Everyone’s doing their best. Parents are trying to juggle the new demands of a family at home around the clock, including the new challenges that accompany online education, remote work, at-home lunches and more. Kids, for their part, are doing their best as well — foregoing time with friends, adjusting to an unfamiliar routine and working to make sense of the odd conversations happening around them. Even the family dogs are doing their part, trading off time at the park for more time around their favourite humans.
With Audible’s wide selection of kids’ audiobooks and family audiobooks, you can get kids off the screen and onto a selection of engaging, educational, thought-provoking and entertaining audio experiences. In this post, we’ll look at suggestions of audiobooks for kids for every age, from the littlest listeners all the way up to teenagers.
At Audible, we do our best when we help you do your best. Having listened to parents on social media, we understand the need for educational, entertaining, culturally enriching content that you can easily access at home. That’s why we’re happy to offer suggestions for titles to help keep the kids entertained and engaged while we all wait together for the brighter days ahead.
Audible is There for Parents
While stuck indoors, parents are searching for ways to inspire creativity and learning in a fun way. But trying to find content that educates as it entertains is not always easy. It’s like trying to find a pizza recipe that hides a daily-recommended amount of veggies in the crust. It’s a good thing the best audiobooks for kids manage to strike the perfect balance!
Throughout this new period of social distancing, Audible is here to help parents bring practical lessons and fantastical worlds inside with them.
Littlest Listener Titles - Best Audiobooks for Kids Age 1 to 5
Toddlers between 1 and 5 years old are learning constantly. Everything they see, every new experience they have and every word they hear teaches them a little more about the world around them. If you need resources to help engage and entertain the youngest in your family, here are some fantastic examples of the Littlest Listeners titles you'll find at Audible.
These audiobooks for toddlers and audiobooks for preschoolers will make your little ones laugh, gasp, recite the alphabet, count to ten and even — after a long day of fun learning — go quietly to bed.
Spark Imaginations and Make Listening a Treat with the Frozen Storybook Collection
The Frozen movies remain a continued favourite among kids, but if you’ve played them so many times that even you’ve memorized all the words, it’s refreshing to explore beyond the source material. The Frozen Storybook Collection is the perfect place to start. Featuring familiar characters like Elsa, Anna and Olaf, this audio collection of short stories blends what kids love about the movies with exciting new adventures.
The stories in the Frozen Storybook Collection are just the right length to hold and keep your youngest’s attention, at around six or seven minutes apiece. Use them to help establish quiet time or as a reward for doing something helpful. Use them as kids home entertainment during downtime or as a fun family listening experience. Your Littlest Listener will be thrilled to hear from their favourite Frozen friends and you can be thrilled too, knowing they’re exercising their imaginations and acquiring valuable language skills.
Share a Classic with The Beatrix Potter Collection
It’s a special experience: sharing stories with your children that you cherished as a child. You get to witness, in their excitement, the same wonder you felt as a kid. It’s a bond that extends from your childhood to theirs; a shared experience that brings you closer together.
What better classic to share with them than The Beatrix Potter Collection. The tales have something for every Littlest Listener. Follow the disobedient (but lovable) Peter Rabbit through his various hijinks. Join Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, the caring and charming hedgehog washerwoman for a cup of tea. Get to know Benjamin Bunny, Tom Kitten, Squirrel Nutkin and other enchanting characters as they get into mischief, fend off trouble and learn valuable lessons.
This imaginative, instructive and carefully crafted collection introduces Littlest Listeners to more complex narratives and language while remaining grounded in engaging animal characters. The Audible exclusive production of The Beatrix Potter Collection is narrated by Andrew Scott, whom parents might recognize from his work on the hit shows Sherlock and Fleabag.
Nurture a Love of Language with Dr. Seuss's ABC
A little extra learning is just what the Doctor ordered! Dr. Seuss's ABC is silly enough to keep your toddler's attention, but it's also a great way to learn the alphabet. With trademark whimsy, Dr. Seuss goes through every letter of the alphabet, offering outlandish and outsized examples of phrases for each.
