Holiday Reading to Beat Slide

Sydney, Jan 2: Relaxing with a book is not only enjoyable but also a clever way for children to maintain their literacy skills over the summer break, says Jade Arnold, Premier’s Programs Officer for Reading and Spelling with the NSW Department of Education.
The “summer slide,” where students lose progress in reading and math during holidays, is a concern for educators.
Arnold highlights that summer reading can prevent this and also foster a love for reading.
She encourages families to incorporate reading into holiday routines and to set an example by reading themselves.
Local libraries can be a valuable resource, offering free audiobooks, eBooks, and summer reading programs.
For families on road trips, Arnold suggests listening to audiobooks together.
Arnold also shared a list of recommended books for children and teens, emphasizing the Premier’s Reading Challenge, which promotes reading quality literature for leisure and learning.
Books read during summer can be logged once the challenge opens on February 24, 2025.

Book Recommendations

Before Starting Kindergarten

• Starting School by Jane Godwin & Anna Walker
• Wombat Goes to School by Jackie French & Bruce Whatley
• The Pigeon HAS to Go to School by Mo Willems
• Maddi’s First Day by Penny Matthews & Liz Anelli
• Mini and Milo: The Big Flappy Ears by Venita Dimos & Natashia Curtin

Ages 5-8

• Do Not Open This Book series by Andy Lee
• The School of Monsters series by Sally Rippin & Chris Kennett
• Wombat Stew by Marcia K. Vaughan & Pamela Lofts
• I’m Australian Too by Mem Fox & Ronjoy Ghosh
• Our Dreaming by Kirli Saunders & Dub Leffer

Ages 9-12

• The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
• The Frog Squad by Kate & Jol Temple & Shiloh Gordon
• Howzat Pat #1: Dare to Bowl by Pat Cummins, Dave Hartley & Serena Geddes
• Little Ash #1: Perfect Match by Ash Barty, Jasmin McGaughey & Jane Goodwin
• The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
• Wandi by Favel Parrett
• Guts by Raina Telgemeier
• Hi from Outer Space by Fiona Katauskas
• Wylah the Koorie Warrior #1: Guardians by Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard
• All the Beautiful Things by Katrina Nannestad

Teens (Years 7-10)

Boys:

• Minutes of Danger series by Jack Heath
• Cop & Robber by Tristan Bancks
• The Road to Winter by Mark Smith
• King of Nothing by Nathanael Lessore
• Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Girls:

• The Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
• Go with the Flow by Lily Williams & Karen Schneemann
• Friday Barnes: Girl Detective by R.A. Spratt
• After the Lights Go Out by Lili Wilkinson
• The Liar’s Test by Ambelin Kwaymullina