To understand the reading habits and preferences of students across Hong Kong, the "20th Top Ten Book Picks" online voting initiative included a simple survey allowing students to share their reading habits via electronic platforms. Library directors are encouraged to combine the "Top Ten Book Picks" voting results to formulate reading promotion strategies for the upcoming year. In this survey, 20,051 valid responses were collected from 274 schools, and the findings were announced at the "20th Ten Recommended Reads" award ceremony and reading habits seminar. Here are the highlights:
Students Read Most at Home
Times change, but some values remain constant. At the award ceremony, many familiar names emerged, such as Ah Nong, Wisely, Claire Lo and Yau Yan-Ni, whose engaging stories continue to resonate with teachers and students. Inspirational and positive narratives, like those of Cheung Ka-Long and Lee Wai-Sze, showcased the students' aspirations for perseverance and focus. Promoting quality reading materials represents the transmission and inheritance of values.
（Stories of athletes, directors' insights, and picture book creations from two generations—all selected reads carry interesting stories and values.)
Regarding the value of reading, Mr. Lee Hon-Cheung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Education City Board, noted, "The Top Ten Book Picks initiative aims to introduce students to a more diverse range of literature, enhancing their interest in reading, cultivating curiosity for knowledge, and boosting their imagination and creativity, leading to greater possibilities." Indeed, diversifying reading materials is crucial for motivating students to read. At the ceremony, two young readers were invited to share their experiences, including Wong Hiu-Tung from Sahk B.m. Kotewall Memorial School. She expressed her excitement about discovering more interesting works at the ceremony, particularly a winning book, "Cat Psychology: Decoding What Cats Are Thinking," which she hopes to read immediately. Wongs love for reading was evident, and she also saw sharing favorite works with friends as a joy of reading.
"Sharing joy is better than enjoying it alone. The happiness from reading alone doesn't compare to enjoying it together!" echoed Tam Man-Chun from ELCHK Kwai Shing Lutheran Primary School, who read 352 books last year, making him a true bookworm. Tam loves reading, sharing, and exploring the world through books, believing that reading transcends time and space, broadening horizons. Last year's 352 books represented his many exciting adventures!
(Students at the venue also helped film short videos sharing their reading insights.)
The First Step to Promoting Reading: A Quality Reading Environment and a Love for Reading
Seeing students enjoy reading brings joy to parents, teachers, and all of us who are busy promoting literacy. Many stakeholders in Hong Kong's education sector are continually seeking ways to enhance the reading culture. At the award ceremony, Hong Kong Education City held a seminar on students' reading habits, where CEO Mr. Wai Yuen-Kong shared survey results and invited Dr. Lam Wai-Yip, Prinicipal Investigator of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021, along with Ms. Ling Sau Wai, Member of Council, Hong Kong Teacher-Librarians' Association; Teacher Librarian, ELCHK Lutheran Academy, for a reading discussion. They emphasized that to help students love reading, it's essential to ensure accessibility—having at least 25 different types of books readily available at home and in classrooms so that reading becomes an integral part of students' lives.
(The reading discussion at the event addressed how different roles, including schools, parents, and Hong Kong Education City, can collaborate to promote reading.)
In fact, thanks to the efforts of the Education Bureau, Education City, and many teachers, the reading atmosphere in schools is gradually strengthening. However, the survey found that parents in Hong Kong have relatively lower reading motivation, leading to a lack of a joyful reading environment at home. When society encourages parent-child reading, the focus should not only be on parents reading to their children but also on making reading a bridge for communication between parents and children, turning shared reading into a joyful bonding experience where families discuss, share, and explore together, doubling the joy of reading. While it's true that many parents are busy, if they desire their children to read more, they should lead by example, nurturing their own interest in reading first. By embarking on a joyful reading journey, they can foster a positive exploratory mindset and ultimately share various reading skills with their children. Parents may discover that their children not only love books but also enjoy talking and sharing with them.
（Reading often begins in a vibrant reading atmosphere, as seen when Ms. Chan Shuk-Hin fromS.K.H Tin Wan Chi Nam Primary School led her students to the Top Ten Book Picks award ceremony to explore winning books and discover more quality reads.)
A Resolute Will to Face the Changing Times
（This year’s ceremony featured the beloved author Ah Nong, who expressed his ongoing commitment to supporting students through his writing.)
The most dazzling highlight of the Top Ten Book Picks this year was the presence of Ah Nong, the most beloved author among primary school students. He mentioned that today’s education, publishing, and writing face many challenges, and everyone should encourage and affirm one another. Indeed, society is undergoing significant changes; perhaps today we can input a command into a computer and let it create a work. But can the meaning of reading and publishing be summed up by a single command? Today, we witnessed students sharing that they read over 300 books in a year, saw foreign publishers sharing their joy in winning awards, and heard athletes' encouragement—these are all magical nutrients that promote reading and embody the spirit of the Top Ten Book Picks.
Ms. Ling Sau-Wai stated that students' tastes constantly change, and promoting reading requires seizing fleeting opportunities. Dr. Lam Wai-Yip indicated that the future of reading will be dual-track, with e-books and traditional books coexisting. Society needs to invest more effort to ensure that students can engage in deep reading even in fragmented time. How can we overcome these challenges? The answer lies in the stories shared by each awardee and in those magical nutrients. Despite the ever-changing society, as long as we maintain our passion for sharing stories and our collective commitment to promoting reading, we can rise to the challenge, enveloping students in a positive, inclusive, and enjoyable spirit, encouraging them to read more deeply and widely through the interwoven reading network.