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young girl in the library reading a copy of The Night Before Pride

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
“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
Take the challenge

December 2023

Recognize Our Connectedness

Books of the month:

Books of the month:

Elementary

Remember

Remember

Remember

by Joy Harjo

In this picture book adaptation of her iconic poem, the 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate invites readers to consider the connections between themselves and their family, community, and the world.
Learn more

Middle Grade

Speculation

Speculation

Speculation

by Nisi Shawl

While staying with her grandparents in the summer of 1962, ten-year-old Winna discovers a pair of magical spectacles that reveal both the friendly ghosts of her African American ancestors and a dangerous family curse.
Learn more

Young Adult

We Deserve Monuments

We Deserve Monuments

We Deserve Monuments

by Jas Hammonds

When seventeen-year-old Avery moves to rural Georgia to live with her ailing grandmother, she discovers romance along with decades-old family secrets and a mystery surrounding the town's racist past.
Learn more

Ready, Set...Read!

Celebrate the joy of reading this month with these featured articles and resources.
young girl in glasses sits and reads a picture book at library

The Joy of Reading Isn't Dead, Yet

While the number of students who say they read for fun is at an all-time low, NEA members are turning the tide by providing access, choice, and maybe a dog in the library.
Learn more
cover art for the book Jingle Dancer featuring a Native American girl dancing in traditional dress

Native American Heritage Month Booklist

K-12 titles to share to help readers get to know Native people and their nations.
View the list Find titles in your local library
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Sponsored Content

Teaching & Discussion Resources and Guides

Simon & Schuster has reading group and curriculum guides for picture books, middle grade, and teen titles available for free online!
More here!
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Don’t Miss RHCB’s 2023 Galaxy of Stars!

Sponsored Content
Stock your K-12 classroom bookshelves and reading recommendation lists with 90+ children’s books that have received starred reviews from trusted professional journals throughout the year. From picture books to young adult novels, there’s something for every reader to dive in to!
  • Learn More

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 2023

August 2023

Share Your Story

September 2023

September 2023

Tackle Challenges Together

October 2023

October 2023

Champion the Freedom to Read

November 2023

November 2023

Gain New Perspectives

December 2023

December 2023

Recognize Our Connectedness

January 2024

January 2024

Engage in the World

February 2024

February 2024

Advance Racial Justice

March 2024

March 2024

Celebrate Diversity

April 2024

April 2024

Discover the Power of Poetry

May 2024

May 2024

Focus on Family

June 2024

June 2024

Promote Respect for All

July 2024

July 2024

Foster Inclusiveness

Chapter Books for Early Readers

Covers of two Magic Tree House books, Polar Bears Past Bedtime and Fact Tracker Polar Bears and the Arctic

Create enthusiastic readers with Magic Tree House (MTH) early chapter book choices for beginning independent readers that are fun, accessible, and help improve comprehension and the habit of reading.

  • Magic Tree House Book #12: Polar Bears Past Bedtime

  • Nonfiction: Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Polar Bears and the Arctic

Ready to use these MTH books and more in your classroom? Visit MTHClassroomAdventures.org for downloadable MTH resources or head to www.MagicTreeHouse.com. Eligible educators can join FirstBook's Network to bring new books and resources to the classroom.

Become a FirstBook Member

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.

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
National Education Association

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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