“Barber baby bubbles and a bumblebee” uses playful cadence to teach the letter “B”. “Lazy lion licks a lollipop” uses a funny image to teach the letter “L”. And “Uncle Ubb’s umbrella and his underwear too” is just the kind of wacky word play that will cement the letter “U” in your Littlest Listener’s mind.
The loopy and lilting Dr. Seuss's ABC is narrated by the hilarious Jason Alexander, whom parents will probably know best as George Costanza from the classic sitcom Seinfeld. If you’re looking for fun kids rhymes to get your toddlers started on their ABCs, let Alexander bring the Doctor’s words to life for you with this perfect kids’ home entertainment. And explore more Dr. Seuss books at Audible.
Encourage a Budding Mathematician with 123: Learn to Count with Songs and Rhymes
Songs are powerful mnemonic devices — they help us engage with, retain and remember new information. It’s the reason businesses use jingles in their radio ads. It’s the reason you hear people sing “30 days hath September…” under their breath when trying to determine how many days are left in the month. And it’s the reason why so many terrific educational resources for kids are set to a sing-along.
123: Learn to Count with Songs and Rhymes uses music’s mnemonic capabilities to teach counting to kids. Through a series of catchy tunes, this fun audiobook will help your Littlest Listener learn to count while dancing around the room. Turn it into a playtime activity (and loosen your own limbs a little) by joining them in a numerical, mnemonic dance party. Now, if only there was a mnemonic device to help us remember how to spell “mnemonic!”
Tuck Them into Bed with Bedtime Meditation Stories for Kids
Between screen time, playtime and the restlessness of being indoors, it can be tough for your toddler to relax before bed. When it’s time to sleep, encourage peace and mindfulness with Bedtime Meditation Stories for Kids, a meditative spin on the bedtime story.
Each of the 12 short stories in this caring and thoughtful collection begins with a calming meditation. The stories themselves contain individual lessons — one’s about the value of forgiveness, another is about the importance of imagination and one of the stories simply asks children to value their own thoughts and feelings.
Parents who remember the calming, empowering, radically loving presence of Mister Rogers will see immediate similarities here. As with the best bedtime story audiobooks and lullaby audiobooks, these stories aren’t just concerned with helping kids sleep; they’re dedicated to reaffirming important lessons on self-worth. It’s as important as ever right now to help kids feel safe, calm and empowered. Bedtime Meditation Stories for Kids, with its caring approach to the age-old ritual of the bedtime story, is willing to pitch in and help.
Elementary Titles - Best Audiobooks for Kids Age 6 to 10
At this age, kids' minds are energetic in the best and worst ways. They're running up the walls with (sometimes destructive) energy, but their imaginations are also bottomless and enthusiastic.
Spark their imaginations and focus their attention with these awesome kids’ home entertainment titles. Whether they want to vent their energy with a silly laugh, give voice to their heroic side with an empowering collection of true stories, discover a classic Canadian tale or be whisked away to a fantastical land — these kids’ entertainment titles will keep your elementary-aged kid engaged and entertained while indoors.
Look Up to the Heroic Women of History with Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
Staying engaged at home doesn’t exclusively mean keeping up with the classics or practicing arithmetic — it can also mean learning from role models. In this fantastic audiobook, your Elementary Listener will learn history and unlearn limitations at the same time.
In Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, you’ll hear the stories of 100 heroic women, from Elizabeth I to Serena Williams. Painters, scientists, dancers, chefs, astronauts, jazz singers, pharaohs, boxers, writers, political leaders… this collection of true stories contains uplifting role models from every corner of the globe. And, despite its title, it’s not just for girls. Young boys can learn a lot from Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls too, taking in these stories and gaining an understanding of the importance of respecting and treating women – all humans, in fact – equitably.
The stellar narrating cast includes a few awesome women as well: Alicia Keys, Ashley Judd, Danai Gurira, Janeane Garofalo and more. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls may have started its life as a humble Kickstarter project, but — just like the women it details — it went on to make history.
