Audiobooks are great for kids to listen to as bedtime stories, or to keep them amused on long journeys. The best books (and the best narrators) will fire their imaginations and keep them entertained and enthralled. Especially with younger kids, however, it won't just be kids listening. Parents and older siblings are often listening along as well. That's why, in our selection we've tried to make sure they appeal to kids and grownups alike.
If you've listened to all of these and are looking for the most recently published books, we also have a list of the best audiobooks for kids of 2021 or the best audiobooks for teens, according to the 2020 Audie Awards.
“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. My thing in life is all about promoting self love, which is why I’m usually pictured with my natural hair without wearing any makeup, which is daunting for me, and means that I’m not chosen for many opportunities, because of colourism, because there’s a preference for a certain type of look which is linked to European beauty standards. “ Read more...
The best books on Fashion for Kids
Eunice Olumide, Artists & Art Critic
Boogie Boogie, Y’all
by C. G. Esperanza
***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
Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Sequel to the multi-award winning Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe about two teenage boys whose friendship gradually transitions to romance, about their family relationships and exploration of identity and sexuality. This second volume continues the story of their relationship and emotional lives. Award-winning audio version narrated by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Age 14+
The Good Hawk
by Joseph Elliott
***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.
Look Both Ways
by Jason Reynolds
***Winner of the 2021 Carnegie Medal***
Ten beautifully narrated short stories about the walk home from school.
Narrator: Jason Reynolds, Heather Alicia Simms, Chris Chalk, Bahni Turpin, Adenrele Ojo, Kevin R. Free, J.D. Jackson, Guy Lockard, January LaVoy, David Sadzin
Length: 3 hours and 58 minutes
Ages: 8-10
“Tomi Adeyemi’s action-filled and incredibly fast-paced novel is about 17 year old Zélie and her companions who have all suffered in different ways at the hands of the cruel king and their unjust world. In a tight race against time, they are on a quest to bring magic back to the land of Orïsha and restore power to the oppressed maji.” Read more...
Best West African Fantasy Books for Teenagers
Efua Traoré, Children's Author
The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me
by Roald Dahl
Editor’s note: This is probably the best Roald Dahl book for very young children (ages 3-6)
“The title The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me is from the perspective of the monkey—the ‘me’ isn’t the little boy, but the monkey. And together they start this window washing business. The Pelican has this amazing ability to retract his bill, so it turns into a big bucket, and the giraffe can extend her neck so she can reach the higher-up windows and the monkey can clamber up the neck of the giraffe to clean the windows. They clean the Duke of Hampshire’s Hall, clean all his windows and along the way manage to foil a burglary. Then the Duke of Hampshire is so pleased that he gives Billy money to turn the dilapidated old Grubber into the sweet shop of Billy’s dreams.” Read more...
Tilly Burn, Children's Author
Hey, Kiddo
by Jarrett Krosoczka
***2020 Odyssey Award: Best Audiobook for Children and/or Young Adults***
***2020 Audie Awards Best Audiobook for Young Adults***
Hey Kiddo is a graphic memoir so you’d think it would be hard to turn into an audiobook. Instead, it’s won two major audiobook awards. The author, Jarrett Krosoczka, narrates the story himself, with a cast that includes actors but also some family members.
Narrator: Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Jeanne Birdsall, Richard Ferrone, Jenna Lamia
Length: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Ages: Young Adult
“Hey, Kiddo was a National Book Award finalist as a graphic memoir, recognising the literary power of Krosoczka’s personal story of his mother’s heroin addiction and childhood with alcoholic grandparents. It’s told from the point of view of Krosoczka at age 17, and teens forge an immediate connection with the author’s description of how his artistic talent helped him survive his upbringing.” Read more...
Framed
by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce is a really funny book about art and art crime. It’s also very inspiring. The narrator is a boy living in Snowdonia, and one of the benefits of listening to it as an audiobook is the authentic Welsh accents that actor Jason Hughes lays on.
Narrator: Jason Hughes
Length: 6 hours and 58 minutes
Ages: 9-12
The Guggenheim Mystery
by Robin Stevens & Siobhan Dowd
This is a lovely audiobook for a 9-11 year old child. As the title suggests, it’s a mystery set at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, with the kids finding out who committed the crime.
