became
co-chairperson with Banducci in 2021.
Words Take Wing Mission and Purpose
A children’s book in every hand, an impression in every heart, a
lifelong learner in every home
Words Take Wing: Honoring Diversity
in Children’s Literature (WTW) celebrates children’s
literature and values its capacity to inform, inspire, and
empower by giving voice and forum to the creators of children’s
books. The WTW committee endeavors to highlight notable authors
and illustrators of diverse backgrounds and to make the program
available to those children with whom the experience might
strongly resonate.
It is our intent to deepen and expand our local children’s
literature community through mutually beneficial partnerships,
increased publicity, classroom presence, and additional
children’s literature events. In the above ways, WTW will
continue to build and sustain relationships with those who work
earnestly to nourish the lives of children and who recognize the
excellence and importance of children’s literature.
We know from our partnerships with schools and districts
throughout Northern California that many children need more
opportunities to experience literature. Unfortunately, the school
day is often too full to promise the reading of books, and many
children live in homes where reading is not a priority.
Words Take Wing provides teachers, children and parents with an
opportunity to experience the power of a great story to move
children, to introduce them to worlds they would not otherwise
encounter, and to inspire them to share their own stories.
The School of Education’s long-term
goal is to create an event that will build and sustain
relationships with teachers, students, librarians, and the wider
community to ensure that our impact of Words Take Wing goes well
beyond the classroom. Our mission is guided by our belief that
schools are places where children’s literature ought to be
present and where children have consistent opportunities to read,
listen to, study, and enjoy a well-crafted story. And we hope to
elevate the role that children’s literature plays in representing
people and cultures in complex and sensitive social realities and
histories.
Literature has the power to open eyes, change lives, and reveal
the world anew. Ultimately, the potential to inspire young
readers and writers and educators underscores the intent and
purpose of Words Take Wing as a cornerstone event for the School
of Education at UC Davis.