Laugh Along with The Adventures of Captain Underpants
Sometimes, all a kid needs in order to stop tearing up the place is to focus their energy and laughter on a story. It's the reason we play peek-a-boo with babies and invite clowns to birthday parties. Let Captain Underpants be that clown.
On the surface, The Adventures of Captain Underpants audiobook is a hilarious yarn about two friends who inadvertently hypnotize their school principal into thinking he’s an underpants-clad superhero. It’s just the kind of silly kids’ home entertainment that Elementary Listeners love.
Underneath the potty humour, however, The Adventures of Captain Underpants audiobook contains a surprisingly smart and sweet story about friendship, imagination and responsibility. Working together, the main characters George Beard and Harold Hutchins use their imaginations for good, even though a few hijinks ensue along the way.
A favourite of kids of just about any age (including all you adult-aged kids), the Captain Underpants audiobooks offer a welcome dose of levity between at-home learning sessions. Just don’t be surprised if your kid insists on spending the rest of the day in underpants and a cape!
Immerse Yourself in a Classic with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
This classic of English literature transports your Elementary Listener through a simple wardrobe and into a world of intrigue, adventure and danger. Fantastic titles for budding lovers of literature, The Chronicles of Narnia series has remained a staple in school curricula for decades, and you can start at the beginning with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
The mythical creatures and exciting plot of the series’ first audiobook capture the imagination, but the real reason it has endured is its simple message: with courage and compassion, good will triumph over evil.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe audiobook is also the perfect listen for time spent indoors. Siblings Peter, Susan, Lucy and Edmund are sent to an old professor’s house to further pursue their education. But the education they receive instead is one born from imagination and wonder.
In Narnia, the kids experience numerous tests to their loyalty, friendship, courage and quick-thinking. The education they receive, despite being indoors, is all the more valuable and rewarding for being fantastical. Creator C.S. Lewis never discounts the possibility that Narnia is a figment of the children’s imagination — perhaps because that’s beside the point.
Give Sibling Rivalry Some Company with Rivals! Frenemies Who Changed the World
Are your kids arguing over who gets to choose the next audiobook? Suggest Rivals! Frenemies Who Changed the World, a fun, family-friendly look at frenemies throughout history.
Learn about Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh, two bitter rivals who discovered most of the world’s known dinosaur fossils. Pick sides between Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots, who duked it out over the crown of England. And listen to the petty quibbling between Adidas and Puma, whose brand rivalry shaped the world of sports fashion. Rivals! Frenemies Who Changed the World is one of the best audiobooks for kids who love history.
The childish name-calling and back-and-forth bickering may hit a little close to home for parents with multiple kids, but at least while your kids are listening to these rivalries they won’t be focusing on their own!
Discover a Canadian Classic with Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables is a Canadian treasure. Lucy Maud Montgomery’s story of an orphan girl, mistakenly sent to work on a farm in the PEI town of Avonlea, has captivated listeners for generations, here in Canada and abroad. Kids in the 6-to-10-year-old range will find a kindred spirit in Anne, as she works to make sense of a new landscape, meeting each new challenge with feistiness, heart and imagination.
As we continue to stay indoors, Anne reminds us of the importance of boundless imagination. Her flights into daydream express the possibility of a rich inner life, wherever we are and whatever we’re doing. And through her expressiveness, she also serves as a role model – a girl unafraid to express her emotions, however big and passionate.
Narrated by Canadian actor Rachel McAdams (from The Notebook and other blockbuster films) this Anne of Green Gables audiobook is top-to-bottom Canadian. Share a Canuck classic with your kids — a terrific audiobook for family listening moments.
Tween Titles - Best Audiobooks for Kids Age 11 to 13
Perceptive, curious, a little awkward and learning how to feel self-empowered in the big world — we all remember being a tween.
