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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!

Image by Ismail Salad Osman Hajji dirir

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!!

2023 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.

Impact

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 

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Gallery

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Our 2025 Author Headliner is

Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, Emmy-winning producer and #1 New York

Times bestselling author of 42 books, including the new release How Sweet The Sound, Black Star, the second installment of his Door of No Return trilogy, This Is The Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets, Why Fathers Cry at Night, An American Story, the Coretta Scott King Award-winning book illustrated by Dare Coulter, The Door of No Return, Becoming Muhammad Ali (co-authored with James Patterson), Rebound, which was shortlisted for the prestigious UK Carnegie Medal, and The Undefeated, the National Book Award nominee, Newbery Honor, and Caldecott Medal-winning picture book illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

Kwame is also the Emmy-winning Executive Producer, Showrunner, and Writer of The Crossover TV series, based on his Newbery-Medal winning novel of the same name, which premiered on Disney+ in April 2023. The series was produced in partnership

with LeBron James' SpringHill Company and Big Sea Entertainment, Kwame's production company that is dedicated to creating innovative, highly original children’s and family entertainment. Other current projects in development at Big Sea include America’s Next Great Author, the groundbreaking reality television series for writers.

 

A regular contributor to NPR’s Morning Edition, Kwame is the creator and host of the Why Fathers Cry podcast, premiering September 2023, featuring conversations about love and parenting and loss, with fathers and sons. He regularly shares his passion for literacy, books and the craft of writing around the world at events like the Chautauqua Lecture Series, the Edinburgh Book Festival, Aspen Ideas, and the Global Literacy Symposium in Ghana, where he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic in Ghana. Most recently he was appointed the Rudell Artistic Director of Literary Arts and Writer-in Residence at the Chautauqua Institution.

His mission is to change the world, one word at a time.

 

You can learn more about him at www.kwamealexander.com.

Headliners

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. 

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Our 2025 Headliner Illustrator is

London Ladd

London Ladd is an award-winning illustrator whose work has been featured in publications such as HarperCollins, Philomel Books, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Scientific American and community-based murals. Utilizing a unique mixed-media technique, he brings various subjects to life by combining acrylic paint, cut paper, and tissue paper. Each image is infused with emotion, reflecting the artist's dedication to portraying the essence of life.

He serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor at Syracuse University, where he received his BFA and MFA degrees. Ladd received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the State University of New York and multiple nominations for an NAACP Image Award. He was also shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards, and several organizations, including the Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, American Illustration, and the American Library Association, have recognized his work.

His vision is to establish a visual arts community center in Syracuse, NY, where lower-income families can engage in artistic activities in a fun and creative environment.