Each year, Cobham Hall students participate in Readathon, a great opportunity to promote literacy, foster a love of reading for pleasure and raise money for a wonderful cause.

When the Year 7s came to the Independent Learning Centre for their Library Period, they asked me what we were going to do, and I told them they would be reading for Readathon.  They said “YES!” and it was lovely to hear this! They obviously appreciated the time to just sit and read.

Perhaps that’s the other opportunity provided by Readathon. In such an advanced technological era where smartphones are king and social media the provider of instant gratification, the chance to sit and enjoy a book – where the satisfaction may not be as immediate as seeing the number of likes on your latest Instagram photo – is often disregarded. Readathon gives the girls a very real reason to enjoy reading.

So we asked the girls what their top tips were to encourage others to pick up a book. Here are my favourite responses:

• Ask the librarian for a good book, she’ll be able to help find one for you
• It is OK to not finish a book if you don’t like it, but pick up another one instead
• Don’t judge a book by its cover
• Keep trying until you find something you really enjoy
• Read for Readathon even if you don’t really like reading because it is a really good cause.

The girls had some great responses, and with so many fabulous books out there, there’s bound to be something you like.

Shortly after our Readathon, we welcomed Costa Book Award winner Frances Hardinge to the School to hear about her book, ‘The Lie Tree’.  The visit went incredibly well, with many of the girls inspired to continue reading!  This follows a recent visit by Griselda Heppel, a Cobham Hall Elder whose debut novel, ‘Ante’s Inferno’, won the Children’s category of the People’s Book Prize in 2013.

Andrea Jakso, Librarian

Cobham Hall

http://www.cobhamhall.com/