Looking for something to listen to in the car or while you get some work done around the house? Try an audio book!
Audio books are in no way new but with more services available to access them, you may be tempted to try them with your family. Before you commit to purchasing a disk or enrolling in an online subscription, check out your library. Many local libraries offer digital rentals for audio books outside of the large selection of physical copies they carry.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Narrated by: Madeleine L’Engle, Hope Davis, Charlotte Jones Voiklis, Ava DuVernay
Now that the Disney adaptation has hit theaters, why not listen to the actual book while on your way to and from school?
Summary from publisher:
“Madeleine L’Engle’s ground-breaking science fiction and fantasy classic, soon to be a major motion picture. This movie tie-in audiobook includes an introduction read by director Ava DuVernay, a foreword read by the author, and an afterword read by Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter Charlotte Jones Voiklis.
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?”
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Narrated by: Diana Steele, Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd
This is a story with such a positive message everyone will love it.
Summary from publisher :
“August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid–but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face.”
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Narrated by Peter Schickele
Take your child’s favorite story on the go!
Summary from publisher:
“Max is the hero of this beloved children’s classic in which he makes mischief, sails away, tames the wild things and returns home for supper.”
The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
Narrated by Kenneth Branagh
If your looking for a fun series to get hooked onto, look no further. The Magician’s Nephew is the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia series and with seven books, you’ve got plenty to keep you busy.
Summary from publisher:
“On a daring quest to save a life, two friends are hurled into another world, where an evil sorceress seeks to enslave them. But then the lion Aslan’s song weaves itself into the fabric of a new land, a land that will be known as Narnia. And in Narnia, all things are possible.”
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Narrated by Jim Dale
Harry Potter is another magical series that kids have been enjoying for years. Your children won’t be able to get enough of this story!
Summary from publisher:
“Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That’s because he’s being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he’s really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.”
One Crazy Summer by Rita William’s Garcia
Narrated by Sisi Aisha Johnson
This book is great any time of year, but also ties in well with Black History Month lessons.
Summary from publisher:
“Eleven-year-old Delphine and her younger sisters Vonetta and Fern travel to Oakland to meet their mother, Cecile, who abandoned their family years earlier. But even when Cecile gets them to her house, she shows no interest and seems to view them as nothing but a nuisance. Cecile’s cold, unloving attitude leaves the girls wishing for the mother-daughter connection they’ve never had. But Cecile acts remarkably different after she sees her daughters at the Black Panther rally, where they recite a poem Cecile herself had written. At that point, Cecile’s attitude toward her daughters begins a remarkable change.”
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Narrated by Adam Grupper
This is one of those stories with a big message that’s broken down enough for little ones to understand it.
Summary from publisher:
“Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated novel is told from the point-of-view of Ivan himself. Having spent 27 years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.”
