We are incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us for the 3rd Annual Words of Wonder (WOW) Literary Festival. Your presence and enthusiasm made the day truly special. Thank you for being a part of our WOW community and helping us bring the joy of books and art to life! We can’t wait to see you again next year!
W.O.W!
The Annual Words of Wonder Literary Festival is a celebration of books-to-be-written and books-to-be-read.
Come and join us each year for a literary festival on the South Side of Chicago designed with young readers and writers of all ages in mind!
We will have interactive literacy and art programming, opportunities for youth and families to connect with community resources, animated storytelling by Black authors and illustrators, a diverse group of book vendors and installations for all ages, story-based dance, interactive writing workshops, Indigenous and African styled drumming, a wide range of live music, healthy food choices and snacks, giveaways and much more!!
2024 W.O.W Lit Fest
Impact
We had a total attendance of 737 people at this year's festival.
We had over 77 vendors in attendance to make this event a success.
We had both local and national authors who were a part of the event.
We had 16 sponsors for the festival.
Hundreds of books were sold, given, and blessed to all attendees.
What Attendees Had to Say About The Festival
This event is definitely a space to learn about the value of books and reading, various community resources and make great connections!!!
- Attendee
I was happy to attend the WOW Literary Festival because I know I just witnessed something special! I'm already looking forward to next year and I know it will grow exponentially because people will want to go and experience this for themselves, their families, and their organizations!
- Jessica Smith
The W.O.W. Literary Festival and its venue was steeped in Black excellence along with meaningful exchanges between literary organizations from across our city. Our Southside communities need these kind of events as staples in our community. Keep it up and see you next year!
- Jami Rhue
I absolutely loved everything about the event and so happy to be a part of it. I was amazed at the amount of resources, performers and services that were provided. I also love that this was on the south side with highlights from Black Excellence in every spectrum. Thank you for having us and would love to work together again in the future.
- Bria Jackson
This Literary Festival made books come alive for children. The excitement was palpable. Children and families had a lovely time meeting authors and other reading enthusiasts.
- Attendee
Having this festival on the far south side is what we need for our community. Burst Into Book is transforming our community which is beautiful and we thank you.
- Attendee
I’m a teacher and I was impressed with the way things turned out.
- Attendee
I had a great time, learning about the other vendors' resources and went home with some great books for my 7 year old daughter!
- Attendee
I had a great time and I loved getting to interact with the kids and adults who stopped by my table.
- Attendee
This Literary Festival made books come alive for children. The excitement was palpable. Children and families had a lovely time meeting authors and other reading enthusiasts.
- Attendee
Burst into Books
is very inspiring!
- Camesia Perry
Great family event!
First time vendor but I have it already marked on my calendar
for next year.
- Attendee
This festival is a true celebration of the importance of books. A place for people of all ages who appreciate that making great literature accessible for young people can change the world.
- Emily M. Hooper Lansana
The WOW Literary Festival was a great experience, both as a vendor and as a participant. There were so many activities and so many interesting people to speak with.
- Attendee
The LITerary Fest organized by Burst Into Books was a phenomenal celebration highlighting literary culture and togetherness. It was well executed and we were thrilled to be a part.
- Chrislin Flanagan
2024 Sponsors
_png.webp)
Our 2024 Author Headliner is
Derrick Barnes
Derrick Barnes is a National Book Award Finalist for his 2022 graphic novel Victory. Stand!-Raising My Fist For Justice, which also won the 2023 YALSA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Award, and a Coretta Scott King Award Author Honor. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning picture book Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut which received a Newbery Honor, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor, the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award, and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers.
In 2020, he became the only author to win the Kirkus Prize twice for his twelfth release, the New York Times bestseller, I Am Every Good Thing. The title also won a Charlotte Huck Award (NCTE), and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor.
Derrick is also the creator of the New York Times Bestselling companion picture books, The King of Kindergarten (2019) and the Queen of Kindergarten (2022).
He is a graduate of Jackson State University (BA-Marketing ’99) and was the first African-American male creative copywriter hired by Hallmark Cards. Derrick is a native of Kansas City, MO, but currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his enchanting wife, Dr. Tinka Barnes, and their four sons, the Mighty Barnes Brothers.
You can learn more about him at www.derrickdbarnes.com
Be A Sponsor!
This one-of-a-kind sponsorship opportunity
will allow you to be a part of history!
When you invest in the inaugural Words of Wonder Literary Festival you help us weaken the hold of the last two years’ frustration and resignation and
re-ignite the interest of our young people in culture, creativity and community.
Our 2024 Headliner Illustrator is
Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Vanessa Brantley Newton was born during the Civil Rights movement, and attended school in Newark, NJ.
Being part of a diverse, tight-knit community during such turbulent times, Vanessa learned the importance of acceptance and empowerment in shaping a young person’s life.
When she read Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, it was the first time she saw herself in a children’s book. It was a defining moment in her life, and has made her into the artist she is today. As an illustrator, she includes children of all ethnic backgrounds in her stories and artwork. She wants all children to see their unique experiences reflected in the books they read, so they can feel the same sense of empowerment and recognition she experienced as a young reader.
Vanessa celebrates self-love and acceptance of all cultures through her work, and hopes to inspire young readers to find their own voices. She first learned to express herself as a little girl through song. Growing up in a musical family, Vanessa’s parents taught her how to sing to help overcome her stuttering. Each night the family would gather to make music together, with her mom on piano, her dad on guitar, and Vanessa and her sister, Coy, singing the blues, gospel, spirituals, and jazz. Now whenever she illustrates, music fills the air and finds its way into her art.
