Weekly Round-up 2nd July 2026
- Anna Bond
- Jul 2
- 4 min read
Hi Everyone,
Summer is the perfect time to keep reading momentum going – and to stop that frustrating 'holiday dip' where pupils can lose up to 20% of their hard‑won progress.
This week’s Round‑up brings you ready‑made ways to keep books and stories at the heart of family life: from new release recommendations to Plastic Free July picks. You’ll also find details of the Summer Reading Challenge, Pageticker’s easy‑to‑use Challenge feature - where you can create your own class or school reading challenges, information on the free family app and end‑of‑term bookmark treats.
Happy reading,
Nicola, Founder
“Research suggests that pupils can lose around 20% of the reading progress they make during the school year if they stop reading over the summer – but structured summer reading initiatives help to stem this ‘holiday dip’ and get more children reading more often.”
- Donalyn Miller
Handpicked Suggestion
The handpicked suggestion of the week is Naeli and The Secret Song by Jasbinder Bilan. It’s suitable for children aged 8+.
Naeli and the Secret Song follows Naeli, a girl living in India in the 1870s. Her mother has died of malaria, and her English father disappeared years ago. Naeli is left with her father’s violin and memories of music.
When Naeli receives a mysterious ticket to England and travels alone by sea, she realises that several people are unusually interested in her father’s violin and her family history.
As the mystery deepens, Naeli and Jack uncover secrets, including a hidden “secret song.”
Their adventure leads them across Victorian England, where Naeli must confront danger and discover the truth about her father.
This is a great choice for children who enjoy historical fiction and strong protagonists.
Notable New Release
The notable new release this week is Little People, Big Dreams: Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s suitable for children aged 6+.
This book is the latest edition in the Little People, Big Dreams biography series. It’s ideal for fans of this series or children who are football fans.
It tells the story of Cristiano Ronaldo, from growing up in Madeira to becoming one of the best-known footballers, currently starring in the World Cup!
The book focuses on Ronaldo’s determination and ability to overcome challenges, including a childhood heart condition. As well as highlighting Ronaldo’s success at football clubs, it also emphasises the importance of resilience.
Suggested Reading Themes
11 June-19 July - Football World Cup (see our booklist)
29 June-12 July - Wimbledon Fortnight
July - Plastic Free Month (see our booklist)
5 July - Thank You Day
5 July - NHS Day
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 - Plastic Free July
The booklist is a brilliant way for children to learn more about the world around them and the impact that people have on it, while also teaching children about reducing, reusing and recycling materials.
June Giveaway - Winner Announced 🎉
Congratulations to Lozells Junior and Infant School for winning our June book giveaway! We hope your pupils enjoy the new selection of books.
July Giveaway - Open ⬇️
This month, we have six brand new books for you to win for your school! Enter below for your chance to win these fantastic books.
This giveaway closes on the 31st July 2026 (12 p.m. BST). Full T&Cs here.
Pageticker Resources - Bookmarks
As the end of term approaches, why not reward your pupils with some lovely Pageticker bookmarks!
Pageticker Spotlight - Challenge Feature
Pageticker’s 'Challenge feature' lets schools set simple, high‑impact reading challenges for a class, year group or whole school. It works brilliantly in term time or over the holidays, and here’s a short video to help you get started.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Create a challenge for a class, year group or your whole school
- Share a link or code with families – they download the free app
- Children log their reading at home; staff can see progress at a glance
No spreadsheets. No paper logs. No extra marking. Just a simple way to keep reading going over the holidays.
“Pageticker has been a great addition to our household this summer! It's so easy to log reading sessions, discover new books ideas, and my children love watching their progress grow. Brilliant tool for keeping reading fun during the summer break!”
- Parent, App Store review Aug 2025
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