NEA’s Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading through our theme: Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers. Many schools and libraries celebrate with an annual event on March 2, the birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss, but NEA’s Read Across America also provides NEA members, parents, caregivers, and children the resources and activities they need to keep reading on the calendar 365 days a year.
In our diverse and complex society, students need books that provide both windows and mirrors if we are going to create more readers, writers, and people who feel included and recognized, and who understand that the world is far richer than just their experiences alone. We know it is challenging to find the time to seek out new books to share, let alone create fun, exciting learning experiences around them. We hope you’ll find the books and resources we’ve provided here and online can blend effectively into existing classroom activities and units of study.
To help you share our recommended titles with students, many of them are available through the First Book Marketplace. Eligible educators, librarians, program leaders, and others serving children in need can sign up to purchase titles at a discount.
Copies of the print Read Across America calendar may be ordered from our online store, while supplies last.
Kids are naturally curious about the world around them. Sharing books such as They Say Blue encourages kids to observe, ask questions, use their imaginations, and seek information. Help students experience the joys of wonder, possibility, exploration, and discovery. Encourage them to generate ideas for a passion project—something they want to know more about, learn how to do, or create. Guide them to resources and give them the time to develop their project and feel confident in their new knowledge so they can present their learning journey and products to peers and parents.
What is color?
What is silence?
What do you wonder about?
What do you pay attention to when you walk outside?
How can you get answers to your questions?
What would life be like if no one asked questions?
Curiosity: The Force Within a Hungry Mind from Edutopia
Mystery Bags to Develop Observation and Inference Skills from Scholastic
Learn more about the Genius Hour movement to get students to explore their own passions
Reading Is Fundamental support materials
Explore with Curious Kids videos
What If… by Samantha Berger
Shadow by Suzy Lee
How To by Julie Morstad
My Pen by Christopher Myers
The Branch by Mireille Messier
Things To Do by Elaine Magliar
A River by Marc Martin
When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano
Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson
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