Inspiring Books for Kids to Read this Book Week

The theme for 2023 Book Week, which runs from 19 August to 25, is Read, Grow, Inspire. We recommend making the most of this week to introduce your child to books that expand their horizons and inspire them to be their best.

Why not embark on a reading adventure together? Countless studies have shown the wonderful benefits young children receive when reading with a parent.  

You can help foster a love of reading and boost your child’s literacy skills by making sure they see reading as a fun pastime. We recommend that you take turns reading aloud together and talk to your child regularly about books. 

These inspiring books will help your child to embrace reading this Book Week. 

Picture Books

• The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

This book teaches children about the importance of perseverance, resilience and how to deal with failure. The main character, who is nameless, tries many times to create something amazing but she fails repeatedly. Losing heart, she quits but is reminded by her pet dog that it’s perfectly fine to take a break to regroup and try again. This excellent book is also great for inspiring kids to learn more about STEM.

• Tiny Wonders by Sally Soweol Han

This beautiful picture book is about a young called April who feels like everyone around her is too busy to stop and appreciate life. April tries to think of a way to help people slow down and enjoy the small things. She remembers how much happiness dandelions brought her grandmother and this inspires her to come up with a plan. Tiny Wonders is bursting with colour and will fill kids with joy. 

• The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin

Rather than asking children to think about career options when they grow up, this picture book encourages them to consider the types of character traits they would like to embody. It focuses on positive traits such as kindness, boldness and bravery. It helps children become more aware of the kind of person they will become, and their own agency in choosing their identity. 

Middle-Grade Books

• We Run Tomorrow by Nat Amoore and Mike Barry

Children will adore this graphic novel about four friends living on the same street who decide to become proactive when their parents make decisions that could separate them forever. The kids decide their only way to stay together is to audition and get parts in the movie being made of their favourite comic book series. Friendships are tested and strengthened as they make their way to the Gold Coast to achieve what seems like an impossible task. Through resilience and determination, the characters discover they can achieve anything they put their minds to. 

• All Four Quarters of the Moon by Shirley Marr

This is a novel for young readers about adjusting to life in a new country. Peijing is hopeful her family will be fine when they immigrate to Australia, but it doesn’t take long for problems to emerge. Ma Ma is not acting like herself, while her grandmother keeps forgetting who she is. Her father also struggles to be a hands-on dad after working seven days a week. A moving story about culture shock and resilience that celebrates the power of storytelling and imagination. 

• Rules by Cynthia Lord 

Catherine is a twelve-year-old who simply wants a normal life, but this is impossible with an autistic brother, David, with high needs. Family life revolves around David’s needs and Catherine spends a lot of time trying to teach him the rules of ‘normal’ behaviour so he doesn’t embarrass her. When Catherine meets a paraplegic boy called Jason and finds a new best friend next door, she is forced to take a hard look at herself and question everything she believes, including what is ‘normal.’

Young Adult Books

• A Walk in the Dark by Jane Godwin

A Walk in the Dark is a heart-pounding adventure novel about four very different students who become lost while hiking in the Otways. The teenagers learn a lot about themselves and each other after they lose their map, compass and flashlight and face a range of other disasters. They must use their ingenuity to find their way out. This book will teach kids all about determination and resilience when the odds are stacked against you. 

• The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

The Breadwinner is about a young girl called Parvana growing up under the Taliban in Afghanistan. Her father is threatened by Taliban officials because he attended a foreign university, and he loses his ability to support his family. At the age of 11, Parvana is forced to dress like a boy to become the family breadwinner. The author conducted extensive interviews with female refugees as research for the novel, and the book provides a harrowing yet inspiring glimpse into the courage and fortitude of children in very difficult circumstances. 

How a Tutor Can Help With Reading Skills  

Sometimes students are reluctant readers because they struggle deciphering words or have problems with comprehension. Our tutors can help identify reading issues and develop a personalised learning plan for your child. 

We can also assist high-performing students to sharpen their literacy skills further and reach their full potential.

Contact us for a free consultation!