The UC Davis School of Education and its partners, Sutter Health/Sutter Children’s Hospital, Sacramento, and the Sacramento Public Library, host the annual Words Take Wing event to celebrate children’s literature as art.
Naomi Shihab Nye is our 2017 Words Take Wing visiting writer. She describes herself as a “wandering poet,” perhaps because of the four decades of traveling the country and the world to lead writing workshops and inspiring students of all ages. She will be here to speak at the Mondavi Center for the Arts on February 28.
The focus on the annual Words Take Wing event is on the diversity of stories and characters found in works by authors from different cultures who explore and create settings that reflect a wide range of perspectives and world views.
To receive updates regarding the event, email Lauren Thomas at lhthomas@ucdavis.edu.
Speaking with Krista Tippet, poet, activist, teacher and humanitarian Naomi Shihab Nye said this of writing: “Very rarely do you hear anyone say they write things down and feel worse. It’s an act that helps you, preserves you, energizes you, in the very doing of it.” As readers, we are fortunate that Nye is energized by writing, because her writing is a gift. It is a gift that inspires us, in large part by not shying away from topics that challenge us.
Words Take Wing, featuring Native American children’s writer Joseph Bruchac, was featured in the Davis Enterprise on February 12, 2015.
“This is the kind of program I wish occurred in more places,” the author told The Enterprise. “As an inspiration to teachers and students, it is second to none. I can’t think of a more enthusiastic audience. You can see the excitement.” Read the full article by Jeff Hudson.
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.
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.