Whether they're looking for titles that speak to the challenges of coming-of-age or they want to immerse themselves in science and classic literature, your tween will find titles to educate and entertain at Audible. These Tween titles are also perfectly suited for family listening moments, with themes that spark constructive dialogues.
Spark a Dialogue with The Hate U Give
For older tweens, this lauded audiobook is an unflinching YA look at race relations. The debut title from Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give audiobook follows Starr Carter, a young girl moving between worlds: one, the streets of the poor, predominantly black neighbourhood where she grew up; the other, the vaunted halls of the mostly white suburban preparatory school she attends. It’s not always an easy balance, but Starr manages.
That fragile balance is upset, though, when tragedy strikes close to home. Starr’s childhood friend Khalil offers to drive her home from a party one night, but the car is stopped by a police officer. With orders to get out of the car and not move, Khalil turns to check on Starr and the police officer fatally shoots him. After being picked up by the media, the story of Khalil’s death becomes a national headline and all eyes turn to Starr, who — still poised between worlds — must figure out the right thing to do.
This powerful examination of race, privilege, class and the ways they intersect is best listened to with a parent to help parse its meaning and ongoing relevance. The Hate U Give is a phenomenal resource for parents looking to spark complex discussions with their tweens.
Explore History, Empathy and the Triumph of the Human Spirit with Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl
This important piece of history and literature isn't just a mainstay of school curricula — it's an important, powerful, ever-relevant reminder of humanity in hard times.
Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl offers listeners a window into the thoughts of one Jewish girl hiding from Nazi occupation — her fears, passions, desires and everyday thoughts. She fills her diary with thoughts about the friendships she wants, the crushes she has and the frustration she feels when her parents misunderstand her. In other words, she’s an average kid.
In many ways, it’s Anne’s averageness that makes the diary so profound. It illustrates the commonalities between us. It teaches us that, even in the most inhumane circumstances, we can still find moments of humanity. And it lets your Tween Listener know coming-of-age has always been difficult, regardless of — and in addition to — what’s going on in the outside world.
Listen to the Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl audiobook with your tween as a jumping off point to discuss history, coming-of-age and empathy.
Don't Judge an Audiobook by Its Cover with Wonder
“If you have the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind”. This quote (from the real-life Dr. Wayne W. Dyer) is introduced as a guiding principle on the first day of school at Beecher Prep, where a young boy with a craniofacial difference starts his first year at middle school.
August “Auggie” Pullman just wants to be treated like every other kid, but instead he’s bullied for his appearance. Soon, even those that associate with him are bullied. Told from multiple perspectives, this popular and stunningly reviewed audiobook teaches tweens about the value of inner beauty and sticking up for what’s right.
From the quote above, Wonder sparked the #ChooseKind movement, an anti-bullying hashtag that acted as a pledge from kids and adults everywhere. For tweens navigating the often-tumultuous social landscape of middle school, the Wonder audiobook offers a pertinent lesson in compassion. If you find yourself tuning in with your Tween Listener it might be best to grab the tissue box; this one tugs at the heartstrings.
Greek Out with Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths
Greek mythology is everywhere, from the Nike shoes you’re wearing on your feet all the way up to the constellations in the sky. Countless literary titles, TV shows, movies and video games make allusions to Greek mythology. And even common words like “atlas”, “nemesis”, “echo” and “narcissist” come from the names of Greek gods and goddesses.
If your Tween Listener wants to Greek out on history, etymology, mythology and cultural references, Bernard Evslin’s *Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths* is a great place to start. A popular resource in and out of the classroom, Evslin’s retellings of Greek myths introduce listeners to characters like Aphrodite, Apollo, Medusa and Zeus.
And, best of all for a Tween Listener, Evslin is far from dry — he breathes life, tension, wit and thrill into the myths, allowing your kids to experience the stories as a Greek kid might have, thousands of years ago, gathered around a travelling storyteller. The gods do have a habit of behaving badly, so Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths is recommended for older tweens and teens.
