Championing reading and creativity through the Oxford Big Read 2025

This year, Oxford Big Read brought together students from 15 countries in a truly global celebration of reading, creativity, and collaboration.

The Oxford Big Read is an international competition that encourages students to read OUP books and complete a creative project based on their reading. With three competition levels aligned to school classes, Oxford Big Read continues to foster literacy development at every stage.

This year, participation soared across participating countries, which included Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, and India—which saw a 363% year-on-year increase in submissions.

After months of reading, creativity, and exceptional student participation across continents, we are delighted to announce the Oxford Big Read Global 2025 winners. Their entries demonstrated outstanding imagination, storytelling skills, and deep engagement with their reading.

Level 1 – ages 5-8

Participants read an OUP book and then designed a new cover.

Winner: Mu Zha

From Mainland China

Entry: A New Home by Jan Burchett and Sarah Vogler 

“I am a big fan of this book. The pictures are funny. And I love the different shoe homes best. If I had a shoe as my home, I would wish it to be a roller skate. It would have enough room for my family and friends, and it could move fast just like a roller skate.”

Runner-up: Raniah Raiziel Battad Bumutay

From Thailand

Entry: Let’s Make Pizza by Rachel Wilson

Level 2 – ages 9-12

Participants either: read an OUP book and wrote a response describing what they found interesting about the book; OR designed a poster representing their understanding of the book.

Winner: Pham Chau Anh

From Vietnam

Entry: Hachiko by Nicole Irving

“The story of Hachiko, an Akita dog, is one of the most touching stories in Japan. This picture is very important because it makes us feel both sadness and admiration. When we see Hachiko sitting alone, we feel the pain of waiting, but also the beauty of never giving up.” 

Runner-up: Yufei Shen

From Mainland China

Entry: Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh

“The slogan I give the poster, “Going, Going, Gone”, is the cruel sound of a society making a deal, much like the voice-over in the movie The Truman Show. Though my poster has a vintage-chic style, if you look closely, you will find the cold interior.” 

Level 3 – ages 13-15

Participants either: read an OUP book and wrote critical review describing the theme, plot, and characters; OR compared and contrasted two books.

Winner: Lại Anh Khôl 

From Vietnam

Entry: Madame Marie Tells the Future by Lynne Marie Robertson

“The book teaches me that everyone has a dream and a special talent. I have learned that if we believe in ourselves, we can feel stronger and try harder. The message of the story is that kind and positive words can give us courage, and this makes me think about my own future too.”

Runner-up: Leyang Li

From Mainland China

Entry: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

“Austen’s message is clear: true love and happiness come from understanding, respect, and the willingness to confront one’s own flaws. She rejects the idea that marriage should be based solely on social status or financial gain, instead arguing that emotional connections and shared values are far more important.”

For each level, students were rewarded for their contributions with prizes—from certificates and digital subscriptions to national prizes sponsored by Faber Castell, Amazon, and The Hindu Young World. The prestigious global awards included iPads and even an internship opportunity with our English Language Teaching Graded Reader team. 

With global winners representing Mainland China, Vietnam, and Thailand, Oxford Big Read continues to connect students across continents through the joy of reading. Congratulations to all our winners and runners-up for their exceptional achievements. 

Find out more about the Oxford Big Read here.