School Holiday Reading Books for Kids
One of the best ways to keep your kids occupied these holidays is with a good book or two! We’ve compiled come of our favourite books by age to help you find a great read for your child these holidays.
Kinder and Prep Reading Books
Who Sank the Boat? By Pamela Allen
By award winning children’s author Pamella Allen, “Who Sank the Boat?” is all about friends sharing a boat and trying to keep it afloat.
Miffy by Dick Bruna
Miffy is a classic book by Dutch author Dick Bruna about a little rabbit and her friends. The series of picture books depict the daily life of Miffy, her parents, grandma, grandpa and her best friends.
Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French
Jackie French brings Mothball the wombat to life with an entertaining story and captivating illustrations by Bruce Whatley. Learn about Mothball’s life with this cheeky picture book.
Too Loud Lily by Sophie Lagua
A tale about a loud little hippo who begins to learn about music and drama at school. Lily Hippo finds she is loud in just the right way.
Year 1 – Year 2 Reading Books
The Rainbow Serpent by Dick Roughsey
A dreamtime story that communicates the significance of Aboriginal traditions and culture. The tale explains how the Rainbow serpent created ridges, mountains and water using vivid Aboriginal styled paintings.
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge lives next to a nursing home and when he finds out his friend is losing her memory, he sets out to find out what a memory is. This book became an instant success due to its classic themes, beautiful artwork and simple words.
My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald
A young girl moves from her war torn country to Australia and begins to learn about her new home while holding on to the memories she has made in her old home. This story about friendship and empathy is told thoughtfully and lovingly and is a great way to learn about understanding and diversity.
Banjo and Ruby Red by Libby Gleeson
This story of love and friendship is centred around Banjo the hard-working dog and Ruby Red a haughty chicken who never see eye to eye. Will they ever become friends?
Year 3 – Year 4 Reading Books
Stolen Girl by Trina Saffioti
This fictionalized account of a story from the Stolen Generation tells the story of an Aboriginal girl taken from her home and sent to a government owned children’s home because of her skin colour. This book introduces important and deeper themes to children beginning to recognize and read about topical issues.
The Peasant Prince by Li Cunxin
By the author of Mao’s Last Dancer, this book incorporates images into the story of a young boy from a poor village going on a journey to follow his dreams. Based upon the best selling memoir Mao’s Last Dancer, this picture book conveys the determination and courage of Li through the inspiring story and stunning art.
The Great Bear by Libby Gleeson and Armin Greder
The Great Bear tells the story of a circus bear who spends her days in a cage and her nights performing for a crowd. The bear longs for freedom and aims to break free from the circus one day. This book incorporates strong themes of fairness and empathy into a powerful story with a visual narrative.
Year 5 – Year 6 Reading Books
Holes by Louis Sachar
Stanley has a history of bad luck and gets sent to a Juvenile Detention Centre for a crime he didn’t commit. Every day inmates are told to dig a hole five foot wide and five foot deep and the warden claims it is character building, but Stanley wants to find out the truth.
The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge
Albie’s mum passes away and someone tells him that she is with them in a parallel universe. He sets out to find this universe and decides to travel through time and space. This fictional novel is well written with real heart and carries the reader straight into the adventure.
Boy by Roald Dahl
Boy by Roald Dahl is an autobiography full of anecdotes and memories from his childhood and school days with illustrations by Quentin Blake. This book is full of unusual and strange events that are told vividly with heart.
Year 7 – Year 8 Reading Books
Don’t Call Me Ishmael by Michael Gerard Bauer
The story of a fourteen-year-old and his friends who take on problems to do with bullies, bugs, babes and the Beatles and highlights the best and worst of being a teenager in high school.
Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks
Cadel Piggott is a seven-year-old evil genius and can do just about anything. One day he meets a disabled girl who is just as smart as him and soon his emotions start to catch up with his intellect. Evil Genius explores the fine line between good and evil in a strange world of manipulation and subterfuge.
Just Macbeth by Andy Griffiths
The Just trio, Andy, Danny and Lisa, get mixed up in stories of love, witches, murder and madness in this novel by one of the bestselling and funniest Australian children’s authors.
Year 9 – Year 10 Reading Books
The Messenger by Markus Zusak
This comedic, romantic, thrilling and confronting novel depicts the life of Ed Kennedy who one day stops a bank robbery. That’s then the first Ace turns up and Ed becomes the messenger. While he completes his tasks every day, he doesn’t know who is behind his mission and he wants to find out.
The Boat by Nam Le
The Boat is a collection of short stories, each almost as absorbing and fully realised as a novel. Together they make up a collection of astonishing diversity and achievement.
Here On Earth by Tim Flannery
Flannery’s first major book since The Weather Makers teaches us the history of life on our planet. Our success as a species has had a disastrous effect on the Earth’s ecosystem and could lead to our downfall. However, we are also now more equipped than ever to explore our relationship with the planet. Here On Earth is an interesting account of life on our planet and will change your view on how you choose to live.