Expanding What “Real Reading” Means for Young Learners – A summary of the Joyful Reading Co article (Read the full article HERE)

Reading has evolved beyond traditional books, and embracing comics, audiobooks, and digital formats can play a vital role in encouraging students to read more. This broader definition of “real reading” recognises that engaging with stories and information in many forms helps build literacy skills and a lifelong love of reading.

Comics and graphic novels, for example, combine visuals with text, making stories accessible and exciting for early secondary school students, often breaking down the barriers to “traditional reading". They support vocabulary development, comprehension, and critical thinking while appealing especially to readers who might find long texts intimidating. Audiobooks provide another valuable option, allowing students to listen to stories while doing other activities, improving listening skills and exposing them to fluent reading.

We often hear that students “don’t like reading,” but a truer statement may be that they have not found their type of reading for them in this moment. Digital platforms often make reading versatile and convenient on a range of devices so that an audiobook can be enjoyed on public transport or when they are doing jobs at home. The variety of mediums means every student can find something they enjoy, fostering confidence and enthusiasm for reading.

With term break coming up it is important to remember that at Parade College, the Nash Learning Centre offers a huge range of resources that align perfectly with these modern reading trends. Through apps like Sora, BorrowBox, and OverDrive, students have access to thousands of audiobooks, digital novels, manga, comics, and magazines. These tools make it easy to explore different genres and formats anytime, anywhere, encouraging reading as a fun and flexible part of daily life. They can be accessed through our NLC HOMEPAGE. Simply log in and borrow.

We encourage parents to support their children in discovering these diverse reading options. By welcoming all kinds of “real reading,” we help young learners grow stronger literacy skills and a love for stories that can last a lifetime.