The children she draws can be seen dancing, wiggling, and moving freely across the page in an expression of happiness. Music is a constant celebration, no matter the occasion, and Vanessa hopes her illustrations bring joy to others, with the same magic of a beautiful melody.
You can see her works at www.vanessabrantleynewton.com.
Sign up for the
Dare to Share Workshops
Come engage in writing and illustration workshops!
Workshop Series Schedule
Our 2024 Mainstage Moderator is
Dr. Gholdy Muhammad
Dr. Gholnecsar (Gholdy) Muhammad is an Associate Professor of Literacy, Language, and Culture. She has previously served as a classroom teacher, literacy specialist, school district administrator, curriculum director, and school board president. She studies Black historical excellence in education, intending to reframe curriculum and instruction today.
Dr. Muhammad’s scholarship has appeared in leading academic journals and books. She has also received numerous national awards and is the author of the best-selling book, Cultivating Genius: An Equity Model for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy.
She also co-authored Black girls’ literacies: An Edited Volume. Her Culturally and Historically Responsive Education Model has been adopted across thousands of U.S. schools and districts across Canada. In 2022 she was named among the top 1% Edu-Scholar Public Influencers due to her impact on policy and practice. She has also received numerous awards from national organizations and universities. She was named the American Educational Research Association Division K Early Career Award and the 2021 NCTE Outstanding Elementary Educator in the English Language Arts. She has led a federal grant with the United States Department of Education to study culturally and historically responsive literacy in STEM classrooms. Her forthcoming book, Unearthing Joy, is the sequel to Cultivating Genius and provides a practical guide for putting culturally and historically responsive education into curricular practice.
You can learn more about her at https://hillpedagogies.com/
Media Features
W.O.W Lit Fest
Performances
Main Stage Performances:
11:00 am - 11:30 am
OPENING
Dr. Obari Cartman
11:30 am - 11:45 pm
Pep Rally Takeover
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Vanessa Brantley Newton Live Interview
Moderator - Duane Davis
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
Pep Rally Takeover
1:15 pm - 2:00 pm
D-Composed with special guest Harold Green III
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Moderator - Dr. Gholdy Muhammad
Derrick Barnes Live Interview
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Pep Rally Takeover
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Kenwood School of Ballet
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Pep Rally Takeover
Outdoors Main Performances:
11:30 am to 1:00 pm
11:30 am to 12:15 pm -
African Dance Class
12:20 pm to 1:00 pm -
A 40-min Theater Performance
Book Signings:
2:00 pm
Harold Green III
2:00 pm
Natasha Tarpley
3:30 pm
Derrick Barnes
3:30 pm
Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Outdoor Activities
The Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange (CCRx) believes that "trash is just a failure of imagination."
CCRx is a 501c3 nonprofit that redistributes donated surplus materials, equipment, and supplies. They keep good things out of the landfill and get them into the hands of people who can use them.
Their goal is to educate and empower people to reduce waste, reimagine surplus and make creative reuse a fundamental part of our collective infrastructure.
_PNG.png)
We invite families to engage with the Certified Reading Assistance Dog Teams from Sit Stay Read. Attendees will be able to interact with Certified Dog Teams. Also, kids can read to our dogs and volunteers.
Sit Stay Read will be at the festival from 11 am to 2 pm.
THE HEALING U GIVE
HELPS INSPIRE PEOPLE PAST INSURMOUNTABLE EXPERIENCES
T.H.U.G. HIPPIE is a social movement for individual healing & community building through social-emotional based arts & wellness events.
Storytelling Tent
Miss Nina
2:00 PM
Transitions Area
This area will focus on providing resources for parents with children who need learning, physical, socioemotional and behavioral support. The focus will be from birth to 22 years old.
In addition, in that area will be manipulatives and items that can aid children while at the festival too. For example, noise cancelling headphones and fidgets. This area will be hosted by parents, educators and specialists.
Meet Our Hosts
Activation Stations
Chess Tournament
A Step Ahead Chess is hosting our FIRST EVER Burst Into Books Chess Tournament at the Words of Wonder Festival on July 27th, 2024.
All ages are welcome to play and compete, and trophies and medals will be awarded!
Below is the schedule for the chess:
11:00 AM - 12:45 PM
Open Chess Play
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
Free Chess Demo and Tournament Rules
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Chess Tournament
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM
Awards Ceremony
Music Production
Englewood Arts Collective
Come out and enjoy two stations with the Englewood Arts Collective.
-
Station #1 will have a photoshoot centered on showing each child as a star!
-
Station #2 will be a painting star magnets area. Also, there will be an introduction to ceramics too!
Open Books
We are excited to have Open Books host our Readers' Choice Area at the festival. Attendees will be able to choose a book, find a comfortable seat and take a journey through a book.
All the books in this area will be free and able to be taken home to add to your own home library.
Youth & Family Area
Health and Wellness Area
medical screenings
Dental information and screenings
Vision Screenings
Health Resource Tables
.png)
Farm Stand
Sistas In The Village will have a farm stand from 11 am-2 pm (while supplies last) with locally grown fresh produce for sale from their farm in Englewood. They will also give a short demonstration on how to make their famous Summertime Chi Salad.
Sistas In The Village is an urban farm in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago committed to growing food to nourish an intergenerational African Indigenous community.
Food Trucks
Here's a glimpse of our Inaugural Words of Wonder Literary Festival.