Narrator: Jason Forbes
Length: 5 hours and 40 minutes
Ages 9-11
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by Mark Haddon
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a charming, prize-winning novel by Mark Haddon. Written as a mystery, the story is told through the eyes of a teenage boy who is great at maths but finds many other aspects of life difficult. The narrator’s naïveté makes the audiobook particularly perfect, because especially when you’re listening to a book, long, convoluted sentences are annoying. It’s perfect for family trips as the book appeals to adults and kids alike.
Narrator: Ben Tibber
Length: 5 hours and 59 minutes
The Eagle of the Ninth
by Rosemary Sutcliff
Although it was first published in 1954, Rosemary Sutcliff’s The Eagle of the Ninth has stood the test of time. Set in Roman Britain along Hadrian’s Wall, part of its appeal is that it partially based on a true story: a Roman legion really did mysteriously disappear.
Narrator: Charlie Simpson
Length: 4 hours and 32 minutes (abridged)
Ages: 9 and up
Dooku: Jedi Lost (Star Wars)
by Cavan Scott
Some kids love to read, others prefer to watch movies. Many love Star Wars. Dooku: Jedi Lost is an amazingly produced audiobook, shortlisted for the 2020 Audie Awards for the best multi-voiced performance. It really is a bit like listening to a movie, which may or may not appeal to everyone.
Narrator: Full cast
Length: 6 hours and 21 minutes
The Explorer
by Katherine Rundell
A fantastic and engaging read – so it’s no surprise that The Explorer received a plethora of awards. An adventure story set in the Amazon, it’s the perfect listen to keep young explorers entertained.
Narrator: Peter Noble
Length: 6 hours and 13 minutes
Ages: 8-12
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the first book in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series. British actor Stephen Fry narrates the audiobook beautifully. (The recording seems to predate the movie, because he pronounces some of the words differently).
Narrator: Stephen Fry
Length: 9 hours and 33 minutes
Ages: 9-12
The Wolf Wilder
by Katherine Rundell
A superb adventure story of a girl and her wolves as they embark on a rescue mission through the dramatic Russian wilderness.
Narrator: Nicolette McKenzie
Length: 5 hours and 41 minutes
Ages: 8-12
His Dark Materials
by Philip Pullman
The audiobook of the His Dark Materials trilogy has Philip Pullman himself as the narrator, with actors saying the words of the characters.
Narrator: Philip Pullman, full cast
Length: 10 hours and 45 minutes
Recommended listening age 9 upwards
The Lord of the Rings
by J R R Tolkien
A great way to introduce a child to Tolkien is through the audiobooks. Listening rather than reading the books fits with Tolkien’s clear passion for oral storytelling, although it does make it harder to move quickly through bits of history that younger kids might find harder to concentrate on.
Narrator: Rob Inglis
Length: 19 hours and 53 minutes (Part I: The Fellowship of the Ring)
Ages: 12 and up
My Family and Other Animals
by Gerald Durrell
My Family and Other Animals is a memoir written by the naturalist Gerald Durrell, about his life in Corfu in the 1930s. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, and his passion for the natural world is contagious. We also highly recommend the audiobook, which is great for family trips as it’s amusing and entertaining for children and adults alike.
Narrator: Nigel Davenport
Length: 10 hours and 17 minutes
Recommended listening for ages 8 upwards
Charlotte's Web
by E.B. White & Garth Williams (illustrator)
***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
“It is very nice having a title that’s for younger children recognized as a truly stellar audiobook, because sometimes people think that audiobooks are to help kids learn to read and not for them to fall in love with literature. But that’s what the audiobook recording of Charlotte’s Web does. It lets young kids and their parents revisit a beautiful title and fall in love with the book.” Read more...
The Complete Tales: The Original Peter Rabbit Books
by Beatrix Potter
The Tales of Beatrix Potter remain on the must-read list for very young children. The illustrations are an important part of the experience, but this Beatrix Potter audiobook—with each tale read by a different celebrity—comes highly recommended by Libby Joy of the Beatrix Potter Society.
Atticus the Storyteller's 100 Greek Myths
by Lucy Coats
As a way to introduce children to Greek myths, this book is the best we’ve come across. It’s told as a journey—Atticus is travelling with his donkey, Melissa—so there are little breaks between the stories as he arrives in places, which makes the myths more manageable. Children really, really like this book and will listen to it many times. If they are learning classics in school, they will wow the teacher with their knowledge of the myths, which come up a lot in western language and literature.
