Engaging Your Community with Libby Reads & Sora Reads: The Village Beyond the Mist

This season, libraries and schools around the world are coming together for a shared reading experience designed for all ages: Libby Reads and Sora Reads, the freshly reimagined version of OverDrive’s beloved Big Library Read. From November 18-December 2, readers can enjoy The Village Beyond the Mist by Sachiko Kashiwaba in ebook or audiobook format with no waitlists or holds, making it the perfect opportunity for families to read together—on their own schedules. 

A new chapter that brings communities and families together 

For over a decade, Big Library Read has united millions of readers in 100+ countries. Libby Reads and Sora Reads continue that tradition while aligning more closely with the apps families already use for recreational reading at home and at school. With simultaneous access and a title suitable for middle-grade readers through adults, this year’s program is a natural fit for: 

• Families looking for a cozy fall read-aloud 

• Caregivers searching for screen-free activities 

• Readers who love fantasy, folklore, and magic 

• Multi-age households who want a story that resonates for kids and adults 

About this season’s selection 

This season’s pick, The Village Beyond the Mist, is a warm, mysterious, and magical novel from acclaimed Japanese author Sachiko Kashiwaba, whose storytelling has helped inspire artists and families for generations. Recently translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa into English for the first time since its publication, the book follows a young girl who has stumbled upon a mountain village where time flows differently and secrets linger. 

Its themes – courage, family, memory, identity – make it approachable for school-age readers while still being a satisfying read for teens and adults (especially those who could use an extra dose of whimsy in their life). 

Built-in resources for families and educators 

The Libby & Sora Reads website offers a virtual writing workshop, discussion guide, coloring pages, and a community discussion board—great for family book clubs, homeschool groups, after-school programs, or classrooms looking to extend the reading experience. 

Programming & Promotion Ideas for Your Library 

 Easy ways to promote to families 

Get the marketing kit on the Resource Center 

• Highlight the book in your children and teen areas with a “Family Read Together” display. 

• Add a QR code flyer to your story time room or youth services desk that encourages caregivers to grab the title in Libby for at-home reading. 

• Ask schools or PTAs to share the Sora Reads announcement in newsletters to help families connect both programs. 

• Promote the title with flyers, bookmarks, or screen-sized graphics during family-focused events. 

• Feature the audiobook as a road-trip listen to make holiday travel more magical. 

Family-Friendly Programming Ideas 

• Family Book Night: Host a cozy evening with light refreshments, read-aloud excerpts, and a short discussion. 

• Multigenerational Reading Challenge: Encourage families to read together and share their favorite motifs or characters. 

• Craft Hour: Create watercolor scenes, lanterns, masks, or nature-themed crafts based on the book’s enchanted setting, or utilize the provided coloring pages featuring illustrations from Miho Satake.

• Adventure & Imagination Writing Workshop: Invite kids and caregivers to write a short story about a place where time flows differently (pair with the virtual author workshop, available on our YouTube channel December 1). 

• Families Create a Village Map: After reading a few chapters, have participants sketch or build (LEGO, recycled materials, etc.) their version of the mysterious village. 

• Tea & Tales: Host a low-key Saturday morning program where a librarian reads several atmospheric passages aloud while families enjoy quiet crafts. 

Ways Schools & Public Libraries Can Partner 

• Encourage teachers to assign optional chapters for at-home family reading via Sora. 

• Pair classroom reading with a public library program (craft, discussion, journaling session). 

• Send home a one-page “Family Reading Guide” with prompts pulled from the discussion materials. 

Engagement Boosters for Families 

• Offer a completion badge or sticker kids can pick up after finishing the book – or cross promote with pre-existing reading challenges! 

• Provide “What to Read Next as a Family” recommendations after the program ends (check out the read-alike titles on the Libby & Sora Reads landing page) 

• Create a reflection wall where kids and grownups can write what magical place they’d visit if time flowed differently.