If you've ever wanted to try listening to audiobooks with your children but don't even know where to start, then look no further!
There are two things you need to know and you'll find them right here.
1. The Right App
You can listen to audiobooks using Amazon's Audible but you'll have to purchase books as you go.
You can also listen for free using your local public library! Using the Overdrive or Libby app you can find, check out, and download audiobooks for free. Your librarian can help or you can look at this guide to Overdrive: How to Listen to Hundreds of Audiobooks for Free.
2. The Right Book
Finding the right book is deeply personal. A lot of families start with Harry Potter and other classics. Here I've included some classics and some contemporary titles for you to enjoy.
A note about finding the right content for your family... Some children are ready for more adventure, more intense villains, and some are not. I have included the recommended ages but you know your child best.
My family enjoys these audiobooks so much that we listen to them every year! Whether you're looking for Adventure, Magic, Animals, stories about A Girl's World, or A Boy's Life, you'll find something here. And bear in mind that many of these are trilogies (or longer)...so look for sequels!
Adventure!
Pirates! Magic! Treasure! A gargoyle? Caroline Carlson's hilarious tween novel The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot is a seafaring romp like no other. The paperback features an Extras section containing an interview with the gargoyle, Hilary's application to the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates, and a sneak peek at the second book in the series, The Terror of the Southlands.
Hilary Westfield has always dreamed of being a pirate. There's only one problem: the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates refuses to let any girl join their ranks of scourges and scallywags. But Hilary won't let this stop her; instead, she sets out to find her own piratical adventure and gets swept up in a madcap quest involving a map without an X, a magical treasure that likely doesn't exist, a talking gargoyle, a crew of misfit scallywags, and the most treacherous—and unexpected—villain on the High Seas.
Grade Level: 3 - 7
A simple game of hide-and-seek turns into a thrilling and dangerous adventure for Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Through the wardrobe they enter the mystical land of Narnia, where only the Great Lion, Aslan, can conquer the dark magic of the White witch and restore beauty and peace to the land.
Grade Level: 3 - 6
Meg Murray, her little brother Charles Wallace, and their mother are having a midnight snack on a dark and stormy night when an unearthly stranger appears at their door. He claims to have been blown off course, and goes on to tell them that there is such a thing as a "tesseract," which, if you didn't know, is a wrinkle in time. Meg's father had been experimenting with time-travel when he suddenly disappeared. Will Meg, Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin outwit the forces of evil as they search through space for their father?
Grade Level: 6 and up
Listening Library recordings of ten hours (that we know of) of stories about the Disney Fairies. The stories begin with a story about Tinkerbell. But then each story thereafter focuses on a different fairy and her adventure. I've included the link for the first book but you can scroll down and see all the other audio books available.
Age Range: 6 - 9 years
Grade Level: 1 - 4
"I bought the milk," said my father. "I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: T h u m m t h u m m. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road."
"Hullo," I said to myself. "That's not something you see every day. And then something odd happened."
Find out just how odd things get in this hilarious story of time travel and breakfast cereal, expertly told by Newbery Medalist and best-selling author Neil Gaiman.
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Embark on an adventure with Jeff & Paige as they explore and inquire into the natural world. Educational, upbeat & kid-friendly songs, stories, science and solutions for a changing climate! It is a great first opera.
Magic!
The Guardians of Childhood Series by William Joyce (3 Audiobooks)
From the first book, "Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King":Before SANTA was SANTA, he was North, Nicholas St. North—a daredevil swordsman whose prowess with double scimitars was legendary. Like any swashbuckling young warrior, North seeks treasure and adventure, leading him to the fiercely guarded village of Santoff Claussen, said to be home to the greatest treasure in all the East, and to an even greater wizard, Ombric Shalazar. But when North arrives, legends of riches have given way to terrors of epic proportions! North must decide whether to seek his fortune…or save the village.When our rebellious hero gets sucked into the chaos (literally), the fight becomes very personal. The Nightmare King and his evil Fearlings are ruling the night, owning the shadows, and sending waves of fear through all of Santoff Clausen. For North, this is a battle worth fighting...and, he’s not alone. There are five other Guardians out there. He only has to find them in time.
[Note from Julie: Three of these books are available as audio books and we love them all. Then my husband and I argue over who gets to read aloud the sequels!]
[Another note from Julie: we really enjoyed "Ollie's Odyssey" by the same author but as a read aloud.]
Age Range: 7 - 11 years
Grade Level: 2 - 6
Upside-Down Magic Series by Sarah Mlynowski, et al. (6 Audiobooks)
From Book 1:
It's never easy when your magic goes wonky.
For Nory, this means that instead of being able to turn into a dragon or a kitten, she turns into both of them at the same time -- a dritten.
For Elliott, the simple act of conjuring fire from his fingertips turns into a fully frozen failure.
For Andres, wonky magic means he's always floating in the air, bouncing off the walls, or sitting on the ceiling.
For Bax, a bad moment of magic will turn him into a . . . actually, he'd rather not talk about that.
Nory, Elliott, Andres, and Bax are just four of the students in Dunwiddle Magic School's Upside-Down Magic class. In their classroom, lessons are unconventional, students are unpredictable, and magic has a tendency to turn wonky at the worst possible moments. Because it's always amazing, the trouble a little wonky magic can cause . . .
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Grade Level: 3 - 7
"All children, except one, grow up."
So begins the journey of Wendy, John, and Michael Darling as they follow Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up, to a world where fairies live and children can fly. But beware--dangers abound in this magical land of mermaids, Indians, and fairy dust.
