Skip Navigation
Take Action

Search

Contact Us
Great Public Schools Engaged Families & Communities School Health & Safety Recruit & Retain Educators Teacher Quality Student Assessments
Fair Pay & Benefits Union & Educator Voice Student Debt Support Inclusive Workplaces Resource Library
Just & Equitable Schools Student Engagement Professional Learning Leadership Development Conferences & Events
Action Center Protect Public Schools Racial & Social Justice Funding for Students & Schools Educator Pay & Benefits New From NEA
Become A Member Become a Public School Champion / Community Ally Connect with Us Join a Campaign Donate
Our Mission, Vision, & Values Our Leaders Our Members Governance & Policies Partnerships Contact Us Grants & Funding
Press Releases
All News & Articles Topics NEA Today Magazines
young girl in the library reading a copy of The Night Before Pride

Celebrate Reading diverse & inclusive books

Let's read and grow together with 12 months of recommended titles, authors, and teaching resources that promote diversity and inclusion.
Helen Darling looks at camera smiling while she holds a Read Across America basketball
“Basketball gave me a platform, but reading gave me possibilities beyond the court....I’m eager to join this incredible team of educators, librarians, families, and literacy champions who show up every day to change children’s lives through reading.”
Quote by: Helen Darling, speaker, author, former WNBA star, and 2026 NEA Read Across America Ambassador
Post this Meet Helen

October 2026

Create Room for All Voices

Books of the month:

Books of the month:

Elementary

The Day the Books Disappeared

The Day the Books Disappeared

The Day the Books Disappeared

by Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard

In a passionate attempt to share his love of airplanes, Arnold accidentally makes all of the books he and his classmates enjoy disappear but is able to restore them when he learns to appreciate that everyone has interests of their own.
Learn more

Middle Grade

The Froggy Library

The Froggy Library

The Froggy Library

by Julie Fiveash

While spending the summer with Grandma Juniper, Anura, a nonbinary frog, volunteers at the library and explores Diné traditions and culture as they work to create a community archive that captures the spirit of the desert town of Soggy Stump.
Learn more

Young Adult

The Story of My Anger / La historia de mi furia

The Story of My Anger

The Story of My Anger / La historia de mi furia

by Jasminne Mendez

Racism in the drama program and book bans at her Texas high school lead Yuli, a Black, second-generation Dominican American junior, to protest and speak out through a guerrilla theater club she starts with friends.
Learn more

Ready, Set...Read!

Celebrate the joy of reading this month with these featured articles and resources.
illustration of a Latina girl playing a guitar

Hispanic Heritage Booklists

Colorín Colorado’s children’s Hispanic Heritage booklists feature biography, history, cultural traditions, family stories, fun stories, and titles about growing up Latino.
View at Colorín Colorado
girl reading in library

Books Kids Love

We asked educators to tell us what books are popular with their students—and got a list of new 'classics’ for the classroom.
Learn more
Houdini's Library Ad
Sponsored Content

★ “Pure Magic.” —Kirkus Reviews

From acclaimed author Barb Rosenstock comes Houdini’s Library, an engaging picture book biography of Harry Houdini—magician, devoted book collector, and believer in the power of reading.
Learn More
educator holds a stack of books with Twas the Night Before Pride on the top and visible

LGBTQ+ Books for Schools

Recommended titles that reflect on the LGBTQ+ experience and books about Pride, tolerance, and diversity.
Learn more
Text reading "Why Books Are Targeted" with the word Books crossed out in red.

The Racist Beginnings of Book Bans

From laws that made it illegal to read to today’s battles over classroom libraries, book bans have always been about who gets access to knowledge.
Learn more
High school student reading graphic novel in the library

Classroom Resources to Celebrate the Freedom to Read

Find book recommendations, posters, bookmarks, stickers, and ways to show your support for banned books and freedom from censorship in the classroom.
Learn more
Tonight on the Titanic ad

A Magic Tree House Companion

Sponsored Content
This fascinating nonfiction pairs perfectly with Tonight on the Titanic. Discover the real facts behind Jack and Annie’s adventure!
  • Download Activities

Here’s What We’re Reading...

Click on a month below for our recommended books, plus suggestions for discussions and activities.
Everybelly

August 2026

Celebrate Every Body

We The People

September 2026

Stand Together

The Day the Books Disappeared

October 2026

Create Room for All Voices

Medicine Wheels

November 2026

Find Your Strength

Queso, Just in Time

December 2026

Carry Stories Forward

Liberty’s Forgotten Hero

January 2027

Connect with History

The Star of Moon Village

February 2027

Put Passions to Work

Together We are Sunshine

March 2027

Notice and Nurture

Estela, Undrowning

April 2027

Build Belonging

The Firefly Crown

May 2027

Make Your Way

Songbird in the Ligh

June 2027

Be Seen

All of Apolonia

July 2027

Redefine What's Possible

NEA strives to make sure that every student has access to age-appropriate books that show they are reflected and respected, and opposes efforts to limit students’ access to such books. Nevertheless, NEA urges educators to comply with state and local laws and policies that may limit what books they may teach and recommend to their students. 

NEA Vice-President sits at a table and draws with a student at a Read Across America event
“Read Across America is so important to show kids that everyone has an important story and experience that can be shared through books....Books helped me to dream about what was possible and what I could achieve.”
Quote by: Princess Moss, NEA Vice-President
Post this Elementary students celebrate Read Across America Day

Hear from Read Across America Authors

We've interviewed several authors on our School Me podcast. Donna Barba Higuera discusses El Cucuy is Scared, Too! and why she is so passionate about writing books that feature multiracial children, families, and identities. Wendy Shang, author of The Secret Battle of Evan Pao talks about why representation matters. Andrea Davis Pinkney, author of Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It, discusses the power of storytelling. And Duncan Tonatiuh, author of A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexihcah Word Painters, makes the case for the freedom to read.

Black NEA RAA logo

About Read Across America

What is NEA's Read Across America? Find answers to your frequently asked questions about the National Education Association's year-round celebration of diverse books and meet the people behind it.
Learn more
A woman and her son use a laptop together

Join Our Community of Readers

Are you a teacher, librarian, educator, author, or devoted book worm? Join the Read Across America Facebook group to share resources, ideas, and experiences as we celebrate a nation of diverse readers.
Visit our Facebook group
National Education Association logo

Great public schools for every student

The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.
About us
Partner with us
Advertise with us