Weekly Round-up 16th July 2026
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
Hi Everyone,
We have some exciting news: Pageticker is officially award-winning!🎉
Earlier this year, we were nominated for the BESA Awards 2026 Start-up of the Year, and last week, we found out we'd won. The judges said: "Pageticker is a fantastic example of how to use technology to help schools save time and be more efficient. The product stood out for its clarity of purpose, ease of use, and strong potential for growth." We couldn't be prouder - and this win belongs just as much to the teachers, schools, and families who've been part of our journey so far. Thank you.
Now onto this week’s Round-up - the final one of the academic year, and it’s packed with resources for you to share with families about reading. Inside, you’ll find our 10 tips for reading at home, 16 ideas for finding no-cost and low‑cost books, a booklist on transitioning to secondary school, and our summer reading list. We also have our usual book recommendations and a spotlight on another team member.
Your next Round‑up will land in your inbox on Thursday, 3 September. In the meantime, keep up with our recommendations and giveaways by following us on social media.
Final thought: As you may know, Pageticker is based in Bath, where books and beautiful stories are part of the city’s fabric, so it feels fitting to end the school year with a little nod to Jane Austen, who spent many years here.
As you head into a well‑earned break, I hope you find plenty of time to slow down, pick up a book just for you, and enjoy some truly relaxing summer reading.
Happy reading,
Nicola, Founder
"I declare after all, there is no enjoyment like reading!"
- Jane Austen
Handpicked Suggestion
This week’s handpicked suggestion is A Dinosaur A Day by Miranda Smith and illustrated by a range of talented illustrators, such as Jenny Wren. It’s suitable for children aged 6+.
Children will discover a different dinosaur for each day of the year. There’s a brilliant selection of dinosaurs with different temperaments from Tyrannosaurus Rexes to Titanosauruses. This book is filled with fascinating facts and stunning illustrations that bring them to life.
Notable New Release
This week’s notable new release is The Lost Dragon of Roar by Jenny McLachlan. This is the fifth book in her Land of Roar series. This is suitable for children aged 8+.
Rose, Arthur and Win are heading back to dragon school, and now that they’re officially dragon riders, it’s time for their first mission. They find themselves on a cursed island of witches and face to face with the most fearsome dragon in Roar. But as the danger grows, they soon realise they’re being followed…
This will be loved by fans of the Land of Roar Series. You could start with The Lost Dragon of Roar however, we recommend starting with the first book of the series (The Land of Roar.)
Suggested Reading Themes
11 June-19 July - Football World Cup (see our booklist)
July - Plastic Free Month (see our booklist)
18 July - Nelson Mandela Day
20 July - International Moon Day
29 July - International Tiger Day
30 July - International Day of Friendship
Take a look at the events for the National Year of Reading and The Reading Agency.
Pageticker Booklist - Transitioning to Secondary School
This week's booklist brings together carefully chosen reads to support children in Years 6 and 7 as they prepare for or settle into secondary school. It includes reassuring guides, relatable stories, and graphic novels that explore changes in friendship, growing independence, worries about fitting in, and the excitement of new opportunities.
Teachers and parents can use these titles for shared reading, class discussion, book corners, or home recommendations, helping pupils talk about their feelings, build confidence, and see that they are not alone in finding the move to secondary school a big step.
July Giveaway - Open ⬇️
This month, we have six brilliant books for your school to win in our July book giveaway! These books range in age, genre, and if you hadn’t previously noticed, feature in our handpicked and notable new release sections of our Round-ups!
This giveaway closes on the 31st July 2026 (12 p.m. BST). Full T&Cs here.
Note: We understand that many schools will be closed for the summer holidays. With this in mind, the winner will have until September to respond to us. We will also send the July book giveaway in September.
Pageticker Resources - 16 Low-No Cost Book Hacks
If you’re talking to families about keeping reading going over the summer, you might like to share our latest blog post. It’s full of practical, low‑cost ideas for finding free or nearly‑free books, from local libraries and community book swaps to simple ways parents can share books via WhatsApp and Facebook.
You can forward the link to families or add it to your end‑of‑term newsletter so every child has a better chance of finding something they want to read over the holidays.
Don't forget about our other resources!
Here are some ways you can share these free resources:
Print and send home before the end of the term.
Attach to your summer newsletter for parents.
Upload to your website or parent portal.
Pageticker Spotlight - Meet Sarnaz
Sarnaz joined the Pageticker team directly from Bath University and has been with Pageticker since its earliest days. Sarnaz works predominantly on the Pageticker app and brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to everything he does - his bubbly personality helps to make him a key member of the Pageticker team. He loves playing sports and trying new things. If you don’t see him out on the courts, he’ll be somewhere else pretending he’s a professional!
“If you're a parent or a teacher looking to foster a genuine love for books in your kids, I can't recommend this enough. It's simple, engaging, and it truly works!”
- Parent, App Store review, Apr 2026
Pageticker for Families
The Pageticker app is a quick, family‑friendly way to support children’s reading at home, and it's free for families to download and use. No school subscription is required - families can simply download the app from their usual app store.
Pageticker is the UK's top-rated digital reading diary designed to help children develop habits that will fuel their curiosity and learning for life. Find out more.
Have a great week,
The Pageticker Team