H ere we bring you a roundup of prizewinning audiobooks for kids that have been highlighted for their great storytelling, from books narrated by the author to full-cast productions with music and sound effects.
🏆 2025 Odyssey Award: Best Audiobook for Children
Subtitled The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen , this is the biographical story of award-winning chef and restaurateur José Andrés. The book starts with his love of cooking as a young boy in Spain, gathering wood to make the fire to cook the paella just right. There are mouthwatering olive oil, mounds of vegetables and the smell of saffron. And then there is his dream that no one should go hungry, and the founding of World Central Kitchen to bring meals to the frontlines of disasters.
Read expert recommendations
Jon Klassen, Fairuza Balk (narrator)
🏆 2024 Audie Awards Best Audiobook for Young Listeners
Read expert recommendations
“Jon Klassen does excel at that sort of little bit creepy or a little bit dangerous story. In this version, there’s a little girl named Otilla who’s fleeing into the forest. She is running away from a scary voice and comes to a castle where she meets a skull and becomes friends with the skull. Then she discovers that a scary skeleton is coming and trying to get the skull, so she has to defend her new friend. The narrator, Fairuza Balk, has a great voice for this story. She can shift between the youthful voice of Otilla, the girl, and the more dignified voice of the skull, and then the scarier voices that we hear in the background. It makes for an almost cozy scary story…” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids and Young Adults of 2023
Emily Connelly ,
Journalist
🏆 2024 Odyssey Award: Best Audiobook for Children
A graphic novel memoir about the author’s experiences of going to school in the 1970s wearing a huge hearing aid strapped to her chest. When she realises that the Phonic Ear enables her to hear her teacher not just in the classroom but anywhere in the school (including things she should not be hearing), she redefines herself as a superhero: El Deafo. But will being a superhero help her find what she really wants, a good friend?
Read expert recommendations
Jason Reynolds, Raúl the Third (illustrator), Guy Lockard (narrator)
🏆 2023 Odyssey Award: Best Audiobook for Children
Read expert recommendations
“Stuntboy is a very dynamic and fun audiobook, and Jason Reynolds is a celebrated children’s author, for good reason. He has done it again, written a story that’s very good at meeting kids where they are. … I’d say for reluctant readers or for kids who haven’t seen themselves in children’s literature before, or for kids who are looking for a fun story, this is great. And the audiobook is a whole other amazing experience, narrated by a full cast. “ Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids and Young Adults of 2021
Emily Connelly ,
Journalist
🏆 2021 Audie Awards Best Audiobook for Middle Grade
The first book in the Shadow Skye series, this fast-paced novel is alternately narrated by Agatha, who probably has Down’s syndrome, and Jaime. When disaster strikes in the form of “deamhain” (demon Vikings), the two teenagers set out on a terrifying rescue mission from the Isle of Skye across a ravaged Scotia to Norveg. They don’t feel particularly brave, but they are their clan’s only hope, and they are aided by Agatha’s gift of communicating with animals. This gripping fantasy adventure has won the Audie Award in the middle grade (8-12) category. However, given the level of violence, it is probably better suited for readers in the 12-14 age range.
Read expert recommendations
🏆 2022 Odyssey Award: Best Audiobook for Children
A picture book celebration of graffiti culture. Whilst the adults in the book either ignore or complain about the graffiti they see around them, kids notice the art and love it. The book has an infectious enthusiasm for urban culture and would be a great starting point for a discussion with children about life in art and art in life. The hip hop audiobook is narrated by the author/illustrator.
Ages 3-6
Read expert recommendations
by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James Ransome, narrated by Shayna Small and Dion Graham
🏆 2021 Audie Awards Best Audiobook for Young Listeners
Read expert recommendations
“I love this book. I think it’s important and relates to the fashion and textile industry because fashion is inextricably linked to identity… And I think colourism is also intrinsic to identity. It’s really important for not only people of colour, but for all human beings to understand what colourism is, and the impact of that on human beings, on young people, and how that is central to beauty and the fashion industry.” Read more...
The best books on Fashion for Kids
Eunice Olumide ,
Artists & Art Critic
🏆 2020 Audie Awards Best Audiobook for Middle Grade
The audiobook version of E. B. White’s classic tale, Charlotte’s Web, is narrated by Meryl Streep and a full cast of actors.
Length: 4 hours and 2 minutes
Ages: 8-11
Read expert recommendations
Five Books aims to keep its book recommendations and interviews up to date. If you are the interviewee and would like to update your choice of books (or even just what you say about them) please email us at [email protected]
Five Books interviews are expensive to produce. If you've enjoyed this interview, please support us by donating a small amount .
