Nearly 2,400 first-graders from 48 schools in public and private school districts across Iowa are participating in the 20th  African American Read-In hosted February 24 by University of Northern Iowa College of Education. 

This free, virtual event focuses on African American authors, illustrators and children’s literature. It  includes a read-along and draw-along with guest presenters. This year’s featured artists:

• Derrick Barnes, author of the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning picture book "Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut," which received a Newbery Honor, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor, the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award, and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers, which is a book being read and also donated to students in the participating classrooms. Among other honors, he has been a National Book Award Finalist for a graphic novel focused on the young adult audience, won the Kirkus Prize for the New York Times bestseller, "I Am Every Good Thing” and created bestselling companion picture books, "The King of Kindergarten" and "The Queen of Kindergarten." 
• Oge Mora, a collage artist and storyteller whose picture book, "Thank You, Omu!," was a Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award winner, and Ezra Jack Keats Book Award recipient. Her second book, "Saturday," won the 2020 Boston Globe—Horn Book Picture Book Award. 

Registration includes first graders from 116 school classrooms. Among the districts and communities with schools participating are Ames, Burlington, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Charles City, Davenport, Decorah, Des Moines, Dike-New Hartford, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Hudson, Jesup, Mason City, Moville, Oelwein, Osage, Peosta, Radcliffe, Sioux City, Spencer, Storm Lake, Tabor, Waterloo, Waukee and West Des Moines.

First organized by the late Gloria Kirkland Holmes, PhD, a UNI early education professor, the event is part of the National African American Read-In sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and endorsed by the International Literacy Association.