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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

November 2023

Gain New Perspectives

Books of the month:

Books of the month:

Elementary

Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series

Contenders

Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series

by Traci Sorell

The true story of the resilience of John Meyers and Charles Bender, who did what they loved in the face of injustice, and in 1911 became the first two Native American pro baseball players to face off in a World Series.
Learn more

Middle Grade

Indigenous Ingenuity: A Celebration of Traditional North American Knowledge

Indigenous Ingenuity

Indigenous Ingenuity: A Celebration of Traditional North American Knowledge

by Deidre Havrelock & Edward Kay

Simple science experiments for kids are sprinkled throughout this celebration of the countless scientific discoveries and technological inventions from Indigenous North Americans.
Learn more

Young Adult

Man Made Monsters

Man Made Monsters

Man Made Monsters

by Andrea L. Rogers

This collection of hauntingly illustrated horror stories follows one extended Cherokee family and the supernatural and manmade atrocities each generation encounters.
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
Carl Hiaasen Books
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Get Teacher Resources
Keeper of the Lost Cities

Keeper of the Lost Cities as You’ve Never Seen it Before!

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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

Covers to two Magic Treehouse books Mummies in the Morning and Mummies and Pyramids

Chapter Books for Early Readers

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 #3: Mummies in the Morning

  • Magic Tree House nonfiction Fact Tracker: Mummies and Pyramids

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 First Book's Network to bring new books and resources to the classroom.

Become a FirstBook Member

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

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. And Andrea Davis Pinkney, author of Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It, discusses the power of storytelling.

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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