Read Across Iowa is a statewide, signature education initiative of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF), designed to provide Iowa classrooms with profesionally published, agriculture-themed books and classroom resources that strengthen literacy skills while increasing students' understanding of agriculture and food systems.
Celebrated in March, Read Across Iowa uses the power of reading to connect students to real-world agriculture, helping them explore where food comes from, how it is produced, and why agriculture matters to Iowa's economy and communities.
2026 Theme: Pollinators to Product
The 2026 Read Across Iowa theme, Pollinators to Product, highlights the essential role pollinators play in agriculture and connects their work to the food, fiber, and everyday products students know and use.
Through engaging stories and hands-on extensions, students are encouraged to make connections across agriculture, science, technology, engineering, and math while building background knowledge through reading.
About the Read Across Iowa Kits
IALF is excited to provide 1,000 free Read Across Iowa kits for the 2026 celebration.
- Kits are designed for PK-12 educators, school libraries, and public libraries.
- Each kit contains up to five professionally published books, ideal for K-5 readers, along with educator resources.
- Kits support literacy instruction while intentionally building agricultural literacy.
- Resources include books, read-aloud tips, lesson ideas, and hands-on extensions.
Kits are available while supplies last and will be delivered to classrooms by March 1. To ensure equitable distribution across the state, please request only one kit per classroom, or location.
Learn More
For additional details, lesson ideas, and program information, visit the Read Across Iowa website.
Partners and Support
Read Across Iowa is a signature education intiative of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation, delivered in collaboration with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Iowa 4-H Youth Development. Some books and materials were provided by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Specialty Crop Block grant, Iowa Space Grant Consortium, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Iowa State University (Dean of Human Sciences, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources), and other valued partners of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation.