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NEA Advice

It’s Time to Read Across America!

These NEA-Recommended Books Help Students Grow and Learn
Black female educators helping two young female students of color at a library NEA
By: Cindy Long, Senior Writer
Published: January 2025
This resource originally appeared on NEA.org

Celebrate books all year long with NEA’s Read Across America calendar. For every month of the year, Read Across offers themes and book recommendations, along with lesson plans and discussion ideas.

The January theme is “Find Your Way,” featuring books that prepare students to navigate life’s challenges and adventures. Explore these great reads and check out more online.

A Maleta Full of Treasures, written by Natalia Sylvester, illustrated by Juana Medina

For younger readers

A Maleta Full of Treasures is packed with lessons for students with family near and far. In the story, a girl named Dulce enjoys a visit from her Abuela (grandmother), who brings a suitcase full of treasures from Peru. Soon Dulce learns that home is not just a place, but the love between family.
Abeni's Song, You ignored my warnings. They are coming. By Award-winning author P. Djèlí Clark

For middle-grade readers

Students learn about courage, family, and friendship in Abeni’s Song, a West African and African Diaspora-inspired tale of adventure. A magical apprentice, Abeni collects a team of spirit allies who help rescue her village from the evil Witch Priest and from ghost ships bound for distant lands.
Wings in the Wild, by Margarita Engle

For young adults

In Wings in the Wild, a hurricane exposes a secret sculpture garden that belongs to Soleida’s family. Soon, the Cuban government arrests her artist parents, forcing her to escape alone to Central America. That’s when she meets Dariel, a Cuban American boy, and together they work to protect the environment and bring attention to the imprisoned artists in Cuba.

Start planning your Read Across event now!

Find books and lesson plans for January and throughout the year as well as tips for inviting guest readers, starting book clubs, and more at nea.org/ReadAcross.

Check out to get books into the hands of your readers.

Celebrate the freedom to read with this online toolkit—which includes posters, bookmarks, stickers, and more. Go to nea.org/BannedBooks.

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