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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

July 2025

Cultivate Compassion

Books of the month:

Books of the month:

Elementary

Cesaria Feels the Beat

Cesaria feels the beat book cover

Cesaria Feels the Beat

by Denise Rosario Adusei

Though the director insists that Cesaria wear the sandals that are part of her peacock costume, she stands up for herself and takes off her shoes while dancing at her seaside Carnival performance so she can feel the music through her bare feet.
Learn more

Middle Grade

Shiny Misfits

Shiny Misfits book cover

Shiny Misfits

by Maysoon Zayid

Bay Ann is sure her tap dance will win at the school talent show, but when her crush, Alyee Maq, catches her before she falls (which was his fault anyway) and becomes a viral sensation for helping a girl with a disability, she is determined to beat him at his own attention-seeking game.
Learn more

Young Adult

Give Me a Sign

Give Me a Sign book cover

Give Me a Sign

by Anna Sortino

Lilah, whose hearing loss leaves her feeling not "deaf enough" to identify as Deaf or hearing enough to meet the world's expectations, finds community and romance when she becomes a counselor at a summer camp for the deaf and blind.
Learn more

Ready, Set...Read!

Celebrate the joy of reading this month with these featured articles and resources.
Toney Jackson at the display board demonstrating rap music.

Mic Check: One, Two, … One, Teach!

From multiplication bars to literacy stars, teachers are transforming learning with hip-hop.
Get your rap on
young asian boy in a wheelchair chooses books in library

Books to Uplift Perspectives and Experiences of Disability

These recommended books give readers the opportunity to explore a wide range of disability experiences as well as enjoy fabulous stories that focus on a disabled character but not their disability.
View the list
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Your favorite secret agent series is now available as a graphic novel
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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
Comic expletives

Comics: The Superheroes of Classroom Diversity

It’s a bird…It’s a plane…It’s a champion of diversity!
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
THE EYES AND THE IMPOSSIBLE

The 2024 Newbery Winner is Now in Paperback!

Sponsored Content
Attention Teachers! The 2024 Newbery Award-winning novel, THE EYES AND THE IMPOSSIBLE by Dave Eggers and illustrated by Shawn Harris, is now available in paperback. Perfect for classroom read-alouds, this captivating story will engage readers in grades 5 & up!
  • Download the Educators’ Guide

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. 

Here’s What We’re Reading...

Click on a month below for our recommended books, plus suggestions for discussions and activities.
August 2024

August 2024

Compose Bonds

Safiyyah's War crop

September 2024

Speak Up and Make Change

October 2024

October 2024

Know Your Power

November 2024

November 2024

Engage with Community

December

December 2024

Foster Confidence

January 2025

January 2025

Find Your Way

February 2025

February 2025

Pursue Passions

Secret Library Crop

March 2025

Join In

April 2025

April 2025

Share Your Poetic Voice

Fake Chinese Sounds crop

May 2025

Revel in Your Heritage

Deep Dark Crop

June 2025

Build Others Up

July 2025

July 2025

Cultivate Compassion

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
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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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