Welcome to Our Reading Club
Stories that Help Us See One Another More Clearly
Each month, we highlight one children's book, one young adult title, and one adult or nonfiction work that aligns with meaningful cultural commemorations and DE&I initiatives. These selections are designed to spark conversation, empathy, and connection across ages.
For an in-depth review of each book, read our parallel monthly newsletter.
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The Velvet Pumpkin Reading Club was created to encourage thoughtful reading, meaningful conversations, and shared reflection across generations. Each month highlights stories that explore identity, empathy, and the world around us—perfect for families, classrooms, and community groups.
January 2026
Identity, Heritage & New Beginnings
Children: The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Young Adult: Starfish by Lisa Fipps
Adult: How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
February 2026
Black History & New Beginnings
Children: Lucy's Umbrella by Sara Madden
Young Adult: Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Adult: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
March 2026
Women's History & Voices
Children: She Persister: 13 American Women Who Changed the World by Chelsea Clinton
Young Adult: I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Adult: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Carline Criado Perez
April 2026
Autism Awareness & Neurodiversity
Children: All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism by Shaina Rudolph
Young Adult: A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Adult: The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
May 2026
Mental Health & Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage
Children: The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions by Anna Llenas
Young Adult: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Adult: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
June 2026
Pride and LGBTQ+ Voices
Children: Too by Sara Madden
Young Adult: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Adult: Transgender History: The Roots of Today's Revolution by Susan Stryker
July 2026
Freedom, Justice & Indepdendence
Children: Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles
Young Adult: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Adult: Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittney Cooper
August 2026
Nature, Evnironment & Stewardship
Children: The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry
Young Adult: A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry
Adult: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
September 2026
Hispanic Heritage & Culture Identity
Children: Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
Young Adult: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez
Adult: The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande
October 2026
Indigenous Peoples & Disability Awareness
Children: Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard
Young Adult: The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
Adult: Sitting Pretty: The View from my Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body by Rebekah Taussig
November 2026
Native American Heritage & Gratitude
Children: We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
Young Adult: Apple in the Middle by Dawn Quigley
Adult: An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
December 2026
Interfaith Understanding, Hope & Light
Children: The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
Young Adult: Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Adult: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
