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Author Kwame Alexander in a dark green track suit stands and recites in front of middle school students with bassist Amy Shook in the background

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.
Kwame Alexander in a dark green shirt with hands clasped
[The Crossover] is the book I wished I could have read when I was a kid …a book with characters who looked like me, with rhythm and flow and empowering words. I believe the mind of an adult begins with the imagination of a child.
Quote by: Kwame Alexander, poet and author of The Crossover
Watch The Crossover story concert

February 2026

Claim Freedom

Books of the month:

Books of the month:

Elementary

They Call Me Teach: Lessons in Freedom

Book cover of They Call Me Teach showing an illustration of black children in a barn learning the letter G from a Black man

They Call Me Teach: Lessons in Freedom

by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Having secretly learned to read and write, a young Black enslaved boy surreptitiously teaches those skills to others in stables, moonlit fields, and cabins.
Learn more

Middle Grade

Will's Race for Home

Book cover or Will's Race for Home showing an black boy intensively riding a horse against an orange sky backdrop

Will's Race for Home

by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Tired of working on land they don’t get to own, Will and his father journey from Texas to Oklahoma during the land rush of 1889, racing thousands of others to stake a claim for their Black family.
Learn more

Young Adult

Up in Smoke

Book cover of Up in Smoke that shows two footprints in a gray background with the title of the book in red

Up in Smoke

by Nick Brooks

When her brother is arrested for the murder of a woman at an anti–police violence protest, Black teen poet and activist Monique teams up with her childhood friend Cooper to find the real culprit, unaware that Cooper is hiding a critical truth that could destroy them both.
Learn more

Ready, Set...Read!

Celebrate the joy of reading this month with these featured articles and resources.
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.
Learn more
African American librarian in yellow shirt stands in the library stacks and smiles at the camera

Black History Booklist

Celebrate African American heritage, tradition, and achievement when you share the stories of African Americans throughout history and inspire young readers to learn more about their relevance today.
View the list Find in your local library
Make me a reader kits
Sponsored Content

Download the Made Me a Reader Kit

Partner with families to ensure kids are reading all year long. Discover new series and printable reading trackers now.
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anton treuer

Healthy Masculinity, Wrapped in a Mystery

A YA thriller about a Native American teen explores masculinity, family, community, and learning self-love.
Learn more
raising literacy rates

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.
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
5 children side by side lean forward toward the camera with screen shots of Reading Eggs below them

Make This Year’s Read Across America Unforgettable

Sponsored Content
Ignite a love of reading with hundreds of lessons and 4000+ eBooks for PreK – 5 in Reading Eggs.
  • Discover Reading Eggs

Here’s What We’re Reading...

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

August 2025

Nurture Your Calling

Shift Happens

September 2025

Invite Transformation

A Second Chance on Earth

October 2025

Build Resilience

On a Wing and a Tear

November 2025

Cultivate Connection

The Doomsday Detectives: How Walter and Luis Alvarez Solved the Mystery of Dinosaur Extinction

December 2025

Embrace Evolution

The Ballerina of Auschwitz

January 2026

End Exclusion

They Call Me Teach

February 2026

Claim Freedom

Vanya and the Wild Hunt

March 2026

Champion Kindness

Deer Run Home

April 2026

Grow Your Circle

Don't Cause Trouble

May 2026

Honor Heritage

Ash's Cabin

June 2026

Own Your Story

A Sky That Sings

July 2026

Take Charge

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. 

Marley Dias
“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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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
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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.
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