Classroom Resources to Celebrate the Freedom to Read

By: National Education Association

Published: January 4, 2023

Everyone has the right to choose what to read. In celebrating that right, you can help bring new perspectives and more understanding, empathy, and joy to readers in your community.

These resources highlight why it is important to give kids choice in what they read, what you can do to support and protect their right to choose books from all viewpoints, and how you can help them access relatable, enjoyable reading materials.

You’ll also find ways to celebrate our freedom to read and get students excited about taking advantage of this fundamental right.

Download our newest printable bookmark and poster to show your support for the Freedom to Read.

Try these tools and activity ideas to bring celebrations of the freedom to read to your school and community.

Give Students Choice

There is no real freedom to read without easy access to books and opportunities to read what you want. When students are given choice in what they read, as well as support and time to read, they thrive.

Students are more likely to enjoy books they choose themselves. Provide students with access to a collection of quality reading material from all different genres that is organized and enticing to readers. This could be your classroom library or school library or introduce students to your public library and encourage or arrange regular visits to check out books.

Kids can be especially motivated to read when the books they choose are books they can keep as their own. Book drives, and organizations like First Book and Reading Is Fundamental can help provide students with new books for personal ownership. Need help finding books to put into the hands of readers? Check out these resources to help you bring free print and online books to qualifying schools and students.

Prioritize Time to Read for Students

To take advantage of the freedom to read, time for reading has to be prioritized. Students need time to read every day in order to progress as readers. Giving students the time to read something that they choose and at their own pace not only gets kids excited about reading, it also helps them build confidence in their reading abilities and encourages them to read more. It can also improve vocabulary, increase comprehension and knowledge, and support development of analytical and critical-thinking skills. If the goal is to develop lifelong readers who revel in their freedom to read, kids of all ages should have time in class to read what they want to read.

Learn more

The Power of Choice and Time by Beth Jarzabek
NCTE’s Statement on Independent Reading
Supporting the Joy & Power of Reading: A Practitioner’s Guide from Scholastic

These book recommendations can help you give full meaning to the freedom to read by providing access to books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought, expression, and experience.

Books by Theme

Help students find age-appropriate books that show they are reflected and respected.

Find your book

Read Across America Recommendations—Find Your Book

Choose from titles that students can see themselves in as well as books that open windows to lives different from their own.

Get started

Picture Books that Celebrate Books

Titles in this list are all about a love for books and reading. Use them to celebrate books, reading, and open access to ideas—all key ingredients in building a nation of lifelong readers.

Start searching

Books About Fighting for the Freedom to Read

In these titles, kids and teens fight for intellectual freedom, highlighting why all of us—young and old—deserve to make our own choices about what we read.

Find your book

Challenged Books Recommended by NEA's Read Across America

These recent book recommendations from NEA’s Read Across America were included in PEN America’s 2022 analysis of titles challenged and banned in school and classroom libraries.

View the list Find these books at your local library

cropped version of the cover of Carter Reads the Newspaper book

Recommended Banned Books

Critically reviewed selection of titles for children, young adults, and educators that address social issues and represent the diversity of the United States from Social Justice Books.

View the list

Educator Resources

NCTE’s position statement on Students’ Right to Read

The Case for Children’s Rights to Read from the International Literacy Association

Creating an Anti-Bias Library from Social Justice Books

Centering Student Voice and Choice: A Book Club Guide from Facing History & Ourselves

Rally for the Right to Read from Penguin Random House

12 Strategies for Creating Inclusive Literacy Celebrations for ELLs from Colorin Colorado

Understanding the First Amendment: A Guide for Teachers and Librarians from Random House Teachers & Librarians

Responding to Book Challenges: A Handbook for Educators created by the National Coalition Against Censorship in collaboration with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

Defending Intellectual Freedom: LGBTQ+ Materials in School Libraries (PDF) from the American Association of School Librarians (AASL)

Create a Banned Books Pop-Up Display with resources from the Zinn Education Project to create an interactive display that provides an engaging introduction to the dangers of banned books and efforts to defend the freedom to learn.

Parent Resources

Find Banned Books Week Events Near You

Teaching for Change’s Freedom Reads: Anti-Bias Book Talk video series 

Why Your Kid Should Read Banned Books from Common Sense Media

Unite Against Book Bans, an Initiative of the American Library Association, offers an Action Toolkit to help unite voices in support of the freedom to read in your community

Kids’ Right to Read Action Kit from the National Coalition Against Censorship

Get Ready Stay Ready: A Community Action Toolkit for Parents & Caregivers provides curated resources from a group of parents and librarians who believe that the power is in community, in togetherness, in a collective outcry, and a collective pushback against those who want to erase our stories, our history, and our existence.

Addressing Book Challenges for Parents & Allies from We Need Diverse Books

How You Can Fight Censorship: Resources for Parents from Penguin Random House

Why Diverse Books Matter: Mirrors and Windows from Colorín Colorado

Watch

Authors Jason Reynolds, Wendy Shang, Kwame Alexander, Tracy Baptiste, Meg Medina, and Read Across America ambassador 2021-23 Marley Dias discuss book bans, censorship, and the need for kids to see themselves as the protagonists of their own stories.

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