Read Across America Ideas: Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers
March 2nd marks the annual celebration of Read Across America Day, a time dedicated to encouraging a love of reading in students across the country. Traditionally, this day was closely associated with Dr. Seuss books and themed activities. However, in recent years, there’s been a meaningful shift in focus toward promoting multicultural and diverse children’s literature.
This change is both timely and necessary. It opens the door to sharing a wider range of stories that reflect the rich backgrounds, experiences, and voices of students in our classrooms. As educators and parents, we now have a powerful opportunity to highlight books that promote acceptance, kindness, inclusion, and cultural awareness, values that are essential for nurturing compassionate and informed readers.
In this post, I’m sharing a variety of meaningful activities and ideas that align with the updated focus of celebrating diverse voices in literature. These resources are ideal for Read Across America Day or any time you want to inspire a love of reading through inclusive, engaging experiences in your classroom or library
1. Author Studies
A powerful way to celebrate diverse voices in literature is by highlighting authors who feature multicultural characters and stories in their work. Consider selecting an author and creating a bulletin board or hallway display that includes their name, a brief biography, and covers of their most popular books. This simple visual can spark curiosity and inspire students to explore new stories.
Below are few authos I recommend.
Ezra Jack Keats – Celebrated for The Snowy Day and other stories that reflect everyday life in urban communities.
Patricia Polacco – Known for her deeply personal stories that address family, culture, and resilience.
Tomie dePaola – Author of Strega Nona and many culturally inspired folktales.
Matt de la Peña – Writes powerful contemporary stories that reflect real-world challenges and celebrate human connection.
Jacqueline Woodson – National Book Award winner whose works explore identity, race, and growing up.
Peter H. Reynolds – Known for books that promote creativity, empathy, and acceptance.
Allen Say – Illustrator and author who beautifully portrays cross-cultural experiences and Japanese-American heritage.
It doesn’t have to be hard. Often, just a photograph of the author is enough to intrigue students to learn more. Most authors have a website where you can quickly and easily find some background information about them.
Take it a step further and during January or February, let your older elementary students practice their research skills. In groups, they can research an author from a provided list and create a small wall or stand-up display that you can then use for Read Across America week.
2. Get Everyone Involved
One of the most impactful ways to celebrate diverse literature is to invite your entire school community to participate. Encourage staff, students, and families to share a favorite book from their culture, heritage, or country of origin. Ask participants to include a brief explanation of why they love the book, what it means to them, and if possible a photo of themselves with the book.
Once you’ve collected a variety of titles, there are several creative ways to showcase them:
- Interactive Book Recommendation Wall
Create a dedicated space where students and families can explore and contribute book suggestions throughout the year. Feature covers, blurbs, or quotes from the recommended titles, and leave room for others to add their own favorites over time. - Global Book Map Display
Hang a large world map in your classroom or hallway. Print miniature covers of the recommended books and place them around the edge of the map. Use yarn or string to connect each book to the country or region it represents. This visually engaging display helps students see just how far stories can travel—and how literature connects us across cultures. - “Where in the World?” Reading Corner
Set up a fun reading challenge by displaying photos of yourself reading books from different parts of the world. Turn it into a guessing game by encouraging students to read the same book to figure out “where” you were. This is a great way to spark curiosity and introduce new titles in a playful, interactive way.
By involving your broader community, you’re not just promoting literacy—you’re celebrating identity, inclusion, and the joy of discovering new perspectives through books.
3. Hold a sSchool-wide Culture Fair
While this event does require planning and coordination, it doesn’t have to fall solely on one person, collaboration is key! One effective approach is to assign each class a specific country or culture to explore and represent during the event.
To support teachers in the preparation process, consider providing a set of clear guidelines or using library/media class time in the weeks leading up to the fair. Students can work in groups to research the key elements of their assigned culture, such as:
- Geography and location
- Traditions and customs
- Holidays and celebrations
- Foods and cuisine
- Art, music, and dance
- Sports and recreation
Once the research is complete, students can create visual presentations—such as posters, trifold displays, artifacts, or digital slideshows—that will be showcased during the fair.
You can take the experience even further by inviting parents and community members to share their own cultural backgrounds through stories, presentations, or hands-on demonstrations. Including interactive elements like food tastings, traditional music or dance performances, art exhibits, or even a cultural fashion show will help students connect with different cultures through all five senses.
A culture fair fosters empathy, curiosity, and global awareness in a powerful and memorable way. If you’re looking for additional inspiration or logistics support, consider exploring examples from other schools that have successfully hosted similar events. Here is one example from Waterside School.
4. Reading Theme or Spirit Days
Reading spirit days are a fantastic way to build excitement around books and create a fun, memorable atmosphere, no Dr. Seuss themes required! These themed days can be part of your school’s reading celebration week or incorporated throughout the year to promote literacy in creative and inclusive ways.
Below are some engaging spirit day ideas that celebrate reading while encouraging student participation:
Read Around the World
Celebrate global stories—invite students to bring or read books set in different countries or written by diverse authors.
A Universe of Stories
Highlight science fiction, fantasy, or space-themed books. Students can dress as astronauts, aliens, or favorite characters from other worlds.
Reading Is an Adventure
Feature adventure books and stories with exciting journeys. Students can dress like explorers or adventurers.
Snuggle Up and Read
Bring a stuffed animal or pillow to school for a cozy reading day.
Flashlight Friday
Turn off the lights and let students read with flashlights to create a fun, quiet atmosphere.
