Hello Educators,
Are you looking for a fresh, engaging way to introduce classic literature to your students without stretching your budget?
We are thrilled to introduce the National Day Classroom Annual Reading List, a free, week-by-week literary calendar designed to spark curiosity and foster a lifelong love of reading.
We’ve curated a list of 52 books—one for every week of the year—each thoughtfully paired with a National Day. From the thrilling adventures of National Talk Like a Pirate Day to the thoughtful reflections of National Day of Courage, each week offers a new theme and a new world to explore.
Here is a Peek at the First 7 Weeks
Best of all? Every single book on the list is from the public domain and available for free through Project Gutenberg.
Why You’ll Love This Reading List:
- Zero Cost, Zero Hassle: No subscriptions, no fees, no new platforms to learn. Just click and read. All titles are instantly accessible in various digital formats.
- Ready-Made Curriculum Content: Save hours of planning! The list provides a structured yet flexible framework for your reading curriculum, book clubs, or weekly read-aloud sessions.
- Writing Prompts: Making things easier for teachers to grade students (Released each week).
- Built-in Engagement: The “National Day” theme for each week serves as a perfect icebreaker and a launchpad for cross-curricular discussions in history, science, and social studies.
- Timeless Classics: Introduce your students to foundational texts from authors like Jules Verne, Jane Austen, Mark Twain, and H.G. Wells, building their cultural and literary literacy.
Here’s a small taste of what the year looks like:
- Week of January 15th (Martin Luther King Jr. Day): Dive into powerful speeches and essays on justice and equality.
- Week of September 19th (National Talk Like a Pirate Day): Set sail with Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, Treasure Island.
- Week of October 31st (Halloween): Explore the gothic chills of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories.
Ready to embark on a year-long literary journey with your students?
[Click Here to View and Download the Complete Annual Reading List for Free!]
We believe that great books should be accessible to everyone. Please feel free to use this resource in your classroom and share it with any colleagues who might find it valuable.
Happy Reading!
The Team at National Day Classroom
PS – The list is actually Evergreen and not limited to 2026 alone. This way, teachers can use it year after year with their students.