By S Hutchinson | Posted: Monday December 1, 2025
Recommendations from our School Librarian
Summer is a time for beaches, barbecues, and long, sunny days but it can also lead to a “summer slide,” where students lose some of the academic ground they gained during the school year. Studies show that children who don’t read over the summer can fall behind in reading skills, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Reading for just 15–20 minutes a day can make a difference and help to keep young minds sharp and ready for the next school year.
Giving your son a book this Christmas helps reduce the summer slide by keeping his mind active. It encourages lifelong learning and offers a low-key alternative to endless screen time. Whether it’s an action-packed adventure, a gripping mystery, or a hilarious graphic novel, a well-chosen book can entertain while maintaining reading skills. The key is finding a book they'll truly enjoy; ask your son about his favourite style of book or think about what his sporting or hobbies are and then check out new and popular books at either Whitcoulls or The Bay Book Store.
So this Christmas, consider giving books as gifts and encourage young readers to dive into their next story, they are gifts that last far beyond the holiday season.
Here are some ideas for books to keep your son reading over the holidays.
The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson
Years ago he had comrades in arms and a cause to believe in, but now the man who calls himself Nomad knows only a life on the run. Forced to hop from world to world in the Cosmere whenever the relentless Night Brigade gets too close, Nomad lands on a new planet and is instantly caught up in the struggle between a tyrant and the rebels who want only to escape being turned into mindless slaves.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
A lone astronaut. An impossible mission. An ally he never imagined. Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission, and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn't know that.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Darrow is a Helldiver. A pioneer of Mars. Born to slave beneath the earth so that one day, future generations might live above it. He is a Red, humankind's lowest caste but he has something the Golds (the ruthless ruling class ) will never understand; a wife he worships and a family who give him strength and when they take that from him, all that remains is revenge . . .
Beneath our Feet by Jack Hartley
Alfie watches as the city he calls home crumbles in the Christchurch earthquake. From this tragedy, he gets a second chance at life; a heart transplant that links him forever to one of the victims.
Children of the Rush by James Russell
It's 1861, and gold fever is sweeping the world. Otherwise sensible adults have gone mad and will do anything to get their hands on the precious metal. But two children have been caught up in the rush.
Refugee by Alan Gratz (either the graphic novel or the written book)
This timeless story follows three children - Josef, Isabel and Mahmoud - who live in different parts of the world in different decades. All three kids must endure harrowing journeys as their homelands are ravaged by violence and destruction.
Diddly Squat: The Farmer’s Dog by Jeremy Clarkson
It's been another memorable year on Diddly Squat Farm and Clarkson's farm is the gift that keeps on giving. Now our hero has decided to bring his misunderstood entrepreneurial flair to bear on a new venture, a pub.
Perspective by Shaun Johnson
Shaun opens up about his early life, the weight of expectations, and the defining moments of his career: from epic plays on the field to the tough decision to leave the Warriors, and ultimately, his triumphant return to Mt Smart, crowned by being named Dally M Halfback of the Year in 2023.
View from the Second Row by Sam Whitelock
The most capped All Black in history speaks for the record about his storied career, spanning three rugby world cup grand finals, nine super rugby finals, and 153 appearances in the black jersey. Samuel Whitelock's record stands alone.
All Out by Neil Wagner
From his humble beginnings in working-class Pretoria, to his move to New Zealand to chase his lifelong dream and his emergence as an integral part of the most successful period in Black Caps' history, Wagner opens up about his triumphs on the field and personal challenges off it.
