Students are encouraged to explore their sense of community and personal connections through the Read Across America program’s book selections for November.
For elementary students, “I Love Salmon and Lampreys” by Brook M. Thompson follows the author’s childhood interest in fish, her Yurok and Karuk heritage, and her journey toward environmental activism on the Klamath River. The story highlights cultural heritage and ecological responsibility.
Middle grade readers can look to “On a Wing and a Tear” by Cynthia Leitich Smith. The novel centers on Melanie “Mel” Roberts, a Muscogee-Odawa girl, and her friend Ray Halfmoon, who is Cherokee-Seminole. They travel with Ray’s grandfather and a legendary bat on a journey to help the injured animal participate in an important rematch between Birds and Mammals.
The young adult selection is “Where Wolves Don’t Die” by Anton Treuer. It tells the story of Ezra, an Ojibwe ninth grader who is wrongly accused of arson and murder. His father sends him from Minneapolis to Canada to live with his grandfather, where he learns new skills while confronting difficult circumstances.
Additional resources related to Read Across America are available for educators seeking more information about fostering student engagement with literature.
