NEA’s Read Across America Recommends 36 New Book Titles for the 2025-26 Academic Year

Washington—With the new school year well underway, the National Education Association (NEA) announces its latest list of recommended children’s and young adult books for the flagship year-round literacy program NEA’s Read Across America. This year’s selections celebrate books that encourage students to explore their interests, identities, and the diverse world around them. 

Featured in a digital calendar, these 36 titles for readers in preschool through high school come with suggestions for activities, questions for discussion, and recommendations of even more themed titles to try. 

“Our book recommendations are a cornerstone of Read Across America’s celebration of the foundational elements in building a nation of readers—diverse books, connecting reading with joy, and the freedom to learn,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “Finding authentic joy in reading begins with having a diverse library of books from which to choose. Cultivating that joy relies on the engaging experiences that help students discover new ideas, see the world through different perspectives, and embrace learning. We are recommending these titles for Read Across America this year to help educators, parents, and students find great books to experience, enjoy, and learn together.”

The recommended books include a wide selection of genres and formats—from the graphic novels Don’t Cause Trouble by Arree Chung and Ash’s Cabin by Jen Wang to rollicking picture books such as ¡Mistaco! A Tale of Tragedy y Tortillas by Eliza Kinkz and We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang to the nonfiction The Doomsday Detectives by Cindy Jenson-Elliott and A Dangerous Idea by Debbie Levy to novels in verse like Deer Run Home by Ann Clare LeZotte and It’s all or Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango.

NEA’s purpose in recommending these books for Read Across America is to shine a light on titles that can, as author and educator Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop famously phrased, provide as mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors to readers—helping them see themselves, understand others, and imagine new possibilities.

All the recommended titles and accompanying resources are located at www.nea.org/readacross. 

Each year, an estimated 45 million educators, parents, and students nationwide participate in NEA’s Read Across America Day, which will next be celebrated on March 2, 2026. But NEA’s efforts extend far beyond one day. Through year-round programming, Read Across America helps communities connect students with diverse books and the joy of reading in meaningful, lasting ways.

Everyone can be a part of NEA’s Read Across America by helping students discover reading joy and the power of a diverse bookshelf. The recipe for Read Across America success remains the same since 1998:

• Gather caring adults to share with kids why reading is important and fun. 
• Have them read a book (or two) together 
• Mix in a fun reading or book related activity
• If possible, kids get to choose a book to keep
• Repeat as often as possible throughout the year!

For more ideas on how to bring NEA’s Read Across America to your school or community, visit nea.org/readacross.

The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.