by Lisa Rose Johnson Ed.D., VATESOL Blog Editor
Hello VATESOL Members and Advocates,
Every year, schools and communities across the country come together to celebrate Read Across America Week, a nationwide literacy initiative led by the National Education Association (NEA). This special week is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading in children of all ages while promoting diverse books, inclusive stories, and lifelong literacy habits. Originally launched in 1998, Read Across America has grown into more than just a one-day event. It is now a year-round commitment to ensuring that every child sees themselves reflected in books and has access to high-quality literature that broadens their understanding of the world. In conjunction with this event and the spirt to keeping this as a year-round commitment. I wanted to share some resources and suggested texts to consider adding your school and classroom library. The NEA Read Across America website has many free resources but I wanted to highlight some texts that your students will love:
The first novel Front desk and other books in the series follows Mia Tang, a 10-year-old girl who helps her parents manage a motel in California while navigating school, friendship, racism, and financial hardship. Mia works the front desk after school, translating for her parents and helping guests—while secretly dreaming of becoming a writer.
Dani De La Cruz – A local scholarship student navigating racism, classism, and financial stress while supporting her immigrant family.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery—a timeless classic by a famous French author
Holes by Louis Sachar—young kids find an adventure after digging holes for punishment
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan—deals with Mexican immigration
References
Find your book. National Education Association. (n.d.). https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/read-across-america/find-your-book
Recommended reading list | english language learning program: Loyola University Chicago. (n.d.). https://www.luc.edu/esl/resourcesforcurrentstudents/recommendedreadinglist/
Yang, K. (2024, April 29). An award-winning middle grade novel by Kelly Yang. Front Desk. https://frontdeskthebook.com/
Yang, K. (2022, February 17). Kelly Yang. Kelly Yang Parachutes. https://www.kellyyang.com/parachutes/