Set up Science Corner with Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry
As long as there’s a view of the sky — even if it’s from the window — humans will continue to gaze up at the stars with awe. If you have a budding astrophysicist at home with you, one whose passion for all things intergalactic is matched only by their love of learning, we have just the audiobook for you.
Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry is a brief-but-never-cursory investigation into the mysteries of the cosmos from one of the world’s finest and most accessible astrophysicists, Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
For the scientifically curious, here's an audiobook that never talks down — an educational peek at our galaxy that manages to condense the great beyond into a little over three-and-a-half hours. And parents might just get a blast from the past when they hear the narration: the Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry audiobook is performed by none other than Reading Rainbow royalty, LaVar Burton.
Teen Titles - Best Audiobooks for Kids Age 13 to 18
They grow up so fast. That Littlest Listener you were tucking into bed not too long ago is now an increasingly independent, whip-smart and caring... adult? Maybe not quite yet.
It’s important to thank our teens throughout social distancing, many of whom have forgone meaningful summer plans and hanging out with friends to do their part. In the following sections, we’ll offer suggestions for entertaining and engaging resources to help your teens make the best of their time inside. Whether they’re keen to pick up a second language, explore a fantastical world or learn the history of nearly everything, Audible can help.
Learn Everything at Once with A Short History of Nearly Everything
Bill Bryson's sprawling look at the history of science isn't "short" but it is incredibly entertaining. A Short History of Nearly Everything is one of the best audiobooks for teens interested in science, containing — as its title indicates — abbreviated accounts of numerous scientific discoveries throughout history. In Bryson’s hands, these aren’t just plain historical facts. They’re opportunities for rumination, oddball historical details and plenty of wry humour.
On the one hand, for instance, Bryson will fill you in on Einstein’s discovery of E = mc2 and the science surrounding it… but on the other, he’ll colour the explanation with the fact that each human contains, “7 X 10^18 joules of potential energy — enough to explode with the force of thirty very large hydrogen bombs, assuming you knew how to liberate it and really wished to make a point.” These kinds of splashy and poignant analogies are all over the A Short History of Nearly Everything audiobook.
Starting with the Big Bang and working through to the discovery of quantum theory, checking in on anthropology, archaeology, biology and math along the way, this is an exhaustive, entertaining and absorbing listen perched between humour column and academic essay. If your Teen Listener never thought of themselves as much of a “science person,” give them this audiobook. Like an apple falling on Newton’s head, it might just all of a sudden hit them!
Take Time Between Study Sessions to Visit the Chilling Fantasy World of Scythe
Downtime isn’t valueless time. Any time a kid of any age can exercise their imagination, engage with a story and just relax a little with kids’ entertainment, it’s a positive. Teens have a lot of studying to do, after all, and it’s critical to create a study/life balance.
For a thrilling escape from the confines of the study desk, consider Neal Shusterman’s Scythe, the first audiobook in his Arc of a Scythe series. Taking place in a far future without war, hunger or misery, the engrossing story follows Citra and Rowan, teens chosen to apprentice as "scythes" — the only people in this new world capable of killing.
According to the Scythedom Organization, killing is the only method available to curb overpopulation. But as the apprenticeship unfolds and the Organization begins to make increasingly difficult demands for whom they need to target, can Citra and Rowan confront their morality and still survive?
Like The Hunger Games audiobooks, Shusterman’s masterful Scythe audiobook series deftly blends YA fantasy with visceral moral quandaries. Reviewers on Audible seem to agree this one’s hard to press pause on, so make sure there isn’t too much studying left to do when your teen jumps in.
Get Ready for a New Hunger Games Audiobook with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
That's right. It came at exactly the right time. The newest title in The Hunger Games universe came out May 19 and we’re all collectively ready to binge our way through it.
A prequel to The Hunger Games series – some of the most popular audiobooks – The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes picks up at the beginning of the tenth annual Hunger Games. A young Coriolanus Snow (the baddie president of Panem in the main series) is tasked with mentoring a female tribute from the lowly District 12.
