
Did you know that March 2nd is Read Across America Day? It’s a day each year where we get to celebrate our favorite library activity… READING! And it’s the biggest celebration of reading in the country! And the entire month of March is National Reading Month!
Launched in 1998 by the National Education Association (or the NEA) and guided by a committee of educators, Read Across America’s mission is to feature titles and resources where children can see themselves reflected in, as well as allow them to see a world or characters that may be different from them.
Just like with adults, it’s important for readers of all ages to connect to the books they are reading. Being able to feel included, recognized, and a part of that world enhances the reading experience… and is just plain fun!
So how can YOU celebrate Read Across America Day and National Reading Month? By reading, of course! Read Across America has curated booklists that feature diverse authors and characters. You can find their “Book Love for National Reading Month” booklist here. Or check out their “Diverse Books with Trailblazing Women” booklist that celebrates National Reading Month and Women’s History Month here. You can find additional reading resources, prior month’s recommended books, and activities by visiting the official 2021-2022 NEA calendar here!
Need some more suggestions? You’ve come to the right place! Check out these amazing books featuring diverse stories today!
Picture Books

- Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Amanda Redd
- Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O’Neill
- Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty
- What Happened to You? by James Catchpole
- My City Speaks by Darren Lebeuf
- The Treasure Box by Dave Keane
- Areli is a Dreamer by Areli Morales
- Like a Dandelion by Huy Voun Lee
- Dumpling Day by Meera Sriram
- Our Favorite Day of the Year by A.E. Ali
- If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall
- Same, Same, But Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
Early Readers, Chapter Books, and Graphic Novels

- Just Roll with It by Lee Durfey-Lavoie
- Dragons and Marshmallows: the Zoey and Sassafras series by Asia Citro
- Alvin Ho by Lenore Look
- Indian Shoes by Cynthia Leitich Smith
- Planet Omar by Zanib Mian
- Lift by Minh Lê
- Sadiq and the Desert Star by Siman Nuurali
- Princess Princess Ever After by Katie O’Neill
- Piece by Piece: The Story of Nisrin’s Hijab by Priya Huq
- Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper
- Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte
- When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Young Adult

- Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel by Jason Reynolds
- Paying the Land by Joe Sacco
- Displacement by Kiku Hughes
- Almost American Girl by Robin Ha
- Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
- Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka
- The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork
- The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah
- Same But Different by Holly Robinson Peete
- Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
- Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
- The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake
