Many classrooms are gearing up for the most famous book holiday ever: Read Across America Day. Originally, Read Across America Day, or “Dr. Seuss Day” was created in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2nd. However, about two years ago, The Conscious Kid published an article titled, “A Critical Race Reading of Dr. Seuss and Resource Guide for Read Across America Day 2018” that enlightened the education community about the explicit racism that Dr. Seuss engaged in.

Ever since then, educators and families have put a stop to Dr. Seuss Day and rebranded Read Across America Day as a general celebration of literature on March 2nd or the whole week. Some organizations, such as the National Education Association, have gone further and put the focus for Read Across America Day on diverse books featuring characters of color and characters with different gender identities.

Last year, we, at Colorful Pages, put out an article sharing a list of alternatives to Dr. Seuss to help make the choice of anti-racism easier for educators, librarians, and families. This year though, we wanted to take our support a step further and created an alternative program educators, librarians, and families can engage in with FREE online resources. Instead of Dr. Seuss Day or General Read Across America Day, participate in Read Across America with Colorful Pages Week!

2020 Read Across America with Colorful Pages Week

During the Week of March 2, 2020, Read Across America with Colorful Pages helps children ACTUALLY read across America by reading diverse picture books by authors of color from different locations in the United States of America. Each day, March 2nd – March 6th, educators can pick 1-2 books from our program and:

1. Show their students the chosen diverse picture book
2. Introduce the author of color and where they live or were born in America
3. Read and discuss the book

With Read Across America with Colorful Pages Week, students benefit from appreciating diverse characters and plot lines, as well as seeing authors of color from all parts of America. This creates multiple windows and mirrors for students while hopefully creating a door for them to feel inspired to see themselves as writers, too!

2020 Read Across America with Colorful Pages: Resources

Are you ready to join in and actually read across America with your students? Start to plan your participation in 2020 Read Across America with Colorful Pages Week using the following free resources:

• Unit Plan for the Week
• Book Covers with Author Pictures
• Student Final Project Worksheet (with Differentiation Options)
• 2020 Book List

Let’s do this!

Last year, my first graders and I had SO much fun with this unit! We got to spend 15 minutes each day just appreciating diverse books by diverse authors. Then, they completed their final project and voted on which was the best book to win our classroom Read Across America with Colorful Pages Week competition.

Happy 2020 Read Across America with Colorful Pages Week!! Your students are going to love celebrating diverse books by diverse authors. Throughout the week, let us know how it is going by commenting on this article or posting on social media and tagging us or using the hashtag #ColorfulPagesAcrossAmerica! Also, share this article and our free resources with your colleagues to spread the diverse book love.