This is by far the biggest month of International Days according to the UN. Unfortunately, I don’t actually have books for all of them. Nevertheless, let’s check them out.
1 March
Zero Discrimination Day [UNAIDS]
Here are my Top Ten books about discrimination:
- I Am Malala – discrimination against girls in gaining their education
- Devotion and Defiance – discrimination with Pakistani politics
- Reset – a woman’s lawsuit against discrimination in the work place
- Women of the Wall – discrimination within the Jewish faith
- Let My People Go – discrimination within the Protestant faith
- Love is an Orientation – discrimination within the Protestant faith
- Ask Me About My Uterus – discrimination in medical treatment
- The New Jim Crow – discrimination in the US legal system
- Dear Madam President – discrimination in US politics
- Reimagining Equality – discrimination in banking
3 March
World Wildlife Day (A/RES/68/205)
Two recommendations for World Wildlife are:
- A Reason for Hope by Jane Goodall
- How to Be a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery
8 March
While a part of me wants to just invite you to peruse the entire index of my posts, I’ll give Top Ten recommendations for this day anyway. These are collections that commemorate women’s progress and contributions:
- Hidden Figures
- When Women Ruled the World
- Headstrong
- Inferior
- The Secret History of the Mongol Queens
- Rad American Women/Rad Women Worldwide
- Wonder Women
- Corsets to Camoflauge
- America’s Women
- Girls Think of Everything
20 March
International Day of Happiness (A/RES/66/281)
For my top five happiest memoirs click here.
20 March
French Language Day (French)
I am not sure about this one…. I do have a book that was originally written in French and translated into English!!
The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
21 March
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (A/RES/2142 (XXI))
Okay so up top there was Zero Discrimination Day and some of those involved racial discrimination (The New Jim Crow and Reimagining Equality), but here are five more to add:
- Between the World and Me
- Narrative of Frederick Douglass
- At the Dark End of the Street
- Eloquent Rage
- When They Call You a Terrorist
21 March
World Poetry Day (UNESCO 30 C/Resolution 29)
There are so many great poetry books out there…
Here are my favorites:
21 March
International Day of Nowruz (A/RES/64/253)
This looks like a great celebration! I’ve never read about it in one of my books but the link does have a description and it’s a holiday celebrating the beginning of spring and traditionally celebrated in several countries.
21 March
World Down Syndrome Day (A/RES/66/149)
Unfortunately, I have also not read any books with major characters with Down Syndrome or that are about Down Syndrome either. Gonna have to rectify that. Any suggestions out there?
21 March
International Day of Forests (A/RES/67/200)
I do have some book that take place in the forest to some extent….
I recognize that it’s not the intent of celebrating this day to simply read a little fiction set there, but fiction also allows us to imagine places we have not been and live in ways we have not lived and therefore cherish things we’ve never touched. So, these are my top 5 books that have forest elements:
- The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf
- Toil and Trouble
- The Girl Who Drank the Moon
- Two Old Women
- The Darkest Part of the Forest
If you’re looking for some non-fiction, check out A Reason for Hope or Unbowed.
22 March
World Water Day (A/RES/47/193)
Likewise, these are the novels I’ve read with major water elements:
23 March
World Meteorological Day [WMO] (WMO/EC-XII/Res.6)
So…. nothing on meterology…
24 March
World Tuberculosis Day [WHO]
Or TB…
24 March
International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims (A/RES/65/196)
These are my top 10 books that discuss gross human rights violations:
- The Choice
- My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me
- Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here
- The Narrative of Sojourner Truth
- Freedom From Fear
- I, Rigoberta
- This Child Will Be Great
- First They Killed My Father
- The Last Girl
- Until We Are Free
25 March
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (A/RES/62/122)
I know I already listed The Narrative of Sojourner Truth up there, but it’s still applicable in this list. There are a few more that I would recommend reading for this:
- The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass for non fiction
I’ve been captivated by these stories that have come out of the remembrance of the transatlantic slave trade.
25 March
International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members
Unfortunately, I don’t have anything on this one either.
It’s quite a busy month full of commemorations and there are lots of books to available to dive into these subjects.
