It’s one of the great contradictions of the Australian summer: kids finally have time to read, but reading is the last thing they want to do.
After a big school year, the break feels well-earned. Days stretch out with beach trips, movie marathons, backyard cricket and late nights. And that’s exactly how it should be – rest, fun and family time. But while those long weeks are great for recharging, they can also lead to a phenomenon teachers know all too well: the “summer slide.” That’s when kids return to school having lost some of the reading progress they worked so hard to build.
And it’s surprisingly common. Students can lose months of reading skills over the summer holidays if they stop reading altogether. That means teachers often spend the first weeks of Term 1 helping students regain their lost momentum, instead of moving forward.
But keeping reading alive over the holidays doesn’t mean assigning book reports under the beach umbrella. It just means making stories easy to access and hard to resist.
So how do you keep kids reading over summer? The Sora Reads Summer Book Club is here to help!
Finding the reading sweet spot to keep kids reading
Running from 8 December to 12 January, the Sora Reads Summer Book Club keeps kids reading in a way that feels relaxed and enjoyable, not like an extension of the school term. It’s available through the free Sora app, which lets students borrow eBooks and audiobooks anytime, anywhere, on any device.
Sora makes reading easy and engaging, with tools that build confidence, support different learning styles and help students grow their literacy skills at their own pace.
This year’s featured titles include Spellhound by Lian Tanner for primary-age readers, and How to Be Normal by Ange Crawford for secondary-age readers. Both are available with unlimited, simultaneous access for all participating schools. That means no waiting lists and no holds, just the freedom to dive into a story when the mood strikes. Participating schools will have access to the Sora Summer Book Club titles automatically.
These titles were chosen because they offer kids an exciting mix of mystery, humour, adventure and the chance to see the world through someone else’s eyes. A perfect combination to keep kids reading.
As Ange Crawford puts it, “Reading allows us to take other perspectives, to wonder for a moment what the world might feel like from a different angle. For many of us, summer offers a few pauses, when we might reflect on the year that’s almost over and what’s ahead, and this liminal space always feels like a really meaningful time to pick up a book and dream in those ways.”
Simple ways to make reading part of the holidays
Not every child is a natural bookworm, and that’s okay. But building a consistent habit of reading, even just 10 to 15 minutes a day, can make a real difference to literacy growth and confidence.
Here’s how families can help to keep kids reading:
- Leave books and devices with reading apps where kids can easily reach them – on the coffee table, in a beach bag, by the bed.
- Lead by example. When kids see adults reading for fun, it normalises the habit. Grab your own book, too.
- Make use of downtime. Audiobooks on long car rides or while winding down in the evening can keep kids connected to stories in a relaxed way.
- Let them choose. The best reading is the kind kids choose for themselves. Whether it’s fantasy, facts or graphic novels – if they’re reading, they’re winning.
If we keep kids reading over the holidays, it doesn’t just make January easier for teachers. It helps kids return to the classroom with confidence. They’re more prepared, more focused and less likely to feel like they’re already behind in the first week of school.
And for many families, access matters. Not everyone can easily get to a library or bookstore during the holidays. The Sora app makes it possible to borrow books instantly, with the option to download for offline reading, no matter where summer takes you.
As Lian Tanner says, “Reading can bring us joy, comfort and knowledge… and countless models of courage, persistence, imagination – all the things we need to get through life.”
Make reading part of your child’s summer story
The summer break should be fun. But it can also be full of great stories. Whether it’s a page-turning mystery, a laugh-out-loud novel or just ten quiet minutes before bed, every bit of reading counts.
The Sora Reads Summer Book Club runs from 8 December to 12 January.
If your child’s school already uses Sora, they can dive into thousands of digital books right away. Visit soraapp.com to get started.
If your school doesn’t have Sora yet, consider mentioning it to your child’s teacher or librarian so they can explore bringing this resource to your school community.
Because the best way to beat the summer slide is to get lost in a good book.
By Monica Williams, Account Manager – Global Libraries & Education, Overdrive:
Monica has over 15 years of experience working as a Librarian and Multimedia Technician within Corporate and Education Sectors. She has a passion for Technology, E-Learning and Photography.
Currently, Monica is an IT Consultant for several Victorian Teacher Associations. She also sits on the VALA committee.
Based in Melbourne, Monica joined OverDrive in 2022 after working as the Library Manager and a Digital Literacy Specialist at a Catholic Girls Secondary College.
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