Read Across America Day on March 2nd and Read Across America Week, March 2-6, is a great chance to celebrate the joy of reading and come together to promote literacy. But what if we took it one step further and literally read across the United States?
Get ready for an epic adventure across all fifty states!
We asked our local Macaroni KID publishers nationwide — for their suggestions for kid and young adult books set in their states . . . and they didn't disappoint! We did some research to round out our 50 picks, and ended up with a list of classics and modern stories that is as colorful and diverse as our country.
We are including two printable maps for you — the one in black and white is intended for children to color in as they read books from each state. You can use our suggestions, or find another book set in that state more suited to your child's age if our suggestion doesn't work!
Get your maps now and start your journey reading across America!
The full list:
Alabama: To Kill a Mockingbird
Alaska: Julie of the Wolves
Arizona: Stargirl
Arkansas: The Lions of Little Rock
California: Island of the Blue Dolphins
Colorado: Katerina's Wish
Connecticut: The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Delaware: Red Bird
Florida: Hoot
Georgia: Lailah's Lunchbox
Hawaii: Dumpling Soup
Idaho: Emory’s Gift
Illinois: Mr. Ferris and His Wheel
Indiana: The Fault in Our Stars
Iowa: American Gothic: The Life of Grant Wood
Kansas: Little House on the Prairie
Kentucky: Becoming Muhammad Ali
Louisiana: The 5 O'clock Band
Maine: Blueberries for Sal
Maryland: Love Twelve Miles Long
Massachusetts: Make Way for Ducklings
Michigan: The House With a Clock in its Walls
Minnesota: Betsy-Tacy
Mississippi: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Missouri: Steamboat School
Montana: Hattie Big Sky
Nebraska: Elsie's Bird
Nevada: 96 Miles
New Hampshire: Frindle
New Jersey: Super Fudge
New Mexico: The Night of Las Posadas
New York:
When You Reach Me
North Carolina: The Edge of Anything
North Dakota: Buffalo Bird Girl
Ohio: Lentil
Oklahoma: Where the Red Fern Grows
Oregon: Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Pennsylvania: Miracles on Maple Hill
Rhode Island: Black Duck
South Carolina: The Secret Life of Bees
South Dakota: A Dinosaur Named Sue
Tennessee: Paperboy
Texas: Holes
Utah: The Great Brain
Vermont: Pollyanna
Virginia: Fifty Cents and a Dream
Washington: The One and Only Ivan
West Virginia: Missing May
Wisconsin: The Westing Game
Wyoming: Shane