There's always an adventure to be had in Neverland. so come along with the Darling children as they soar into the night sky "second star to the right and straight on till morning."
Age Range: 6 - 9 years
Grade Level: 1 - 4
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
It all started with a birthday present that Omri didn't want: a small plastic Indian that was no use to him at all. But an old wooden cupboard and a special key brought his unusual toy to life, and strange and wonderful things began to happen.
As Omri struggles to balance his real life in England with the characters of the Wild West of 18th century America, his incredible adventures are a fantasy beyond his wildest imagination.
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Animals!
The Mouse and the Motorcycle Series by Beverly Cleary
In this imaginative adventure from Newbery Medal–winning author Beverly Cleary, a young mouse named Ralph is thrown into a world of excitement when a boy and his shiny toy motorcycle check in to the Mountain View Inn. This timeless classic now features a foreword written by New York Times bestselling author Kate DiCamillo, as well as an exclusive interview with Beverly Cleary herself.
When the ever-curious Ralph spots Keith's red toy motorcycle, he vows to ride it. So when Keith leaves the bike unattended in his room one day, Ralph makes his move. But with all this freedom (and speed!) come a lot of obstacles. Whether dodging a rowdy terrier or keeping his nosy cousins away from his new wheels, Ralph has a lot going on! And with a pal like Keith always looking out for him, there's nothing this little mouse can't handle.
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.
Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.
Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.
Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan’s unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope.
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
A Girl's World
Little House on the Prairie Book Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Based on the real-life adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House in the Big Woods is the first book in the award-winning Little House series, which has captivated generations of readers. This edition features the classic black-and-white artwork from Garth Williams.
Little House in the Big Woods takes place in 1871 and introduces us to four-year-old Laura, who lives in a log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. She shares the cabin with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and their lovable dog, Jack.
Pioneer life isn’t easy for the Ingalls family, since they must grow or catch all their own food as they get ready for the cold winter. But they make the best of every tough situation. They celebrate Christmas with homemade toys and treats, do their spring planting, bring in the harvest in the fall, and make their first trip into town. And every night, safe and warm in their little house, the sound of Pa’s fiddle lulls Laura and her sisters into sleep.
The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura’s real childhood as an American pioneer, and are cherished by readers of all generations. They offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier, and tell the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family.
[Note from Julie: We enjoyed the first three books of this series but book four wasn't a good fit for our young listeners (ages 5-9). Also, be on the lookout for a Santa spoiler.]
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 4 - 7
"The Trunchbull" is no match for Matilda!
Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she's just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a kid-hating terror of a headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back. It'll take a superhuman genius to give Miss Trunchbull what she deserves and Matilda may be just the one to do it!
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
From New York Times best-selling author Jennifer Weiner comes a laugh-out-loud funny and painstakingly real tale of friendship, furry creatures, and finding the place where you belong.
Alice Mayfair, 12 years old, slips through the world unseen and unnoticed. Ignored by her family and shipped off to her eighth boarding school, Alice would like a friend. And when she rescues Millie Maximus from drowning in a lake one day, she finds one.
But Millie is a Bigfoot, part of a clan who dwells deep in the woods. Most Bigfoots believe that people - NoFurs, as they call them - are dangerous, yet Millie is fascinated with the NoFur world. She is convinced that humans will appreciate all the things about her that her Bigfoot tribe does not: her fearless nature, her lovely singing voice, and her desire to be a star.
Alice swears to protect Millie's secret. But a league of Bigfoot hunters is on their trail, led by a lonely kid named Jeremy. And in order to survive, Alice and Millie have to put their trust in each other - and have faith in themselves - above all else.
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Believing that her French guardian is about to abandon her to an orphanage in the city, ten-year-old Lucky runs away from her small town with her beloved dog by her side in order to trek across the Mojave Desert in this Newbery Medal–winning novel from Susan Patron.
Lucky, age ten, can't wait another day. The meanness gland in her heart and the crevices full of questions in her brain make running away from Hard Pan, California (population 43), the rock-bottom only choice she has.
It's all Brigitte's fault -- for wanting to go back to France. Guardians are supposed to stay put and look after girls in their care! Instead Lucky is sure that she'll be abandoned to some orphanage in Los Angeles where her beloved dog, HMS Beagle, won't be allowed. She'll have to lose her friends Miles, who lives on cookies, and Lincoln, future U.S. president (maybe) and member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers. Just as bad, she'll have to give up eavesdropping on twelve-step anonymous programs where the interesting talk is all about Higher Powers. Lucky needs her own -- and quick.
But she hadn't planned on a dust storm.
Or needing to lug the world's heaviest survival-kit backpack into the desert.
Age Range: 9 - 11 years
Grade Level: 4 - 6
A Boy's Life
For readers of Unbroken, out of the depths of the Great Depression comes the astonishing tale of nine working-class boys from the American West who at the 1936 Olympics showed the world what true grit really meant. With rowers who were the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew was never expected to defeat the elite East Coast teams, yet they did, going on to shock the world by challenging the German boat rowing for Adolf Hitler.
At the center of the tale is Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, whose personal quest captures the spirit of his generation—the generation that would prove in the coming years that the Nazis could not prevail over American determination and optimism.
This deeply emotional yet easily accessible young readers adaptation of the award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller features never-before-seen photographs, highly visual back matter, and an exclusive new introduction.
Age Range: 10 and up
Grade Level: 5 - 6
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Is your old favorite missing? Please share in the comments!
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