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A father reads to his two daughters outside

create & celebrate a nation of diverse readers

Let's read and grow together with 12 months of recommended books, authors, and teaching resources that promote diversity and inclusion.
Marley Dias
The poetry of [‘Black Girl Dreaming’] gave me a mirror: I saw myself, and it felt like a book told my story for the first time.
Quote by: Marley Dias, Founder, #1000BlackGirlBooks
Share your reader story: What books have impacted you?

YA Author Chat

Four young adult authors—J. Elle (Wings of Ebony), Margarita Engle (With a Star in My Hand), Loan Le (A Phở Love Story), and Britteny Morris (The Cost of Knowing)—discuss why diverse books matter for all students as part of a moderated conversation led by educator Tanya Johnson Martin.

May 2022

Build Together

Books of the month:

Books of the month:

Elementary

Someone Builds the Dream

Someone Builds the Dream book cover

Someone Builds the Dream

by Lisa Wheeler

Bouncy verse celebrates the diverse workforce who brings big dreams to life when they pound nails, lay drains, and operate machines.
Learn more

Middle Grade

Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame

Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame book cover

Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame

by Supriya Kelkar

Set in British-occupied India in 1857 when the Sepoy Mutiny began in South Asia, Meera, an escaped child bride, ends up a servant to a British officer in the East India Company and must choose between a life where she has no say in what happens to her or rebelling against the colonists.
Learn more

Young Adult

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry book cover

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry

by Paula Yoo

The lenient sentence autoworker Ronald Ebens and his stepson Michael Nitz, both White, receive for killing Chinese American Vincent Chin in Detroit in 1982 spurs outrage and motivates nationwide action in the Asian American community.
Learn more

Ready, Set...Read!

Celebrate the joy of reading this month with these featured articles and resources.
Teacher and students sitting a story circle outside in a park

All Kinds of Ways to Celebrate with Stories

Create space for storytelling of all kinds to be shared out loud, from oral history to personal stories to spoken-word poetry.
Get Resources
Diverse Students in Library

Book Club Basics

Here's what you need to know to start your own Read Across book club in your school.
Get started
May 2022 Read Across Sponsored Content
Sponsored Content

The Thrilling New Series That’s Taking the World by Storm

Soar into a breathtaking world of heroes and unicorns as you’ve never seen them before in this fantastical middle grade debut. Perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson and Wings of Fire series.
Read Now
Wildseed Witch

A spellbinding new series from Marti Dumas!

Sponsored Content
Magic, friendship, and destiny collide in this fresh, contemporary middle-grade fantasy from Marti Dumas.
  • Watch Marti’s Beyond the Book video

Here’s What We’re Reading...

Click on a month below for our recommended books, plus suggestions for discussions and activities.
August 2021 Read Across America

August 2021

Spread Your Wings

September 2021 Read Across America

September 2021

Embrace New Beginnings

October 2021 Read Across America

October 2021

Create Change

November 2021 Read Across promo

November 2021

Explore Ancestry and Identity

December 2021 Read Across promo

December 2021

Lend a Hand

January 2022 Read Across promo

January 2022

Try Something New

February 2022 Read Across promo

February 2022

Explore Families and History

March 2022 Read Across promo

March 2022

Play With Stories

April 2022 Read Across Promo

April 2022

Nurture a Sense of Belonging

May 2022 Read Across promo

May 2022

Build Together

June 2022 Read Across promo

June 2022

Gain Perspective

July 2022 Read Across promo

July 2022

Determine Destiny

Book Talk

Activist, author, and NEA’s Read Across America Ambassador Marley Dias makes a reading connection with author Alicia D. Williams Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston our featured picture book for March.

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
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