Their fates are intertwined — every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to either favour or failure — perhaps even death. With the Hunger Games commencing, Coriolanus’ mentee faces the fight of her life. And outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute.
He must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes. Already poised to be a smash hit in kids’ entertainment, this audiobook will certainly be a topic of discussion among Teen Listeners and adults alike in the coming months. Volunteer as tribute to be among the first to hear The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes at Audible!
Use Cognitive Science to Master a Foreign Language with Becoming Fluent
What can cognitive science teach us about second-language acquisition? And how can we use those lessons to hack the language learning process? Richard Roberts and Roger Kreuz’s Becoming Fluent: How Cognitive Science Can Help Adults Learn a Foreign Language aims to answer those questions.
It’s commonly held that after childhood learning a new language becomes exponentially more difficult. We’re just too inside our own heads. Becoming Fluent explains why that is and offers solutions to best your brain and learn a new language.
If your Teen Listener is looking to learn a language – perhaps some before-college French, some pre-gap year Japanese, or they simply want to learn Swahili for fun – this informative audiobook can help give them the tools.
Keeping Up with the Classics — Titles for High School Students
These literary classics are still important fixtures on school curricula, but adults can get a lot out of them too. Enjoyed for generations, the themes and characters in these classics continue to captivate and teach us.
Listen to these classic audiobooks with your older kids and discuss your thoughts. Or gift them to one of the maturing literature lovers in your life.
Explore Love and Loss in the Roaring Twenties with The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s aching tale of love and longing, set amid the sumptuous backdrop of Roaring 20s New York, has been enthralling listeners since its release. The Great Gatsby may take place 100 years ago, but the classic audiobook’s themes are still prescient.
Human connection vs. material wealth. Fantasy vs. reality. The collective American Dream vs. the personal dream. There is a lot of tension simmering in this classic audiobook, which rewards re-listen after re-listen.
This special audiobook version of The Great Gatsby, available only at Audible, is narrated by superstar Jake Gyllenhaal, whose acting chops give the story even further depth. This title shows up in college courses frequently so give your teen a head start with this fantastic audiobook, and explore more audiobooks for high school students at Audible.
Stand up to Big Brother with 1984
George Orwell’s depiction of a bleak, totalitarian future presided over by Big Brother and patrolled by the Thought Police is still referenced today in everything from reality shows to internet think pieces. Its message, for many, is a rallying cry against tyranny. Its grim depictions, a cautionary tale against imbalanced power dynamics.
For many young listeners, 1984 is their political awakening, an introduction to big questions about government, freedom and social roles.
This classic audiobook won’t give a complete understanding of the role of government and civic duty, but it’s a potent starting point. If your teen is just beginning to dip their toes in political issues, pass this seminal audiobook along. Just be ready for big conversations around the dinner table!
Struggle for Independence with Jane Eyre
Charlotte Brontë has been called "the historian of private consciousness." Her ability to track the inner turmoil of her title character — the struggle for independence, the competing passion and piety — in the classic Jane Eyre is peerless.
The story follows the titular Jane from her orphanage upbringing in Northern England through her experience as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets the complex and mysterious Mr. Rochester. It’s an early example of the struggle for women’s independence in literature and remains a relevant and engaging listen to this day.
One of many stellar classic audiobooks available at Audible, Jane Eyre is bolstered by the strong narration of Thandie Newton (from Solo: A Star Wars Story and the TV show Westworld, to name just a couple of her credits). It’s one of the finest audiobooks for high school students interested in feminism, literature and English history.
While the kids are busy listening to the above recommendations, you can also take time to explore our library of titles. Investigate a thriller, fall head over heels for a romance, sweat to an exercise podcast, chuckle with a standup comedian or get motivated with a self-development title. The audiobook titles listed above are for enriching your kid’s at-home experience, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t enrich your experience as well!
Hopefully, you’ve found something to love in this list of kids’ entertainment audiobooks. To offer us a few recommendations of your own, join the conversation on Facebook, and share your favourites with us on Instagram!
