Books are a wonderful thing – they open up a whole world of creativity, excitement, humour, wonder and enjoyment for us all. Encouraging a love of books in our children is just as wonderful, whether we read to them, they read themselves, or they listen to audio books. You might be surprised to know that listening to audio books can actually help improve your child’s literacy. Read on for our list of the best audio books for kids.
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Reading to your child is a great way to inspire their enthusiasm for reading, and in the same way, audio books let your child enjoy great stories while also developing their language skills. The way characters, accents, voices and humour come to life in audio books makes listening even more fun.
For children who find reading tricky due to comprehension, concentration or literacy level, it’s still important to be able to enjoy a great tale. Battling through each word can take the enjoyment out of a story, whereas sitting back to listen is much more pleasurable. Audio books are also a great way for children to enjoy stories that would otherwise be above their reading level, opening up a wealth of new vocabulary.
Audio books really come into their own on long car journeys or holidays, when they’re ideal for keeping the peace! They’re also incredibly convenient – press play on your device and you can pick the story back up any time. So, what could you be listening to?
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Top Picks for Babies and Toddlers
If you can bear any more snorting hilarity, there are plenty of Peppa Pig stories available as audio books so the cheekiest little pig can spend even more time with you! If you need something a little less maddening, opt for the ever-popular Mr Men series, Shirley Hughes’ timeless Alfie series, familiar nursery rhymes, or some classic Ladybird Tales.
Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson’s library of books are just as popular to listen to as they are to read, and the lyrical rhyming lends itself perfectly to audio books. We particularly love Zog and Room on the Broom, but of course The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child will always be firm favourites. Keep an eye out for some Gruffalo sing-along recordings too – highly entertaining, but be warned, they’re incredibly catchy!
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Popular Fairy Tale Stories for Kids
The quirky and eccentric Aesop’s Fables offer many classic tales such as The Hare and the Tortoise and The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs. In the audio book recording, read by the inimitable Richard Briers, Jane Horrocks, Richard E. Grant and others, 40 tales have been adapted for young children.
For an imaginative take on the traditional fairy tale, have a listen to The Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, read by leading British actors, including Dame Judi Dench, Jeremy Irons, Joanna Lumley and Derek Jacobi – definitely one the whole family will enjoy.
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Classic Audio Books for Kids
The classic stories survive for a reason, but in many cases the language can feel like a daunting read for young children. Audio books bring the words to life instead, letting your child sit back and enjoy some literary greats.
Top classic picks include:
- The Wind in the Willows
- Anything by Rudyard Kipling (particularly The Jungle Book and Just So Stories)
- Beatrix Potter’s animal tales
- The bumbling and loveable Winnie the Pooh
- Alice in Wonderland
- Anne of Green Gables
- The Railway Children
- Ballet Shoes and many more.
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Revisit Your Childhood Through Audio Books
Introduce your child to your own childhood favourites! Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl top most bestselling literary lists, and their audio books are no exception. Both authors created magical, memorable characters that have been hugely popular from generation to generation.
Similarly, E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web is a timeless story that all ages will enjoy, while the calamitous Worst Witch series and the hugely entertaining Dr Seuss are great for whiling away a car trip. Many parents love sharing Pippi Longstocking and CS Lewis’s Narnia books with their own kids, just as they enjoyed them growing up – along with newer favourites like The Secret Garden and The Little Prince.
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Educational Audio Books for Kids
Full of foul facts and hilarious nonsense, the Horrible Histories series is incredibly popular and there are numerous audio book options. From Vicious Vikings and Rotten Romans to Terrible Tudors and Vile Victorians, these bestselling audio books offer plenty of laugh-out-loud fun with an educational twist.
Does your child fancy learning a new language? Choose a language course from the highly reputable Collins series for lessons in French, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Portuguese and more. Taught through a mix of songs, rhymes, jokes and repetition, your child will pick up the basics in a fun, interesting way.
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Meditation and Bedtime Audio Books for Kids
Something calming is perfect before bed, or for times when a little chilling out is needed.
Children’s yoga teacher Christiane Kerr’s Enchanted Meditations for Kids draws on her Montessori teaching background to create a series of calming meditations. Each audio book is a compilation of story meditations with gentle music designed to promote better sleep, build self-esteem, encourage visualisation and help your child relax.
For older kids and teenagers who can be easily consumed by anxiety, Rays of Calm is a great audio book, full of relaxation techniques and visualisations to help deal with stress.
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Bestselling Audio Books for Kids
Your child will love hearing their favourite stories read aloud, and it can actually inspire them to read or re-read the books themselves. Bestselling authors such as Jacqueline Wilson, David Walliams and Michael Morpurgo have a wide variety of tales to enjoy, and these are definitely ones you won’t mind listening to either.
JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books are utterly engrossing for the whole family, while more recent favourites such as Daisy Meadows’s Rainbow Magic fairies or the comical Diary of a Wimpy Kid antics ensure there’s something for all preferences.
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Audio Books for Older Children
If your older child or teen is looking to become engrossed in a great story, there’s a wealth of audio books to choose from.
Particularly riveting trilogies worth looking at include Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials, The Hunger Games and the still-popular Twilight books. Terry Pratchett’s prolific books are sure to excite, while Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl, Anthony Horowitz’s stories and Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant books are also incredibly popular.
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Where Can You Find Audio Books?
Check your local library for a selection of audio books – many now offer digital borrowing as well as CDs. Bookstores and online retailers stock a wide variety of titles too. If you’d prefer an instant download option for your device, digital platforms such as Audible or Apple Books are worth a look; many offer subscription membership options and occasional free trial periods, so it’s worth checking their current terms before you sign up.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do audio books really help children’s literacy?
Yes – listening to stories read aloud exposes children to new vocabulary, sentence structure and storytelling techniques, all of which support language development, even before or alongside independent reading.
What age are audio books suitable for?
There’s no set age – audio books work brilliantly from babyhood right through to the teenage years. The key is choosing a story and reading pace that suits your child’s age and attention span.
Are audio books good for children who find reading difficult?
Absolutely. Audio books let children enjoy stories without the pressure of decoding text, which can be a huge confidence boost for reluctant or struggling readers.
Where’s the best place to start listening to audio books with my child?
Your local library is a great free starting point, along with digital platforms and apps that offer audio book downloads or streaming.
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If you enjoyed this round-up, you might also like our picks of the best picture books recommended by parents, our guide to the best reading apps for kids, and our list of free audiobook resources for families.
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Have your say! Do you listen to audio books with your kids? We’d love to hear your favourite recommendations in the comments below.
