Curriculum Resources
Sora is your gateway to the best selection of ebooks and audiobooks available to schools, game-changing features to connect more students with more books, and supports your reading objectives in the classroom.
We’re here with free books and resources to enhance your curriculum with Sora. Questions about anything you see here? Contact your Account Manager or fill out this brief form and we’ll connect you with your team.
Explore Content Options
We offer several lending models and no-cost content offerings to ensure you are getting the best collection for your budget. If you’re working with a specific curriculum vendor, please let your Account Manager know so we can help with title lists and more!
Free Ebooks & Audiobooks
Sora Sweet Reads
Sora Sweet Reads is designed for schools in the United States and Canada (for our global program, click here) to encourage students to keep reading all year long. We’re offering a collection of free and simultaneous use juvenile and young adult ebooks (and select audiobooks). Learn more about the program here
All schools using Sora are automatically opted into this free collection.
*Availability may vary by region.
May 5, 2021 – August 20, 2021
OverDrive Community Read: Social and Emotional Learning Collection
This new donated collection includes over 50* simultaneous use ebooks and audiobooks to help boost your existing Sora collection with a mix of fiction and nonfiction content you can use for virtual story hours, student book clubs, professional development opportunities for staff, and more. View the full list of titles in OverDrive Marketplace.
All schools using Sora are automatically opted into this free collection.
*Availability may vary by region.
April 19, 2021 – June 30, 2022
OverDrive Community Read: Spanish Titles for Young Readers
As part of our OverDrive Community Read programs, we are donating a collection of 100* Spanish titles for young readers. This bundle includes Spanish-language ebook, audiobook, and Read-Along titles. A full title list is available here.
All schools using Sora are automatically opted into this free collection.
*Availability may vary by region.
October 30, 2020 – September 30, 2021
OverDrive Community Read: Own Voices and Diversity Books for Students
In our ongoing effort to help support school’s increasing demand for digital, we are donating this set of more than 50 titles* from Lerner Publishing Group and Triangle Interactive. The full list of titles is available here.
All schools using Sora are automatically opted into this free collection.
*Availability may vary by region.
Now through August 31, 2021
No-Cost Classic Literature
You can add Duke Classics to your collection at no cost to your school.
You can browse our free Duke offerings in the Simultaneous Use section of Marketplace and learn how to implement the content here.
Lending Options for Every Budget
One-Copy/One-User and Metered Access
Titles in these models can be checked out by one person at a time.
Consider this model if…
- you want titles you can rotate between classes
- you’d like to use this title for several years
Note: This model allows for title assignment.
You can browse One-Copy/One-User and Metered Access content here and learn how to implement One-Copy/One-User content here and metered access content here.
Class Set Lending Model
Some publishers offer titles in the Class Set lending model; think of it like a short-term rental.
Consider this model if…
- you want to try digital for a specific unit
- you change your title choices often
- you’re doing literature circles
You can browse our Class Set offerings in Marketplace* and learn how to implement the content here.
Simultaneous Use
With this lending model, you can select titles from specific publishers that can be checked out by an unlimited number of users simultaneously for a set amount of time.
Consider this model if…
- a large group of students will be reading a title at the same time
- you’re looking to support classic titles with audiobooks
Note: This model allows for title assignment.
You can browse Simultaneous Use content here and learn how to implement the content here.
Cost Per Circ
With this lending model, you only pay when a student borrows a title.
Consider this model if…
- you want to find out what content interests your students
- you’re doing literature circles
- you’re using the title for just a few weeks
You can browse Cost Per Circ content here and learn how to implement the content here.
*To access titles in OverDrive Marketplace, a login and password are required.
Sora in the Classroom
Learn easy-to-implement tips and tricks to integrate Sora into your (virtual or physical) classroom curriculum.
How schools are using Sora to enhance distance learning
American International School of Budapest (Hungary)
With her dog Luna by her side, Amy Ragan, Media Specialist, decided to put her to work in her new home office. Each week during remote learning, Luna the Librarian recommends books. Luna has a photoshoot with the book and Amy ensures it’s available in Sora.
Hart County School District (KY)
They’ve been adding Sora Informational hand-outs to their “lunch-boxes” students are picking up while school is closed.
Denver Public Schools (CO)
They’ve taken on several initiatives to increase awareness and access to Sora, including all-staff trainings and grade-wide reads for students in grades 7-12. They also worked quickly to set up Public Library Connect with Denver Public Library.
Fulton County School District (GA)
Media Specialist, Sarah Sansbury, at River Trail Middle in Fulton County uses social media to motivate students to read while away from the classroom. She regularly shares stats like minutes read and books opened in Sora to encourage continued use. She also advocates for educators and shares curriculum-centric collections to ensure Sora is a one-stop-shop for her entire school community.
