Worldbuilding is the creation of a fantasy or science fiction universe. It not only sets the backdrop for the plot, but it informs the very place in which the characters exist. In middle-grade literature, this idea transcends genre. Young readers desire a rich, detailed, and immersive setting. A visually stunning descent into the deepest reaches of the ocean. A trek across the mountains of a land suffering the hostilities of war. A portrait of our own planet as viewed by faraway visitors. Three very different foreign lands have been brought to life by the imaginations of our presenters.

Presenters: Michael Grover, Daniel Nayeri, Rebecca Stead

Moderator: Andrea Donahoe