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.

View this year's calendar

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

August 2026

Celebrate Every Body

Books of the month:

Elementary

Everybelly

by Thao Lam

At the community pool, a young, brown-skinned child who is waist-high to most swimmers has a unique perspective on almost everyone.

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Middle Grade

The Blue Dress

by Rebecca Morrison

Thirteen-year-old Yasmin, an Iranian American girl, navigates complicated relationships with her mother, her body image, and her best friend.

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Young Adult

Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic

A former child actress, sixteen-year-old Korean American Ambrosia “Brosh” Lee decides she’s had it with a business that discarded her for puberty-related weight gain and branches out to pursue stand-up comedy.

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Celebrate the joy of reading this month with these featured articles and resources.

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.

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Media specialist shares a book with a young student in the school library

Free Materials

Need help finding books to put into the hands of readers? Check out these resources and bring print and online books to qualifying schools and students.

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★ “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.

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4 students sit and smile in library reading their own books

Read-In for Community and Joy

Make space and time for reading together—publicly, purposefully, and joyfully—by hosting a Read-In during the first week of March in celebration of NEA’s Read Across America.

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Raising Literacy Rates in the Digital Age

Competing with technology can be difficult, but these educators are introducing students to books—and the joy of reading in general—in creative ways.

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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.

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

August 2026

Celebrate Every Body

September 2026

Stand Together

October 2026

Create Room for All Voices

November 2026

Find Your Strength

December 2026

Carry Stories Forward

January 2027

Connect with History

February 2027

Put Passions to Work

March 2027

Notice and Nurture

April 2027

Build Belonging

May 2027

Make Your Way

June 2027

Be Seen

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.

“Diverse stories provide kids with different perspectives and help them see how others think and feel. Put reading to kids on your calendar all year round. Take NEA's Read Across America Diverse Books Challenge and help kids of all ages discover their own voices as they learn from the stories of others.”

Quote by: Marley Dias, Read Across America Ambassador 2021-23, and Founder, #1000BlackGirlBooks

Post this Take the challenge

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.

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Suggested Results

Celebrate Reading diverse & inclusive books

Celebrate Every Body

Everybelly

The Blue Dress

Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic

Ready, Set...Read!

Books Kids Love

Free Materials

★ “Pure Magic.” —Kirkus Reviews

Read-In for Community and Joy

Raising Literacy Rates in the Digital Age

Classroom Resources to Celebrate the Freedom to Read

Here’s What We’re Reading...

Celebrate Every Body

Stand Together

Create Room for All Voices

Find Your Strength

Carry Stories Forward

Connect with History

Put Passions to Work

Notice and Nurture

Build Belonging

Make Your Way

Be Seen

Redefine What's Possible

Hear from Read Across America Authors

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About Read Across America

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