Read Across America Day: Food Bankers’ Picks for Favorite Children’s Books
Today is National Read Across America Day, a day established by the National Education Association to unite diverse readers across the country to celebrate the joy of reading! It takes place on the birthday of children’s book author Dr. Seuss and aims to get kids and families engaged in and excited about reading.
The North Texas Food Bank staff loves a good book, and we believe storytelling is an impactful way to teach children about important and complex topics, such as hunger. We were thrilled to launch our own children’s book, Hunger Bugs Me!, last fall. Set in the NTFB’s Jan’s Garden, the book follows Lady Bug and her friends in this charming story about friendship and compassion.
In honor of Read Across America Day, we asked Food Bankers to share their favorite children’s books, particularly ones that address important issues and open the door for meaningful conversations with young people. See the staff picks below and to learn more about Hunger Bugs Me!, download accompany resources, and order your copy, visit ntfb.org/hungerbugsme.
- It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
- Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
- My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
- Kindness Rules! by Eunice and Sabrina Moyle
- The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood
- Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- Hello, World! Garden Time by Jill McDonald
- The World Needs More Purple People by Kristen Bell and Benjamin Hart
- Frog and Toad Series by Arnold Lobel
- Little Bear Series by Else Holmelund Minarik
- Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” — Dr. Seuss
Happy Reading!