6 books to read by torchlight this Earth Hour

5 min

Tips and insights

Admin SEVEN STEPS

This year, Earth Hour is on Saturday 30 March. From 8:30-9:30PM, we all have one hour when we turn off non-essential electricity, all devices, all screens.

The world goes dark. It feels quieter, peaceful – and that is the point.

Earth Hour started in Sydney in 2007 as an initiative of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It’s a way to highlight energy use and the environment.

It’s no surprise that switching off is good for you, too. Studies say that switching off the lights, especially the light emitted from screens such as mobile phones and tablets, helps us to sleep better. Our circadian rhythms are more in tune, meaning less fatigue, less depression, happier us.

Child reading a book by torchlight under the covers

Grab a book and a torch

In our house, Earth Hour is for family games like dominoes and cards, by candlelight. We usually forget to turn on at 9:30 – we just snuggle up with a book and a torch.

One of the pleasures of childhood was reading a book by torchlight. Surrounded by darkness, gripping the torch tightly, we read about monsters, quests and magic. I’m almost certain I first read The Hobbit by torchlight and it is the perfect candidate: a great adventure, imaginary locations, tense escapes. I felt like I was right there, tiptoeing through the giant forest at night with Bilbo Baggins and his friends.

Here are six of our favourite books with that torch-gripping, hush-night sense of tension and wonder.

1. Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson

Owl babies Cover

2. The Waterhole by Graeme Base

The Waterhole Book Cover

3. The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan

The Rabbits Cover

4. Groosham Grange by Anthony Horowitz

Groosham Grange Cover

5. Deltora Quest 1: The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda

6. Rockhopping by Trace Balla

Rockhopping Cover

Want more?

We all have our favourite books! Part of learning to write is learning to see what real authors have done.

View the extensive list below that covers a host of popular picture books used in many schools. Each book is listed next to the Step or Steps it can demonstrate.

Narrative Texts Demonstrating the Seven Steps

STEP All Steps
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE List
YEAR F–10

Show students examples of the Seven Steps techniques in published texts.
This handy list is sorted by Step and annotated with notes about how each text demonstrates a particular Seven Steps technique.
Selection includes picture books and chapter books, from classics to more recent titles.