Words mean something different to everyone. In Sumal Ashfaq’s The Wonder of Words, readers are thrusted into a world of heartfelt literature and the small scenes we sometimes take for granted. The Wonder of Words captures the feelings of nature and the sky beyond our view, all with the help of words.

“A poet celebrates the wonders of nature in a collection of essays that could almost serve as a coming-of-age memoir.” —Kirkus Reviews As a child, Nezhukumatathil called many places home: the grounds of a Kansas mental institution, where her Filipina mother was a doctor; the open skies and tall mountains of Arizona, where she hiked with her Indian father; and the chillier climes of western New York and Ohio. But no matter where she was transplanted—no matter how awkward the fit or forbidding the landscape—she was able to turn to our world’s fierce and funny creatures for guidance. “What the peacock can do,” she tells us, “is remind you of a home you will run away from and run back to all your life.” The axolotl teaches us to smile, even in the face of unkindness; the touch-me-not plant shows us how to shake off unwanted advances; the narwhal demonstrates how to survive in hostile environments. Even in the strange and the unlovely, Nezhukumatathil finds beauty and kinship. For it is this way with wonder: it requires that we are curious enough to look past the distractions in order to fully appreciate the world’s gifts. Warm, lyrical, and gorgeously illustrated by Fumi Nakamura, World of Wonders is a book of sustenance and joy. Praise for World of Wonders Barnes & Noble 2020 Book of the Year An NPR Best Book of 2020 An Esquire Best Book of 2020 A Publishers Weekly “Big Indie Book of Fall 2020” A BuzzFeed Best Book of Fall 2020 “Hands-down one of the most beautiful books of the year.” —NPR “A timely story about love, identity and belonging.” —New York Times Book Review “A truly wonderous essay collection.” —Roxane Gay, The Audacity

Ignite your children's passion for writing with a book written by a winner of Ripple Foundation's Kids Write 4 Kids (KW4K) creative challenge - an annual nationwide contest for grades 4-8. It is more than just a story - it's a testament to youthful imagination. Support and inspire your child's love for literature by buying a copy of this book. Proceeds of all KW4K books are donated to the winners' charity of choice. About the Book Words mean something different to everyone. In Sumal Ashfaq's The Wonder of Words, readers are thrusted into a world of heartfelt literature and the small scenes we sometimes take for granted. The Wonder of Words captures the feelings of nature and the sky beyond our view, all with the help of words. About the Author Sumal Ashfaq is an eighth-grader located in Southern Ontario. She's an aspiring writer and poet who loves exploring the vast world of storytelling. Sumal loves experimenting with different styles of literature and basking in the world of poetry. She also loves to capture her environment through drawings and paintings, filling out her many sketchbooks. When she's not exercising her creative muscles, Sumal can be found fangirling over a new book or excessively saving recipes to her Pinterest boards. As for her taste in books, she will literally read anything from the classics to fantasy although currently, she's reading many historical fictions. Sumal draws her inspiration from many authors such as Marissa Meyer, Alan Gratz, Abbie Emmons, and Kimberley Bradeley. She is forever grateful for the constant support from her family, friends, teachers, and twin sister. You can find Sumal on her Instagram page @thatlefthandedartist.

From renowned poet Sarah Kay, a single volume poem perfect for teachers and mentors. All Our Wild Wonder is a vibrant tribute to extraordinary educators and a celebration of learning. The perfect gift for the mentors in our lives, this charming, illustrated poem reminds us of the beauty in, and importance of, cultivating curiosity, creativity, and confidence in others.

A Newbery Medalist and a Caldecott Honoree offer a glorious, lyrical ode to poets who have sparked a sense of wonder. Out of gratitude for the poet’s art form, Newbery Award–winning author and poet Kwame Alexander, along with Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth, present original poems that pay homage to twenty famed poets who have made the authors’ hearts sing and their minds wonder. Stunning mixed-media images by Ekua Holmes, winner of a Caldecott Honor and a John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award, complete the celebration and invite the reader to listen, wonder, and perhaps even pick up a pen.

2009 Caldecott Honor Book An ALA Notable Book A New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book A Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book NCTE Notable Children’s Book When he wrote poems, he felt as free as the Passaic River as it rushed to the falls. Willie’s notebooks filled up, one after another. Willie’s words gave him freedom and peace, but he also knew he needed to earn a living. So he went off to medical school and became a doctor -- one of the busiest men in town! Yet he never stopped writing poetry. In this picture book biography of William Carlos Williams, Jen Bryant’s engaging prose and Melissa Sweet’s stunning mixed-media illustrations celebrate the amazing man who found a way to earn a living and to honor his calling to be a poet.

PrefaceAll of the short stories and most of the poems included in this volume have been published before, mostly online, though the majority of the stories will have appeared in print in various journals and anthologies by the time you read this. When I first started writing stories, and poems shortly after-wards, back in 2009, the last thing on my mind was getting anything published. It was something I did for fun, and found pleasure in. I was not until late 2010 when I had over a hundred stories and poems that the idea of getting anything published even occurred to me. Although since then, I've been published in various journals and anthologies, this is the first book of my own. I only found out about Inner Child Enterprises after entering their World Peace, World Poetry 2012 contest, but I'm grateful for the discovery, and for the support of Bill and Janet at the organization.Perhaps far more importantly than the pleasure of holding my own book in my hands is the people I've met on this writing journey. The people who have written me expressing how much they've been moved by my words. The people who have sent notes asking if it was alright to send one of my poems to their loved ones, because they could identify so closely with the words. My only hope is that this book finds you equally moved, and let my words be my gift, from me to you.Alan W. JankowskiJune 12, 2012.