Normally, my annual fundraiser is Frocktober, where for the month of October, I celebrate the gloriousness of frocks whilst fundraising for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. But this year, I’m mixing it up with something equally delightful and just a bit more bookish: a readathon! And not just any readathon—The World’s Coolest Readathon, hosted by the Australian Book Foundation. I saw that another wonderful Teacher Librarian Barbara from Bourke High School had signed up and then I thought… why not do it myself?
And what better way to kick things off than with a mystery? My first book for this readathon is Diabolical Bones by Sue Ellis—a Brontë Girls Mystery, borrowed from the ever-wonderful Brisbane City Council libraries. Gothic Yorkshire, clever heroines, and a touch of the macabre? Yes please.
A readathon, I’ve decided, is the perfect sequel to Book Month—like the epilogue where the characters (aka readers) get to celebrate their love of stories with wild abandon. It’s the encore performance, the bonus chapter, the literary afterparty.
Once upon a time, in a land not so far away (okay, it was my bedroom in Brisbane’s Southside), I embarked on a noble quest: the MS Readathon. Armed with a stack of books taller than my bedside lamp and a sponsorship sheet that made me feel like a literary philanthropist, I read my way through mysteries, adventures, and magical lands—all while raising money for a good cause. It was glorious.
Fast forward to today, and I find myself whispering reminders like a mantra: Read for fun. Read for joy. Read for pleasure. Because somewhere between grown-up responsibilities and inbox avalanches, the simple delight of reading can slip through the cracks.
Why Readathons Are Brilliant (and Backed by Science!)
Readathons aren’t just nostalgic—they’re powerful tools for literacy, wellbeing, and community. Here’s why they’re so magical:
They Spark a Love of Reading: Choosing your own books makes reading feel like breathing—natural and joyful.
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”
–Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
They Boost Brains and Wellbeing: Reading for pleasure improves mental health and cognitive skills.
“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”
— Mason Cooley
They Create Lifelong Readers: Even reluctant readers get swept up in the fun.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”
— George R.R. Martin
They Build Community: Fundraising through reading turns stories into shared kindness.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
— Aesop
A Readathon Renaissance
Whether you’re a teacher, parent, librarian, or just a book-loving human, readathons offer a delightful way to reconnect with the joy of reading. They’re flexible, inclusive, and can be tailored to any age or interest. Plus, they’re a fabulous excuse to wear pajamas all day and call it “literary immersion.”
So if you, like me, sometimes need a nudge to read for the sheer pleasure of it, consider joining or hosting a readathon. You’ll be part of a movement that’s not just fun—it’s transformative.
And if you’re ready to dive in, check out The World’s Coolest Readathon. It’s got all the charm of the MS Readathon days, with a modern twist and a mission to make reading joyful again.
References
- Attiyat, N. M. A. (2019). The impact of pleasure reading on enhancing writing achievement and reading comprehension. Arab World English Journal, 10(1), 155–165. https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol10no1.14
- Dong, Y., Wu, S. X.-Y., Dong, W.-Y., & Tang, Y. (2020). The effects of home literacy environment on children’s reading comprehension development: A meta-analysis. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 20(2), 63–82. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1251494.pdf
- University of the People. (2024). Why is reading important? Read more to live better. https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/why-its-important-to-read/
Learning through the Library 