What in the word?

Shortly after Planet Word opened, I told our programming staff that we needed to begin thinking about how we would observe special, word-related occasions. Well, the biggest one of all…

I spent a couple weeks trying to draft one of my Messages from the Founder about students not reading whole texts in school (or out of school for that matter)…

Languages are more than just words — they carry heritage, identity, and culture, ensuring they’re passed on to future generations. Yet many Indigenous and non-dominant languages face the threat of…

In a guest essay in the Times (November 23, 2025), Brian Bannon, the chief librarian at the New York Public Library and its director of branch libraries and education, argues…

Five years ago, Planet Word opened its doors with a bold mission: to spark a love of words, language, and reading in people of all ages — at a time…

Taylor Swift is known for her chart-topping pop hits and glittering performances, but did you know she’s a master of literary references? With her 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl,…