As the second term school holiday stretches into its third week, the excitement of freedom can quickly turn into the dreaded boredom of too much time on hand. But fear not! With the holiday season comes the perfect opportunity to embark on thrilling adventures and explore new worlds through the pages of a good book.

While some students may be tempted to succumb to the allure of endless hours of video games and social media, we believe this is the perfect opportunity to embark on a literary adventure.

At Accessible Publishers Limited, we understand the transformative power of literature. Books have the ability to transport us to distant lands, introduce us to unforgettable characters, and challenge our perspectives on the world around us. This holiday season, we’ve handpicked 10 must-read titles that we believe will ignite your students’ passion for reading and learning.

In this blog post, we present our top 10 book recommendations for students to dive into during this holiday break.

Top 10 Interesting Reads for Students this Holiday

Brides of the Infidels by Anote Ajeluorou (9-12yrs old):

This intriguing story of an unexpected deadly terrorist attack on a once peaceful village will glue you to read to the very last! The invasion dealt a severe blow to Akwaga people leading to destructions and killings. Able bodied men both young and old are massacred in front of their mothers, daughters and sisters.

Young girls and mothers are kidnapped. The travails and journey in the hands of their captors are chronicled in this captivating story. This novel is a necessity for everyone as it succinctly depicts the situation we are facing now in the country.

One Cut Too Deep by Tope Olaifa (9-12yrs old):

Culture is a beautiful factor that defines us but we have to admit that culture doesn’t make us, rather, we make culture.

In the play “One Cut Too Deep” the author tells a fascinating story of child abuse, perpetrated through a rigid adherence to an obsolete culture of female circumcision and facial marking.

This gripping play exposes young readers to the extremities perpetrated to protect the sanctity of some traditional beliefs and the consequences such actions could have on young families.

• Bala and His Sons by Usman Al-Hassan (9-12yrs old):

Children who learn good morals early enough stand out among their peers.

Bashir and Musa are no exceptions. They learn how to be hardworking and responsible from their father, Mr Bala. Their good character makes them stand out among other children. They earn the trust of their father and everyone in their community.

Does it pay to be trustworthy and obedient? This storybook will inspire young children. It is written with simple diction and colourful illustrations to engage children to read to the very last page.  It also has questions and answers to facilitate learning.

The Antelope Wife and Other Stories by Ayo Orioke (6-8yrs old):

This collection of short stories offers a captivating glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria, blending traditional folklore with contemporary themes and engaging narratives.

The Antelope Wife and Other Stories is an exciting read for every category of junior readers. It contains highly informative, educative and entertaining stories. Every young reader will enjoy this storybook as it contains clear and distinct illustrations for better understanding.

The Worthy Heir by Idowu Akinyemi (9-12yrs old):

“You are the worthy heir to the throne in the instance of the king’s impotence.” This excerpt sheds some light into what this captivating story entails.

The storyline revolves around the themes of royalty, traditions and power tussle. It is extremely easy to read and also provides a lot of life lessons for children.

Discover who the heir is and how he managed to claim the controversial throne.

Blood Stain On the Throne by Yemi Obafemi (13-16yrs old)

Sometimes, the way of the gods is totally different from that of men.

This happens to be the case in this gripping story. The heir apparent to the throne, Prince Adefemi’s aspiration of succeeding his aged father as the king of Balewu is shattered when the gods do not approve of him succeeding the reigning king.

Consequently, he would stop at nothing to achieve his desperate desire.

This book will keep students on the edge of their seats while providing valuable insights into royalty and kingship tussle

My Father’s Debt by Adebunmi Tosin (9-12yrs old)

A poignant story about the impact of financial struggles on a family, this book explores themes of responsibility, sacrifice, courage and the bonds that hold a family together.

Ariyike, an industrious girl of about 17 years of age, is determined to learn and rescue her family from abject poverty.

However, the fight between her dream, debt and tradition are giant obstacles on her way to accomplishing her dreams.

My Father’s Debt is a must-read for young children to help instil industrious and courageous mindsets in them.

The Hunter And The Snake by Azeez Abass Abiodun:

The Hunter & The Snake is an adventurous story of Oderinde’s hunting escapade.

Oderindes’ interest in agriculture is discouraged by his father, Odeluabi whose lineage is well known for their hunting. He agrees to tread the ways of his forefathers. However, on his first hunting game, he meets with Towobola, the beautiful snake.

Was he able to resist Towobola’s beauty?  Find out in this enthralling novel.

Orie the Badger by Ben Eze Amushie (13-16yrs old):

Orie the badger is a fascinating African folktale. It is a great read for lovers of culture, folktales and history.

In this exciting story, the author showcases the rich traditional Igbo culture using a captivating story about a kingship tussle between four brothers; Eke, Orie, Afor and Nkwo in the Amaigbo kingdom. This story is compelling and will get you glued until the very end.

Conspiracy Against the Wise and Other Stories by Abdulmumin Mahmud (6-8yrs old):

Conspiracy Against the Wise and Other Stories is a storybook that tells enthralling stories. It contains beautiful short stories written to develop and nourish children’s imaginations.

Conspiracy against the wise is one of the intriguing stories in the book. It tells the story of a renowned wise man, Olugbon whose wise words of advice earn him the trust of every member of the community. Everyone loves him except…

Children will definitely find themselves captivated by the insightful and thought-provoking narratives.

 Conclusion

This holiday season, let the pages of these captivating books transport you to worlds filled with adventure, intrigue, and wonder. Whether you’re a child, teenager, or young adult, there’s something for everyone in our carefully curated selection of reads. So grab a book, settle into your favourite reading nook, and prepare to embark on an unforgettable literary journey that will leave you inspired, entertained, and enriched.

We look forward to bringing you more captivating literary gems in the future!  Happy reading!

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