Ramón can’t sleep. He’s nervous about the first day of school. El Cucuy (coo-coo-ee), the adorable horned monster that lives in Ramón’s cactus pot, also can’t sleep. He’s afraid, too! Together, Ramón and El Cucuy face their fears. And so can the young readers of El Cucuy is Scared, Too!, written by Donna Barba Higuera, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo, and recommended in NEA’s Read Across America booklist this year.
This is the power of books. Even as students deal with increasing mental health issues and difficult feelings related to the pandemic—grief, anxiety, isolation, and more—books can help.
Check out NEA’s Read Across America book recommendations
Many titles recommended for Read Across America delve into topics such as self-esteem, courage, and resilience. And many of those books feature characters of diverse races, which is also key for readers, says program chair and first-grade teacher Christina Bohringer. “It’s so important to see yourself in books,” she says.
Here are just a few of the recommended titles:
My First Day by Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien: In this picture book, a young boy named An paddles down the Mekong River in nothing but a little wooden boat with a single oar. The skies grow dark and his surroundings eerie, but An manages his fears, finds company, and persists in his journey to school.
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist (author) and Darnell Johnson (illustrator): Kai’s aunt is getting married, and Kai wants to join his ebullient family on the dance floor. But he doesn’t have the right moves and worries that he doesn’t fit in. In this feel-good picture book, Kai nails the steps with the help of family members.
Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh: When boys at Junie Kim’s middle school call her a “dog eater” and other racist names, Junie wants to disappear. But she has been spending time with her grandparents, survivors of the Korean War, and their stories inspire her to take action. This middle-grade book deals with issues of self-esteem, grief, and courage.
Thanks a Lot, Universe by Chad Lucas: This middle-grade book features two boys—one who has always been anxious and one who has always been popular. When the first is placed in a foster home and plans to run away, the second reaches out. Themes include bullying and mental health as well as friendship and compassion.
Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry: There were four Torres sisters, but then the eldest falls from a window and dies. The three remaining sisters feel haunted b grief and then, perhaps, by something else. Mysterious writing appears on the walls. This is a young adult book with a touch of magical realism and themes of loss and connection.
The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris: Sixteen-year-old Alex Rufus has a secret power. He can touch something and see its future. It feels to him more like a curse than a gift, especially when he touches his brother and sees his imminent death. Now, Alex is in a race against time to save him. This young adult book explores themes of brotherhood and race, while also dealing with mental health issues such as anxiety and grief.
