Best Audiobooks for Kids and Young Adults
Last updated: April 15, 2025
The best books (and the best narrators) will fire everyone's imaginations and keep listeners entertained and enthralled. Publishing companies have taken note of the growing popularity of audiobooks, and are investing in productions that really bring the story to life.
In an ideal world, adults always have time to read books for children. In real life, audiobooks are an enjoyable alternative to screen time. Not only will listening to audiobooks help kids develop their concentration span, but it will expose them to new vocabulary and the art of storytelling. For kids who are dyslexic or feel intimidated by a big chapter book, audiobooks are a great way to access stories. And they are perfect as a shared listening experience.
Prizewinning Audiobooks for Kids
Whether you have a long journey with kids coming up or simply enjoy listening to stories together on the sofa, award-winning audiobooks for kids are a good bet for a quality listening experience.
Prizewinning Audiobooks for Teens and Young Adults
Many teenagers seem glued to their screens and are happy to walk around wearing headphones all day. Instead of trying to get them to sit down with a physical book, why not introduce them to some quality reading material published as audiobooks?
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1
The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum
Lisa Yee, Dan Santat (illustrator), narrated by Cindy Kay -
2
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
Kwame Mbalia, narrated by Amir Abdullah -
3
Sal & Gabi Break the Universe
Carlos Hernandez, narrated by Anthony Rey Perez -
4
Osmo Unknown and the Eightpenny Woods
by Catherynne M Valente & narrated by Heath Miller -
5
Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Missing Diamonds
by Annabelle Sami, Daniela Sosa (illustrator) & narrated by Zenia Starr
The Best Audiobooks for a Family Road Trip, recommended by Emily Connelly
The Best Audiobooks for a Family Road Trip, recommended by Emily Connelly
A long road trip is the perfect opportunity for children and adults to listen to a good story together. Children’s audiobook expert Emily Connelly, Associate Editor at AudioFile magazine, brings you her selection of the best audiobooks for a family road trip.
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2024, recommended by AudioFile Editors
With so many good audiobooks to choose from, it’s helpful to have a team dedicated to picking out the best ones. In the final instalment of our series of best audiobooks of 2024, we present the best ones for kids, as chosen by the editors of AudioFile magazine.
The Best Audiobooks for Young Adults of 2024, recommended by AudioFile Editors
Audiobooks are a great way to get teens into books, as good stories read by expert narrators bring characters and the challenges they face to life. Here are recommendations for the best young adult audiobooks of 2024 from the experts at AudioFile magazine, the best place for audiobook recommendations on the web.
The Best Roald Dahl Books, recommended by Tilly Burn
Roald Dahl was one of the 20th century's most popular children's authors. Here, Tilly Burn, Archive and Collections Assistant at the wonderful Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden, UK, chooses her top Roald Dahl books and discusses the secrets of his enduring appeal.
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1
The Skull
Jon Klassen, Fairuza Balk (narrator) -
2
Stuntboy, In-Between Time
Jason Reynolds, Raúl the Third (illustrator), Guy Lockard (narrator) -
3
Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy
by Angie Thomas & Joniece Abbott-Pratt (narrator) -
4
Ander & Santi Were Here
Jonny Garza Villa, Avi Roque (narrator) -
5
Warrior Girl Unearthed
by Angeline Boulley & Isabella Star LaBlanc (narrator)
The Best Audiobooks for Kids and Young Adults of 2023, recommended by Emily Connelly
The Best Audiobooks for Kids and Young Adults of 2023, recommended by Emily Connelly
From the USA to Germany to China, audiobooks are growing in popularity, especially with young people. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talks us through her selection of the five best audiobooks for children and teens in 2023.
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1
A Is for Oboe: The Orchestra's Alphabet
by Lera Auerbach, Marilyn Nelson, Paul Hoppe (illustrator) & Thomas Quasthoff (narrator) -
2
A Different Pond
by Bao Phi & Thi Bui (illustrator) -
3
The Last Mapmaker
by Christina Soontornvat & Sura Siu (narrator) -
4
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix
Tasha Suri, narrated by Becca Hirani and Alex Williams -
5
All My Rage
Sabaa Tahir, narrated by Deepti Gupta, Kamran R. Khan and Kausar Mohammed
The Best Audiobooks for Kids and Young Adults of 2022, recommended by Emily Connelly
The Best Audiobooks for Kids and Young Adults of 2022, recommended by Emily Connelly
As audiobooks for kids continue to grow in popularity, AudioFile’s Emily Connelly explains some of the reasons why, and talks us through her pick of the five best audiobooks for kids and teens of 2022.
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1
We Are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know
Traci Sorell, Frané Lessac (illustrator) -
2
Stuntboy, In the Meantime
Jason Reynolds, Raúl the Third (illustrator), Guy Lockard (narrator) -
3
Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood
Kwame Mbalia (editor), Amir Abdullah & Taj Leahy (narrators) -
4
Redemptor
Jordan Ifueko, narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt -
5
Firekeeper's Daughter
by Angeline Boulley & Isabella Star LaBlanc (narrator)
The Best Audiobooks for Kids and Young Adults of 2021, recommended by Emily Connelly
The Best Audiobooks for Kids and Young Adults of 2021, recommended by Emily Connelly
Audiobooks are a wonderful way for children and teenagers to access stories, whether by themselves or as a shared listening experience. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talks us through her selection of five of the best audiobooks for children and teenagers in 2021.
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1
¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat
by Raúl the Third, narrated by Gary Tiedemann -
2
Overground Railroad
by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James Ransome, narrated by Shayna Small and Dion Graham -
3
When Stars Are Scattered
by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson, narrated by Faysal Ahmed (and full cast) -
4
Before the Ever After
by Jacqueline Woodson, narrated by Guy Lockard -
5
King and the Dragonflies
by Kacen Callender, narrated by Ron Butler
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2020, recommended by Emily Connelly
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2020, recommended by Emily Connelly
Whether you’re on a car journey or sitting on the sofa together at home, listening to audiobooks with kids can be an incredible experience. Some will make you laugh, some will make you weep. Many will help us develop empathy for other human beings in the world around us. Here Emily Connelly, Assistant Editor at AudioFile, talks us through the magazine’s choices of the best audiobooks for kids of 2020.
