06 Sep Best Audio Books for Kids
Whoever said, “Give children the gift of boredom,” obviously never took a road trip with my kids. Sometimes the bickering starts before we’re even out of the driveway. While they can be placated for a few hours with movies and handheld video games, they always seem a little hung-over afterward.
Listening to audio books works a lot better. It’s less isolating, since we all listen together. Plus, it counts as reading, and therefore makes us all smarter (hypothetically). Finally, there’s no risk of carsickness.
Over the years, we’ve listened to dozens, if not hundreds, of stories. Here are some of our favorites. I’ve organized them by age range, but don’t get too hung up on that. Also, don’t worry if you’ve already read the book or seen the movie (as with the Harry Potter series) – sometimes that makes it even better.
If you have a good library in your town, check there first for audio CDs that can be had for free. You can also download stories to your iPhone or iPad through iTunes or subscribe to the (Amazon-owned) Audible.com and use the Android app.
Audio books for ages 2 and up
Frog and Toad CD Audio Collection, by Arnold Lobel
Winnie-the-Pooh, by A.A. Milne
The Complete Tales of Peter Rabbit and Friends, by Beatrix Potter
Tell Me a Story, by Jim Weiss
Love You Forever: The Best of Robert Munsch, by Robert Munsch
Audio books for ages 4 and up
Amelia Bedelia CD Audio Collection, by Peggy Parrish
Flat Stanley Audio Collection, by Jeff Brown
The Jungle Book, by Jim Weiss
The Giants and the Joneses, by Julia Donaldson
Berenstain Bears’ Stories CD, by Jan Berenstain
Audio books for ages 6 and up
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling
The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog, by John R. Erickson
The Battle of the Mad Scientists and Other Tales of Survival, by Bill Harley
The Wayside School Collection, by Louis Sachar
Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls Book 1: Moving Day, by Meg Cabot
Audio books for ages 8 and up
You’re a Bad Man Mr. Gum, by Andy Stanton
The Castle in the Attic, by Elizabeth Winthrop
Sarah Plain and Tall CD Collection, by Patricia MacLachlan
The Spiderwick Chronicles, by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
Secret Garden, by Francis Hodgson Burnett
Audio books for 10 and up
The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Book 1, by Rick Riordan
The Indian in the Cupboard, by Brock Cole
The Fast and the Furriest, by Andy Behrens
Hoot, by Carl Hiassen
Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull
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