Narrator: Simon Russell Beale
Length: 1 hour and 53 minutes
Ages 5-10
The Last Mapmaker
by Christina Soontornvat & Sura Siu (narrator)
Ages 8-12
🏆 2023 Newbery Honor Book
“This is one that was a family favourite. It’s a Thai-inspired fantasy world… I think it is an excellent audiobook, and one that stood out for its beautiful narration and also the complex story it’s telling for younger readers.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2022
Emily Connelly, Journalist
“It’s an alphabet book, so you’re following the alphabet and learning more about orchestras and all the different instruments and concepts that go into making these performances. As you go, you get to hear these selections of music, some that are familiar and some that are less familiar. You can hear what an English horn sounds like and hear the lilting flute after hearing the poem about each. It’s just so beautifully done… The title is A Is for Oboe; the reason is not necessarily intuitive, so it’s fun to see what each letter stands for. You get to piece it together as you listen and learn a little bit.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2022
Emily Connelly, Journalist
“It’s about a boy who’s going fishing with his dad early in the morning to catch fish for their family. He learns a little bit more about his father’s past in Vietnam and what brought them to the United States. It’s such a sweet story about the relationship between the father and son. I loved hearing the son’s pride in helping catch dinner and have food for their family. There are children who are very young who are experiencing things like the characters in the story and like the author Bao Phi… At the end, they have an author’s note and an illustrator’s note; it talks a bit about their own experiences, too, which is helpful for kids to listen to and connect with. I always appreciate when they include that in audiobooks, because they help give some context for what might not initially be obvious, and help illuminate what really happened, what Bao’s experience was like as a child and how it’s similar to and different from the story he’s telling here.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2022
Emily Connelly, Journalist
All My Rage
Sabaa Tahir, narrated by Deepti Gupta, Kamran R. Khan and Kausar Mohammed
🏆 Winner 2023 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
***2022 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature (USA)***
“Of the three different characters, two are best friends who are in a difficult spot with each other. And the third is the mother, whose voice is telling her story in the past leading up to the present. It gets into some heavier topics, where the three of them are facing a lot of hardship. At the same time, there are beautiful relationships that you’re discovering. While there’s a lot of anger and grief, there’s also a lot of joy that’s found.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2022
Emily Connelly, Journalist
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix
Tasha Suri, narrated by Becca Hirani and Alex Williams
“This audiobook is Tasha Suri’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights. She’s usually a fantasy writer. This is more of a departure for her into historical fiction with a touch of fantasy. It really stood out to me, because Alex Williams and Becca Hirani, the narrators, did a beautiful job making it an absorbing and intense audiobook, they really connect with the characters’ emotions. They’re both from Yorkshire and are South Asian, like the characters in the story are. I appreciated the thoughtfulness that went into the casting. And I think it all was very, very successful. Tasha Suri adapted the story so you’re hearing directly from the characters Heathcliff and Cathy, so it makes it more of an immediate story than the original. You’re really in the heads of these characters and hearing their anger and grief and determination.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2022
Emily Connelly, Journalist
We Are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know
Traci Sorell, Frané Lessac (illustrator)
“It is one that I would recommend listening to while also looking at the picture book, because it has beautiful, bright illustrations and the words and pictures are paired very well together. It’s definitely striking to hear on audio because you have this full cast of narrators who are reading the story. They are from Cherokee, Navajo, Choctaw, and Chickasaw backgrounds, so you get to hear the voices of the people the stories are about too.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2021
Emily Connelly, Journalist
Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood
Kwame Mbalia (editor), Amir Abdullah & Taj Leahy (narrators)
“This is another great book for middle grade readers at eight years old and up. It would appeal to young teenagers too. It’s a collection of stories from Black male and non-binary authors that has two narrators. One is Taj Lahey, who narrates just one story, Kwame Mbalia’s story. You hear a part of it at the beginning, a part in the middle and a part at the end, and it works to tie the collection together.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2021
Emily Connelly, Journalist
Stuntboy, In the Meantime
Jason Reynolds, Raúl the Third (illustrator), Guy Lockard (narrator)
***2023 Odyssey Award: Best Audiobook for Children***
***2023 Audie Awards: Best Audiobook for Middle Grade***
“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 of 2021
Emily Connelly, Journalist
Firekeeper's Daughter
Angeline Boulley, narrated by Isabella Star LaBlanc
***Winner 2022 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature***
“It’s a great combination of a young adult thriller and a love story… It’s a story of a community, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians on reservation in Michigan. The story takes place on and off the reservation. The main character, whose name is Daunis, has grown up between those two cultures. She gets caught up in an investigation into a new street drug that has very devastatingly been impacting their communities… There’s a lot about understanding yourself and your family as well. It’s an engrossing story.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2021
Emily Connelly, Journalist
Redemptor
Jordan Ifueko, narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt
This is the sequel to the beautiful West African inspired fantasy novel Raybearer for age 12+.
