Wiley’s Way/El Camino de Wiley

After being scooped from the bottom of the sea, destined for a seafood restaurant, Wiley the crab escapes and embarks on a series of adventures that lead him to the campus of the University for People and Creatures. While there, he meets a host of interesting characters who inspire him to change his future prospects by attending college himself one day.

Part of the College for Texans Campaign to motivate 300,000 more students to enroll in college by 2015, Wiley’s Way is a unique collaboration. This bilingual chapter book, targeted at 4th, 5th, and 6th graders, was written and illustrated by twelve high school students from the Academy@Hays of the Hays Consolidated Independent School District as part of the Katherine Anne Porter Literary Center’s Young Writers Program in Kyle, Texas. The students were guided by MFA students from the Creative Writing Program at Texas State University.

Funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the College for All Texans Foundation, Wiley’s Way is designed to prompt children, especially those who might not otherwise aspire to a college education, to begin thinking about college at an earlier age. Since Wiley’s character was created and developed by teenage students, he has a unique appeal and resonance for younger readers. Wiley’s Way demystifies the college experience and addresses practical concerns such as preparing for and paying for college.