How to Make Read Across America More Diverse

Read Across America is a program that celebrates the joy of reading and encourages children and young adults to read more books. The program was launched by the National Education Association (NEA) in 1998 and coincides with the birthday of Dr. Seuss, one of the most popular children’s book authors of all time. However, in recent years, some of Dr. Seuss’s books have been criticized for containing racist and insensitive images and messages. As a result, the NEA has shifted its focus from Dr. Seuss to a more diverse and inclusive selection of books that reflect the diversity of readers and their experiences. Here are some ways that you can make Read Across America more diverse in your classroom or library:

Contents

1 Choose books to Make Read Across America More Diverse
2 Invite guest speakers or authors to share their stories and experiences
3 Encourage readers to share their own stories and opinions
4 Celebrate diversity throughout the year, not just in March

Choose books to Make Read Across America More Diverse

One of the main goals of Read Across America is to expose readers to different stories and voices that they may not encounter in their everyday lives. By choosing books that represent diverse cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives, you can help readers learn about other people’s experiences, challenges, and achievements. You can also help readers develop empathy, respect, and appreciation for diversity. Some examples of books that showcase diversity are:

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson.

This is a picture book that celebrates the courage and beauty of being different and finding your place in the world.

Front Desk by Kelly Yang.

This is a middle-grade novel that tells the story of Mia, a Chinese immigrant girl who helps her parents run a motel and dreams of becoming a writer.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

This is a young adult novel that explores the issues of racism, police brutality, and activism through the eyes of Starr, a Black teenager who witnesses the fatal shooting of her friend by a white police officer.

Invite guest speakers or authors to share their stories and experiences

Another way to make Read Across America more diverse is to invite guest speakers or authors to share their stories and experiences with your readers. This can be a great way to inspire and motivate readers to read more books and learn more about different topics and issues. You can also use this opportunity to ask questions and have discussions with the speakers or authors. Some examples of guest speakers or authors that you can invite are:

Grace Lin, a Chinese American author and illustrator who writes books that celebrate Asian culture and identity, such as Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Dim Sum for Everyone.

Jason Reynolds, a Black American author who writes books that address the realities and challenges of urban youth, such as Long Way Down and Ghost.

Reyna Grande, a Mexican American author who writes books that depict the struggles and triumphs of immigrants, such as The Distance Between Us and Across a Hundred Mountains.

Encourage readers to share their own stories and opinions

A third way to make Read Across America more diverse is to encourage readers to share their own stories and opinions with others. This can be a great way to foster a sense of community and belonging among readers and to celebrate their unique identities and experiences. You can also use this opportunity to listen and learn from your readers and to appreciate their perspectives and insights. Some examples of ways that you can encourage readers to share their stories and opinions are:

– Create a book club or a reading circle where readers can choose and discuss books that interest them or relate to their lives.

– Organize a writing contest or a poetry slam where readers can express their thoughts and feelings through creative writing or spoken word.

– Host a book fair or a book swap where readers can exchange and recommend books that they have read and enjoyed.

Celebrate diversity throughout the year, not just in March

A fourth way to make Read Across America more diverse is to celebrate diversity throughout the year, not just in March. Diversity is not something that should be confined to a single month or a single program. Diversity is something that should be integrated and celebrated in every aspect of your teaching and learning. By celebrating diversity throughout the year, you can help readers develop a lifelong love of reading and a lifelong appreciation of diversity. Some examples of ways that you can celebrate diversity throughout the year are:

– Follow a calendar of multicultural holidays and events and use them as opportunities to introduce and discuss diverse books and topics.

– Create a diverse and inclusive book display or a book list that features books from different genres, formats, and levels that appeal to different readers and their interests.

– Participate in or create your diversity-themed challenges or initiatives, such as the We Need Diverse Books campaign or the Reading Without Walls challenge.