Pajama Day
Always a favorite! Let students wear their pajamas and enjoy a relaxed day of reading.
Read My Shirt Day
Encourage students and staff to wear shirts with positive messages, words, or favorite book quotes.
Caps for Sale Day (or Hat Day)
Inspired by books where characters wear hats—let students wear a fun or silly hat for the day.
Rainbow Day
Celebrate diversity and inclusion—have everyone wear as many colors as they can to reflect the variety of stories we read.
Fairy Tale or Folktale Day
Dress up as a character from a fairy tale or folktale—especially stories from different cultures passed down through generations.
Readers Are Leaders Day
Celebrate the idea that reading empowers! Students can dress up as future leaders, professionals, or role models inspired by books.
5. Reading Challenge
A school-wide reading challenge is a fantastic way to build excitement around books and encourage consistent reading habits. Whether you’re planning a week-long event or a month-long celebration, a challenge adds a fun, goal-oriented layer that keeps students engaged.
Start by providing each student with a reading log where they can track their progress. Younger students may record the number of books they read, while older students can keep track of minutes or pages read. Once students complete and turn in their logs, reward their efforts with small prizes—consider asking your PTO for donations or using Scholastic Book Fair funds to support your prize pool.
To further build community around the challenge, create a hallway display that tracks total books or pages read by the entire school. This visual progress board fosters a sense of teamwork and accomplishment as students work toward a common goal.
If you’re also looking for a library fundraiser, consider pairing your reading challenge with a read-a-thon. It’s a great way to raise funds while promoting literacy and student choice.
Multicultural and Diversity Reading Activity Pack
To support teachers and librarians during Read Across America or any literacy-focused celebration, I created the Multicultural and Diversity Reading Activity Pack. This ready-to-use resource promotes empathy, acceptance, and cultural awareness while also encouraging daily reading.
My goal in creating this product is to teach students to accept people who are different from them and to show empathy for others.
What is included in this activity pack:
Reading Logs
Three differentiated versions:
- For younger students (book-based)
- For older students (minutes/pages)
- A generic weekly log
Editable in PowerPoint so you can adjust the directions to fit your needs (directions only are editable).
Posters & Bookmarks
Bookmarks in both color and black & white. Let students color their own for a fun, meaningful takeaway.
9 full-color posters featuring quotes about diversity, kindness, and respect—ideal for bulletin boards, classroom walls, or hallway displays.
Random Acts of Kindness Cards
Create an interactive kindness display! Includes a variety of card styles in color and black & white, plus coordinating posters. Students can fill out a card when they notice kind behavior.
Culture, Diversity, and Kindness Lessons
I created a few basic lessons on culture, diversity, and kindness so that you can have a done-for-you option. These lessons are on three different levels so you will have an activity for all your students in a K-5 school.
The activities include:
- Cut and paste kindness sort (K – 1)
- Kindness fill-in poster (K – 1)
- A 5-page mini book that gives the definition of culture and diversity. It also talks about respect and accepting others for their differences. (2 – 3)
- Worksheet: students write/draw how they are the same and how they are different from one of their classmates. There is also a similar worksheet in a Venn diagram format. (2 – 5)
- One-page biography of Malala Yousafzai for fourth and fifth grade students. Includes a reading comprehension page. There is also a worksheet with three quotes from Malala. Students will read the quote and write about what it means. (4 – 5)
Digital Activities
This resource also includes some digital components that you can use. If you are in a 1:1 school you can assign these to students. If not, these are perfect to project during your lesson so the entire class can see them at the same time.
- Reading Logs: these come in 3 different levels/versions.
- Culture and Diversity mini book or reader. Audio is included.
- Malala Yousafzai biography and comprehension questions.
Add these ready-to-use resources to your Read Across America toolbox and you’ll be ready to focus on diversity and kindness all week long!
This resource is a meaningful way to tie your reading challenge into a broader message of inclusion, empathy, and global awareness. Whether you’re celebrating Read Across America or planning a custom literacy event, these activities will help your students grow not just as readers—but as thoughtful, compassionate individuals.
Click below to preview and purchse this activity pack.
Free Resource Library Activities
In the free resource library, there are a couple of additional activities that go along with all of these ideas. Everything in the resource library is free for newsletter subscribers. Click on the images below and enter the subscriber password or sign up to become a subscriber.
More Ideas for Sharing Multicultural and Diverse Books
If you’re looking for some multicultural and diverse books to read with your students read these two blog posts.
More Read Across America Ideas
Looking for even more ideas for Read Across America week? Check out these ideas that are fairly easy to do.
- Bookmark decorating contest
- Poster contest
- Book themed door decorating contest
- Schedule an author visit
- Look online for authors who will do a Skype visit
- Invite guest readers to come in and read a book to students
- Hold a book tasting (read more about how to do this here)
- Display quotes about diversity and kindness
- Have your principal read a book over the loudspeaker or during the morning announcements
- Have DEAR time every day
- Have students write a letter to an author
- Have a book swap
Save these Ideas
Pin this post to your favorite library Pinterest board so you can come back when you are ready to put these ideas into action.
Staying Cool in the Library is my blog, where I share my passion for fostering a love of reading with children. As a librarian, I believe reading should be fun and accessible to all students. That’s why I share engaging and interactive lesson plans, creative ways to build exciting library collections, and resources to inspire even the most reluctant readers in any classroom or library. Check out my blog posts and products in my store, and join my email list below.
