How Moving to Bali Rekindled Our Family's Love for Books

June 11, 2025

Books have always been my safe place. I, Mia, could happily curl up with a good story and get lost in its world for hours. Chad, on the other hand… well, let’s just say I’m not entirely sure he’s ever finished a book in his life 😂 But somehow, since moving to Bali, books have become more important than ever — not just for me, but for our whole family. As part of our homeschool rhythm, we read at least one core book each term that we focus on for English — diving deep into themes, characters, and creative thinking. But beyond that, something beautiful has started to happen: the kids are choosing to read just because. Especially during travel days or quiet afternoons when we try to go screen-free, it’s become a habit to reach for a book instead of a device. The one tricky part? Books are expensive in Bali — and heavy when you’re packing them in suitcases. Back in Australia, we had shelves full of stories — some that were mine as a child, others passed lovingly through all four kids. But before we made the move, we donated many of them to lighten our load. Letting go of those books was a hard one. So, we’ve been slowly building up our collection again. A few treasures from local shops here and there, but we’re also learning to make use of the digital tools available to us. Apps like BorrowBox (a fantastic library app connected to local councils in Australia), or using iBooks on our iPads, have been a huge help in giving the kids access to stories without taking up physical space. That said… it’s just not the same, is it? Nothing beats the smell of a well-loved book, the feel of turning pages, or the joy of finding dog-eared corners where someone left off last time. We’re figuring it out as we go — balancing practicality with the magic of reading. But watching our kids develop their own love of books, even in this digital world, is something really special. So here’s to growing our little library again — one adventure at a time. 💛 Tell me — what book changed your world when you were a kid? I’d love to build our list back up. #HomeschoolLife #ChadAndMia #FamilyReadingTime #DigitalBooks #BorrowBox #LivingInBali #BaliWithKids #ExpatFamilyLife #BaliFamilyFinds

Books have always felt like home to me. I, Mia, could spend whole afternoons curled up with a story, letting the world melt away. Chad? Let’s just say reading’s never quite been his thing 😂 But since moving to Bali with our kids, something unexpected has happened—books have re-emerged as a meaningful part of our family's everyday life. With homeschooling now the core of our rhythm, we choose one main book each term to anchor our English studies. We dive deep—exploring characters, plot twists, and creative responses. But even beyond lessons, something wonderful has begun to grow. On slow afternoons or during long travel days, when we go screen-free, I’ll look over and see the kids reaching for a book… just because. Of course, sourcing books in Bali isn’t always easy. They're expensive here and not exactly suitcase-friendly! Back in Australia, we had shelves brimming with hand-me-down childhood favorites—most of which we donated when we made the move. That was a tough goodbye. Now, we’re rebuilding. A couple of beloved finds from Ubud’s bookshops, some secondhand gems from the markets, and quite a bit of help from digital tools. BorrowBox (linked to Australian libraries) and iBooks on our iPads have been lifesavers—letting the kids explore stories without taking up space. Still, there’s nothing quite like a real book: dog-eared pages, spines cracked with love, the nostalgic scent that no scroll can replace. We're learning to balance the beauty of reading with the reality of expat life—and watching our kids fall in love with books on their own terms? That’s the kind of magic that even Bali’s beaches can’t top. If you have a book that shaped your childhood, drop it in the comments—I’m rebuilding our library, one adventure-filled title at a time. 💛