Writers share reading insights

Writers Philippe Besson, Tahar Ben Jelloun, and Christophe Ono-dit-Biot were introduced to literature at a young age before writing their own novels. Singers also recall nourishing their imagination with holiday reading. Aldebert, who now writes songs for children, read anything he could get his hands on to escape normal life and reach "another world."

Youth screen time dwarfs reading time

Young people spend ten times more time daily on screens (3h11) than reading books for leisure (19 minutes per day), according to a study from April 2024. "This summer, I read!" is now extended throughout the year with the operation "On vacation, I read as well" to (re)give young people the taste for books all year round.

Ministry promotes reading during vacations

On this occasion, the Ministry of National Education proposes a selection of readings for all ages. Yes, to encourage reading during the privileged time of school holidays, the ministry offers, before each vacation period, a list of books by age group.

Vacations as a time for reading

Vacations constitute a privileged time to reconnect with the pleasure of reading, to awaken curiosity, and to explore new universes. They are also an ideal moment to make reading a shared experience, giving reading its full place in family activities.

Reading selections vary by age and genre

The principle of this selection of readings is simple: for each vacation period, from kindergarten to high school, eight reading suggestions are made to students and their families. Picture books, fairy tales, novels, plays, comics, poetry, essays: the genres, subjects, and difficulty levels vary, and classic authors are alongside contemporary ones.

Accessing the books is easy

Where to find the books? It is certainly possible to borrow them from your school, middle school, or high school, as well as from the library or media library near your home. Students with visual impairments or cognitive disorders can also access free audio books, in human voice or synthetic voice, as well as in digital braille, via the Valentin Haüy Media Library. It is the school that proceeds with the registration, on proof.