Best Books for School Holidays 2026 — Kids and Adults
July school holidays in Australia mean two weeks of unstructured time, later mornings, and the genuine possibility of actually reading those books you've been meaning to get to. Whether you're looking for something to keep the kids occupied or something to disappear into yourself while they're busy — this is your reading guide for the July 2026 school holidays.
The school holidays are genuinely one of the best times for adult readers. The routine breaks. The commute disappears. There are pockets of quiet that don't normally exist. Use them.
If you want something immersive
Winter school holidays are made for long fantasy reads. The genre has exploded in Australia over the past two years — driven largely by BookTok and a generation of readers who grew up on YA and are now reaching for adult fantasy. Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros and the growing catalogue of romantasy titles on Kindle Unlimited are a good place to start if you haven't already gone down that path.
If you want something Australian
2026 has been a strong year for Australian fiction. A Far-flung Life by M.L. Stedman — the author of The Light Between Oceans — is set in the Australian outback and has been one of the most talked-about local releases of the year. Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash is propulsive and very funny. Both are available on Kindle.
If you want something you can finish in a weekend
A tight thriller is the perfect school holiday read — you can get through it in two or three sessions and feel completely satisfied. Anatomy of an Alibi and Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden are both doing well with Australian readers right now and both are available on Kindle.
Getting kids to read during school holidays requires a degree of strategy. The books that work are the ones that feel like a choice rather than an assignment.
Middle grade (ages 8-12)
This age group is served brilliantly by Kindle. The devices are light enough for smaller hands, the font is adjustable, and Kindle Unlimited has an extensive middle grade library. Look for series rather than standalones — kids who get hooked on a character will read through an entire series in a holidays.
The Wimpy Kid, Percy Jackson and Dog Man series remain perennial favourites. For something newer, the genre is producing excellent Australian middle grade titles worth exploring at your local library or Kindle store.
Young Adult (ages 12-17)
Teenagers who read tend to read a lot when they find the right book. Fantasy and contemporary romance are the dominant genres in YA right now — if your teenager hasn't found their reading genre yet, try both and see which lands.
BookTok has been the single biggest driver of teenage reading in Australia in recent years. Ask your teenager what's trending on their feed — they'll know exactly what everyone is reading right now and often that social awareness is the thing that makes them pick up a book.
Picture books and early readers
For younger children during holidays, reading together is the goal rather than independent reading. A new picture book feels like an event when you sit down with it properly — off screens, no interruptions, just the book.
A few things that help over the school holidays.
Set a reading time rather than leaving it to chance. Even thirty minutes after lunch — everyone reads, no screens — creates a habit that lasts beyond the holidays. Kids who see their parents reading are significantly more likely to read themselves.
The library is free and school holiday programs often include reading challenges and activities. Most Australian public libraries run something specific for the July holidays — worth checking your local branch.
And if you've been reading on your phone — consider this the moment to switch to a dedicated Kindle. Two weeks of school holidays is long enough to establish the habit and short enough that you'll actually follow through.
At Case Society Co we make Kindle and Kobo cases for readers of all kinds — from the parent reading by the fire to the teenager who's just discovered fantasy romance.