Star Owl competition inspires kids to read

Good reading skills are no longer a given in Finland. Otava recognised the need to address gaps in reading skills, and our desire to improve literacy led to the creation of the Star Owl reading competition for primary schools. This competition has succeeded in motivating students to read, regardless of their skill or starting level.

Finns have traditionally been a literate people. However, school learning outcomes indicate that young people’s reading skills are declining and gaps are forming. The gap between good and poor readers is widening, and family backgrounds are having a greater impact on learning outcomes than ever before. Good reading skills are no longer a given, even in Finland.

Otava also noticed this trend – and took action. As a book publisher and expert in Finnish education, Otava wants to play its part in promoting literacy, as strong reading skills are also the foundation of a diverse democratic society. Which is why we created the Star Owl competition.

The Star Owl reading competition is aimed at primary schoolchildren. During the competition, primary school classes compete to see which grade can read the most pages. The winning classes will receive 1,000 euros.  

Smart devices, streaming services and other hobbies are all vying for our time and attention. This competition has hit on something that schools have been lacking – and maybe something that the students have also been wanting. Now that the law requires students to leave their mobiles in their bags or a phone caddy during lessons, there’s no longer any reason not to grab a book instead of a phone. 

The Star Owl competition inspires children to read and spend time with books. To ensure that reading is a positive experience, the children can choose reading material of any type or genre, such as a comic book or even a picture book with just a single word or sentence per page.