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.
Win a Set of Diverse Books for Your Classroom!
For the first time, educators have the chance to win a free set of books from the 2021 – 2022 Read Across America calendar—for every classroom in their public school.
Activist, author, and NEA’s Read Across America Ambassador Marley Dias makes a reading connection with Ali Stroker & Stacy Davidowitz, authors of The Chance to Fly, our featured middle grade title for August.
September 2021
Embrace New Beginnings
Books of the month:
Books of the month:
Elementary
El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!
El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!
Ramón’s worries and fears about his new home, new school, and making new friends are bigger than his old fear of the Mexican Boogeyman El Cucuy, who confides in Ramón that he has similar fears of his own.
Middle Grade
Pahua and the Soul Stealer
Pahua and the Soul Stealer
Pahua Moua is an eleven-year-old Hmong girl with a unique ability to see spirits. After she accidentally releases an angry spirit which takes her beloved brother’s soul, Pahua teams up with Zhong, a student at the School for Shamanic Arts, on a near-impossible quest to rescue her brother from the Spirit Realm.
Young Adult
Tigers, Not Daughters
Tigers, Not Daughters
Still processing their grief and guilt over the death of their oldest sister Ana, Latina sisters Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa must reconnect with each other to understand why Ana has come back to their dysfunctional home as a ghost.
Ready, Set...Read!
Celebrate the joy of reading this month with these featured articles and resources.
A Talk with Author Donna Barba Higuera
NEA's School Me podcast welcomes author Donna Barba Higuera to discuss El Cucuy is Scared, Too! and learn why she is so passionate about writing books that feature multiracial children, families, and identities.
Book Club Basics
Here's what you need to know to start your own Read Across book club in your school.
A Bilingual Booklist for Back to School
Celebrate reading in English and Spanish with titles featured in this bilingual booklist from Colorín Colorado.
Start the School Year Off Right with Ready-to-Read!
Sponsored Content
Get students excited to dive into nonfiction stories with Ready-to-Read! Perfect for emerging readers, Ready-to-Read leveled readers feature subjects like history and science, and include biographies and stories about the natural world. They are vetted by educational experts to adhere to the latest beginning reader guidelines and receive official Lexile and F&P reading levels.
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Here’s What We’re Reading...
Click on a month below for our recommended books, plus suggestions for discussions and activities.
August 2021
Spread Your Wings
September 2021
Embrace New Beginnings
October 2021
Create Change
November 2021
Explore Ancestry and Identity
December 2021
Lend a Hand
January 2022
Try Something New
February 2022
Explore Families and History
March 2022
Play With Stories
April 2022
Nurture a Sense of Belonging
May 2022
Build Together
June 2022
Gain Perspective
July 2022
Determine Destiny
Watch What We're Celebrating This Year
We're joining the parade—Tiara's Hat Parade, as NEA President Becky Pringle, Read Across America Ambassador Marley Dias, and author Kelly Starling Lyons welcome us to another year of diverse books and take us deeper into a beloved tale of family, community, courage, and fashion.
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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.
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.
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