Acclaimed graphic novelist and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese) is making his Reading Without Walls initiative into an annual month-long celebration of reading.

Reading Without Walls Month will kick off in April. Yang is partnering with the Children’s Book Council, the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, Every Child a Reader, and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group to launch the annual program.

Reading Without Walls specifically challenges younger readers to read books that feature characters who don’t look or live like them, to read books about a topic they don’t know much about, and to read books in formats other that what they usually read (such as graphic novels). Yang launched the program in summer 2016 as part of his ambassadorship to encourage more diverse reading.

Retailers, libraries, and schools around the country will participate with author visits, readings, and other events. For retailers, the program is an opportunity to reach new audiences and parents in their communities. Retailers can learn more by visiting the official website to register events, sign up for updates, and download support materials.