Maltese Books – Octavo Blog

1st January 202411th January 2024

What happened to my Maltese oBooks?

Some years ago, the collaboration between Octavo and the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation of Malta partnered to provide thousands of students the oBooks of the Qari għal Qalbi collection for free.

However, if you are a student or a teacher in Malta, is quite likely that you noticed a notable absence in your library: all the oBooks of this collection.

Unfortunately, the Ministry has decided not to continue with this partnership going forward, and hence the oBooks are no longer available in the user accounts of the students that read them hundreds of thousands of hours collectively.

However, the collection is still available in the platform if you want to add them to your account and keep them without time limitation. Getting this content again, will not only bring back the content, but your statistics, notes, voice recordings and exercise results.

17th July 202317th August 2023

Summer Reading: Why Children Can Benefit from Reading over the Holidays

Summers in Malta are long, and there’s plenty of time to plan fun activities that give children and parents a well-deserved break. The summer holidays are a time for rest, recreation, and adventure, but it’s also an excellent opportunity for parents and caregivers to encourage one of the most enriching activities for young minds: reading.

While reading may seem like ‘homework’ to some children over the summer holidays, it can actually help them enjoy the summer more and make them feel more prepared for the upcoming academic year. Plus, it’s a great way to start important conversations as a family by discussing the stories that a child is engaged in.

Remember, there’s no pressure to read all the books on your summer reading list. Even one book is better than none, and it’s never too late to start cultivating a new habit!

In this blog post, we explore why reading can be one of the best hobbies that your child can pick up this summer.

18th February 202224th February 2022

5 Creative Ways to Use Octavo in the Classroom

We all know that reading is one of the most rewarding exercises that children can engage in, but how can teachers make even the most stubborn readers find joy in their books?

It all begins in the classroom: If a student enjoys reading in class when it’s combined with a series of fun activities, it’s more likely that they will look forward to reading at home too! In this guide, we will be sharing 5 creative activities that teachers can use in the classroom to make reading more fun for their students using a digital reading platform, which will allow you to check that your students are actually reading!

For more info on how this works – check out our recent guide on how to view your students’ portfolios.

27th December 2021

How to Set Beginner Reading Goals for 2022

New Year’s resolutions may not be for everyone, but setting achievable goals to work towards is always a positive thing. And, when a new target coincides with a fresh start – such as a new year – it’s a good way to keep track of your achievements as you progress towards your goals!

23rd April 202118th February 2022

Bringing Free Maltese Digital Books to Malta Libraries!

Octavo and Malta Libraries are offering free Maltese oBooks to all library card holders!

Octavo is proud to be collaborating with Malta Libraries to add Maltese-language digital books to their online catalogues for the very first time. Readers from Malta and Gozo will now gain access to hundreds of free books written by Maltese authors, which will be available to borrow and read in digital format from the 23rd of April onwards.

30th March 20217th October 2021

How to Raise a Bookworm in the Digital Age

Read the Qari għal Qalbi levelled reading collection through Octavo!

In this day and age, many children and – let’s face it – parents, too, find reading to be more of a chore than a pleasure. But if you’re one of those parents who have fond childhood memories surrounding your favourite books and your weekly trips to the library, you would probably do anything to ensure your child can experience that same level of enjoyment through reading.