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22 Captivating Audiobooks to Listen to with Kids on Your Next Road Trip
"It was a dark and stormy night..."
Uncovering fantastic stories together is a wonderful way to bond as a family. From favorite movies screened during movie night to kids books read before bed, family story time leads to discoveries and discussions—as well as to quotes that are bound to become a mainstay in your household (see The Princess Bride).
Audiobooks offer an easy, convenient way for families to explore new stories together, whether snuggled at home on a rainy day or on a road trip. Even if you've read a book before, audiobook versions feature performances by narrators or full casts, music, and sound effects that add another layer to stories and help listeners notice things they may have missed during a first reading. Listening together is also an easy way for parents and kids to discuss what they've heard and, according a study by the Audio Publishers Association, audiobooks can even help improve vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and language acquisition.
Here, we've rounded up audiobooks of stories written for kids ages two and up, though many of them are favorites of adults, too. From classics like Charlotte's Web and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to new favorites like Wonder and The Inquisitor's Tale, you're bound to find an audiobook the whole family will love to listen to. You can find them through services like Audible or Libro, but check your local library. Many have a robust collection of audiobooks to download for free.
The rhyming, sing-song verses of Dr. Seuss books lend themselves to audiobooks perfectly. One of our favorites is Green Eggs and Ham narrated by Jason Alexander, whose silly voices make this classic book about trying new things a joy to listen to.
Perfect for ages: 2 to 7
Author Julia Donaldson's enchanting story about a witch who is often loses things (but finds animal friends along the way) offers a lesson in friendship and loyalty kids will love, especially around Halloween. The audiobook, narrated by Josie Lawrence, features sound effects and music, too.
Perfect for ages: 2 to 7
It's easy to imagine a visit to R.L. Stine's Little Shop of Monsters, where kids will meet a bunch of frighteningly fun creatures, thanks to a playful performance by Jack Black.
Perfect for Ages: 3 to 7
Author Mary Pope Osborne narrates this beloved collection of adventure stories in which siblings Jack and Annie travel through time thanks to a magical tree house they discover in the woods.
Perfect for ages: 7 to 10
The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case
The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case
If you love Alexander McCall Smith's adult mystery series No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency starring sleuth Precious Ramotsme, be sure to investigate the author's middle grade series, which sees Ramotsme solving mysteries as an eight-year-old schoolgirl.
Perfect for ages: 7 to 12
Meryl Streep narrates E.B. White's classic tale of friendship, love, and sacrifice, with a full cast performing the roles of Wilbur, Charlotte, Templeton, and the rest of the unforgettable characters in Charlotte's Web.
Perfect for Ages: 7 to 12
Actor David Tennant brings Hairy Hooligans vikings clan to life with a slew of Scottish accents in the How to Train Your Dragon audiobook series, written by Cressida Cowell.
Perfect for ages: 7 to 12
"It was a dark and stormy night." So begins Madeleine L'Engle's middle grade, science fiction epic A Wrinkle in Time, the first of the author's Time Quintet Series. Narrated by Hope Davis, the audiobook is perfect for a long road trip as first-time listeners won't want to wait to find out what happens next.
Perfect for ages: 8 to 12
Jerry Craft won the Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature for his graphic novel, New Kid. It tells the story of Jordan Banks, a cartoon-loving seventh grader and one of the few students of color at an elite private school, who must figure out how to balance life at his new school with family and friends in his neighborhood of Washington Heights. Performed by a full cast, the audiobook also includes original music and sound effects.
Perfect for ages: 8 to 12
RJ Palacio's Wonder may technically be a middle grade novel, but its themes of acceptance and empathy are ones listeners of all ages can get behind.
Perfect for ages: 8 to 12
Narrated by Lynn Redgrave, Inkheart imagines what life would be like if characters could jump off the pages of books and into the real world. The first of author Cornelia Funke's Inkworld Trilogy, this novel will capture the imagination of listeners of all ages.
Perfect for ages: 8 to 12
Miranda Richardson narrates Roald Dahl's fantastically creepy story about a boy and his grandmother who do battle with a coven of witches while on vacation.
Perfect for ages: 8 to 12
You won't want to press pause on Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book which begins with the line, "There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife." This audiobook version features a full cast performance of the Newbery Medal winning novel, with characters voiced by Miriam Margolyes, Derek Jacobi, and more.
Perfect for ages: 8 to 12
Rick Riordan's best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series kicks off with The Lightning Thief, which sees Percy on a dangerous mission across the U.S. to catch a thief who has stolen Zeus' master bolt.
Perfect for ages: 8 to 12
Listeners will quickly get swept up in Kelly Barnhill's coming-of-age fairytale The Girl Who Drank the Moon, which follows Luna, a child raised by a good witch, who must learn how to deal with her magic powers.
Perfect for ages: 8 to 12
Whether you prefer Jim Dale's rendition of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series or swear by the English accent of Stephen Fry's recording, listening to the adventures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione adds a new dimension to the magical world of Hogwarts, and is a must for fans of the books.
Perfect for ages: 8 to 12
Anne Hathaway's performance of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz brings the world beyond the rainbow to life for a new generation. Follow Dorothy and her dog Toto as they make their way through Oz, meeting characters you'll recognize from the movie as well as many who don't appear in the film adaptation.
Perfect for ages: 8 to 12
The Inquisitor's Tale follows three children (and a dog) on an adventure through 13th century France, brought to life with a full cast audiobook that also includes medieval music performances.
Perfect for ages: 8 to 12
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to keep them from...feeling really, really bored on a long road trip. Fans of the cult-favorite Tolkien trilogy will be thrilled to know that it, too, has gotten the audiobook treatment. Nearly as spellbinding as the books themselves, we think this version is perfect for fans of all ages.
Perfect for ages: 12 and up
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