Read Across America – How to Expose Your Children to Diverse Literature

Read Across America Day, started by the National Education Association in 1998, occurs on March 2nd, the birth date of Dr. Seuss. Typically in elementary schools across the United States, the week is used to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s Birthday. Kids can be seen wearing the iconic hat worn by Cat the Hat while reciting “one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish” during read a louds celebrating the famous author.

However, a few years ago, an article was published that swiftly prompted me to change how I celebrate the day with my own children. If you aren’t aware of Dr. Seuss or Theodor Geisel’s history, take a look at the article. It pushed me to rethink my approach to celebrating the holiday.

I now celebrate the holiday in three ways. First, throughout the year, I read a range of books to my son that represent a variety of cultures. Secondly, I work all year to promote a culture of reading for my three sons. Thirdly, I love to celebrate books through the use of activities.

My son loves reading and I love fostering that desire within him. I believe it is extremely important to have my son read books that showcase different cultures, show protagonists of different genders, and celebrate characters that look and act differently then him. Often times, we use books within our house to teach lessons about how to be kind, how to be accepting, how to be a big brother, etc.

I love asking our local librarians for their book recommendations and I also follow a few instagram accounts: @booksfordiversity, @readwithriver, @picturebookplaydate, @projectlitcomm, @thetututeacher.

For the past couple of years, Read Across America has re-branded itself to celebrate books that represent the diversity of America. Below, I have created a collection of thematically diverse children’s books from all the regions of the United States that are representative of many different cultures, experiences, and backgrounds. The regions were chosen based on the author or illustrators hometown or the protagonist’s hometown.

Northwest

• Cozy Written by Jan Brett
• Apple Pie 4th of July Written by Janet S. Wong and Illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
• The Hike Written by Alison Farrell
• We Laugh Alike Juntos nos reimos by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand Illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez
• The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee by Julie Leung Illustrated by Julie Kwon
• Freedom, We Sing by Amyra Leon & Molly Mendoza
• King & Kayla Series by Dori Hillestad Butler Illustrated by Nancy Meyers

West

• Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
• When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling and Illustrated by Aaron Asis
• Come on In: 15 Stories about Immigration and Finding a Home by Adi Alsaid
• Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho Illustrated by Dung Ho
• All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel Illustrated by Nabi H. Ali
• Off to See the Sea by Nikki Grimes Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

Mid-West

• Hair Love Written by Matthew Cherry
• We Are Water Protectors Written by Carole Lindstrom and Illustrated by Michaela Goade
• Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca J Gomez Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri
• Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler and Loren Long
• Speak Up by Miranda Paul Illustrated by Ebony Glenn
• Equality’s Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America by Deborah Diesen Illustrated by Magdalena Mora
• Watercress Written by Andrea Wang and Illustrated by Jason Chin

South West

• Rose Parks (Little People, Big Dreams) by Lisbeth Kaiser
• My Great-Aunt Arizona Written by Gloria Houston and Illustrated by Susan Condie Lamb
• I Love the Mountains by Hailey Meyers
• The Only Road Written by Alexandra Diaz
• Vamos! Let’s go to the Market Written by Raul the Third III
• I Dream of Popo By Livia Blackburne Illustrated by Julia Kuo
• Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story Written by Kevin Noble Maillard and Illustrated by Juana Martinez Neal

South East

• Tia Isa Wants A Car Written by Meg Medina and Illustrated by Claudio Munzo
• Only One You by Linda Kranz
• There is a Bird on Your Head Written by Mo Willems
• Nana Aku Goes to School Written by Tricia Elam Walker and Illustrated by April Harrison
• Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o Illustrated by Vashti Harrison
• Jump at the Sun by Alicia D. Williams Illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara
• The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard Illustrated by Oge Mora
• Lift as you Climb: The Story of Ella Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
• Your Mama by NoNieqa Ramos Illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara

Mid-Atlantic

• Hello Universe Written by Erin Entrada Kelly and Illustrated by Isabel Roxas
• Farah Rocks Fifth Grade by Susan Muaddi Darraj and illustrated by Ruaida Mannaa
• Islandborn Written by Junot Diaz and Illustrated by Leo Espinosa
• Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Pena Illustrated by Chrisitan Robinson
• Fred’s Big Feelings: The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers by Laura Renauld
• Packs by Hannah Salyer
• Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship By Irene Latham & Charles Waters Illustrated by Sean Qualls & Selina Alko
• The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne By Lesa Cline-Ransome Illustrated by John Parra
• Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow Illustrated by Luisa Uribe
• A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart by Zetta Elliott Illustrated by Noa Denmon
• The Rice in the Pot Goes Round and Round by Wendy Wan-Long Shang Illustrated by Lorian Tu
• Freedom Bird: A tale of hope and courage by Jerdine Nolen Illustrated by James E. Ransome
• I Wish You Knew by Jackie Azua Kramer Illustrated Magdalena Mora
• Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina Illustrated by Sonia Sanchez
• All Because You Matter by Tami Charlies Illustrated by Bruan Collier
• Dad Bakes by Katie Yamasaki

North East

• Who Belongs Here?: An American Story written by Margy Burns Knight and illustrated by Anne Sibley O’Brien
• I Lived on Butterfly Hill written by Marjorie Agosin and illustrated by Lee White
• Where are You From? by Yamile Saied Mendez and illustrated by Jaime Kim
• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
• The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
• A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of Rita Moreno: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Trailblazer! by Anika Aldamuy Denise Illustrated by Leo Espinosa
• Sally Goes to the Beach by Stephen Huneck

If you have any additional books you love, please leave them in the comments so I can share them with my family too!

Stay Tuned for Part 2, Creating A Literary Rich Home, coming later this month!