Read Across America: Telling American Stories

Read Across America Day is celebrated every year on March 2. It is a literacy program that was launched in 1998 to celebrate the joy, fun, and adventure of reading. It was also originally a celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday.

During the 2019-20 school year Read Across America rebranded to better reflect the diverse demographics of public schools in the United States. Their updated mission to “Celebrate a Nation of Diverse Readers” includes year-round programming and themes that focus on diversity and inclusion.

The CECH Library created this list of books from our children’s and young adult literature collections that represent stories of America. This list includes stories of Indigenous peoples, Black Americans, and immigrants, as well as stories of Appalachia and various time periods in American history.

Additional Resources

Visit the display in the CECH Library through March or check out our recommended reading list via the Children’s and Young Adult Literature guide.

Post and book list by Haley Shaw, CECH Temporary Librarian