top of page
Chiara Hoyt

Picture Books You'll Love For Read Across America and All Year Long!

Updated: May 26

As an inclusive early childhood or elementary educator, whether in the classroom or at home, you know that Read Across America week holds the potential to highlight children's literature from a diverse range of voices, perspectives, and places. Instead of highlighting the same few books by the same problematic author, all in the name of "tradition," encourage your students and school community to lean into the vibrant beauty of the unique and ever-diversifying American population.


A large shelf of books.

Ready to ditch what doesn't affirm and represent all of our children, and instead check out a list of books I love for Read Across America (and all year long!)? Then I've got you covered below with my list of Books To Love For Read Across America!


 
Make Your Early Childhood Classroom More Inclusive Teacher Guide and Checklists on purple background showing three pages from the resource.

Ready to move your early childhood classroom toward liberation, but unsure exactly what your next steps should be? Need the tools and ideas that will push you to ensure that all children in your class feel seen and valued? Learn more and get my FREE Ultimate Guide For Teachers to make your early childhood classroom more inclusive!

 

Books To Love for Read Across America 2024


1. We All Play by Julie Flett

We All Play book cover against a white background.

2. Jacob's New Dress by Sarah and Ian Hoffman

Jacob's New Dress book cover against a white background.

3. We are Still Here! by Traci Sorell

We Are Still Here! book cover against a white background.

4. Sometimes All I Need Is Me by Juliana Perdomo

Sometimes All I Need Is Me book cover against a white background.

5. The People's Painter by Cynthia Levinson

The People's Painter book cover against a white background.

6. A Song of Frutas by Margarita Engle

A Song Of Frutas book cover against a white background.

7. In My Mosque by M.O. Yuksel

In My Mosque book cover against a white background.

8. Eyes That Kiss In The Corners by Joanna Ho

Eyes That Kiss In The Corners book cover against a white background.

9. You Can! by Alexandra Strick

You Can! book cover against a white background.

10. Song In The City by Daniel Bernstrom

Song In The City book cover against a white background.

11. Change Sings by Amanda Gorman

Change Sings book cover against a white background.

12. Curls by Ruth Forman

Curls book cover against a white background.

13. More Than Words by Roz Maclean

More Than Words book cover against a white background.

14. I Sang You Down From The Stars by Tasha Spillett-Sumner

I Sang You Down From The Stars book cover against a white background.

15. Planting Stories by Anika Aldamuy Denise

Planting Stories book cover against a white background.

16. The Boy With Big, Big, Feelings by Britney Winn Lee

The Boy With the Big Big Feelings book cover against a white background.

17. I Like This, You Like That by Linda Ashman

I Like This, You Like That book cover against a white background.

18. Oona In The Arctic by Kelly DiPucchio

Oona In The Arctic book cover against a white background.

19. Kapaemahu by Wong-Kalu, Hamer, & Wilson

Kapaemahu book cover against a white background.

20. Powwow Day by Traci Sorell

Powwow Day book cover against a white background.

21. Wild For Winnie by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

Wild For Winnie book cover against a white background.

22. Something Spectacular by Carmela LaVigna Coyle

Something Spectacular book cover against a white background.

23. My Rainbow by Trinity and DeShanna Neal

My Rainbow book cover against a white background.

24. Perfectly Imperfect Mira by Faith Pray

Perfectly Imperfect Mira book cover against a white background.

25. Just Like Me by Louise Gooding

Just Like Me book cover against a white background.

26. Niko Draws A Feeling by Bob Raczka

Niko Draws A Feeling book cover against a white background.

27. The Year We Learned To Fly by Jacqueline Woodson

The Year We Learned To Fly book cover against a white background.

28. Not Done Yet by Tameka Fryer Brown

Not Done Yet book cover against a white background.

29. Scroll by Hui Li

Scroll book cover against a white background.

30. Isabel and Her Colores Go To School by Alexandra Alessandri

Isabel and Her Colores Go To School book cover against a white background.

31. Rain! by Linda Ashman

Rain! book cover against a white background.

32. Sulwe by Lupita Nyongo

Sulwe book cover against a white background.

33. My Fade is Fresh by Shauntay Grant

My Fade Is Fresh book cover against a white background.

34. The Molecules That Make You YOU by Robert E. Wells

The Molecules That Make You YOU book cover against a white background.

35. The Mexican Dreidel by Linda Elovitz Marshall & Ilan Stavans

The Mexican Dreidel book cover against a white background.

36. My City Speaks by Darren Lebeuf & Ashley Barron

My City Speaks book cover against a white background.

 

Looking for inclusive resources to use in your early childhood or elementary classroom or homeschool setting? Check out these educator favorites from Love and Excellence!


Guided Reading Plans and Resource Pack for Levels A-F on a purple background.

Every Month is For Antiracism on a brown background.

Social Emotional Toolkit For Early Learners on a blue background.

Black History Learning Packs on a black background.

Year Long Curriculum for 2 Year Olds on a mint green background.

Comments


bottom of page