King and the Dragonflies
by Kacen Callender, narrated by Ron Butler
***2020 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature (USA)***
Ages: 9 – 12
Narrator: Ron Butler
Audiobook length: 5 hours and 3 minutes
“In this story we’re in Louisiana with a young Black boy, who is grieving his older brother who had just died, suddenly. It’s a tough topic, certainly, but we’re in a year where so many people are experiencing such trauma. Ron Butler’s narration just brings these different characters off of the page and into your ears.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2020
Emily Connelly, Journalist
Before the Ever After
by Jacqueline Woodson, narrated by Guy Lockard
Ages : 10 – 14
Narrator: Guy Lockard
Length: 2 hours and 14 minutes
“This is a novel, and it’s no secret that Jacqueline Woodson is an incredible author. She is a favourite of ours at AudioFile. It’s a story about a young boy, ZJ, who really idolises his father. His father was a former pro football player who had to stop playing because of this mysterious illness.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2020
Emily Connelly, Journalist
When Stars Are Scattered
by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson, narrated by Faysal Ahmed (and full cast)
“It’s inspired by a refugee from Somalia, Omar Mohamed, who is one of the co-authors. It’s roughly the story of him growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya and trying to get to safety in America. It’s about spending so many years there, waiting.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2020
Emily Connelly, Journalist
Overground Railroad
by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James Ransome, narrated by Shayna Small and Dion Graham
***2021 Audie Awards Best Audiobook for Young Listeners***
“They’re beautiful pictures, and they really did such a marvellous job making a soundscape that goes along with it… It’s a piece of history that is great to explore with children.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2020
Emily Connelly, Journalist
“If you listen to the audiobook, you can hear all the sounds of Little Lobo and his friends going to the market, buying food for the luchadores, who are these pro wrestlers who are very hungry and want some food before their match. Gary Tiedemann is the narrator and he does a great job with all the different character voices. They’re not too silly but they’re definitely a little silly.” Read more...
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2020
Emily Connelly, Journalist
“Both With the Fire on High and The Poet X are just spectacular listening for teens. Elizabeth is a performance artist, she writes in verse, she’s the whole deal.” Read more...
“The Hate U Give was one of those blockbuster books that connected with so many teens, no matter what their cultural background might have been. It let them see into another world and forged this super-strong connection with so many teens and adults. Replicating the same duo of author plus narrator—with Bahni Turpin again doing Angie Thomas’s book—there’s this nice alignment of an author-narrator team.” Read more...
“Lovely War, to me, is one of those really strong and amazing representations of a multi-voiced production. It also is one of those crossover titles. As an adult, I loved it just as much as I think a teen would. It’s historical fiction” Read more...
“set in 1980s New York and is about a teenage boy from Iran who is grappling with being gay in the midst of the HIV/AIDS crisis.” Read more...
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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 of 2022, recommended by Emily Connelly
The Best Audiobooks for Kids 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
Angeline Boulley, narrated by Isabella Star LaBlanc
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2021, recommended by Emily Connelly
The Best Audiobooks for Kids 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.
The 2020 Audie Awards: Best Audiobooks for Young Adults, recommended by Mary Burkey & Robin Whitten
Audiobooks are a great way to keep teenagers entertained and informed. Mary Burkey, an expert on kids’ audiobooks, and Robin Whitten, editor and founder of AudioFile magazine, talk us through the wonderful titles that were finalists in this year’s Audie Awards in the ‘Young Adult’ category.
