Audiobooks for Families (And Some for You)

Audiobooks for Families blog written by the Ent with help from the Librarian, Hobbit, and the Queen on 3/19/2020.
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Audiobooks for families are starting to get the shine they have deserved for several years. They are so versatile. You can listen during your commute, walking the dog, doing the dishes, or just chilling in your house. And there is something very special about listening to someone read a story to you and your family together. Because of this popularity, there are so many audiobooks out there to listen. Luckily for all of us, this also includes audiobooks that can be listened to as a family. We hope you enjoy our list of Audiobooks for Families!

Audiobooks for the Younger Kids (4-8)

Mercy Watson to the Rescue

Author: Kate DiCamillo
Narrator: Ron McLarty
Length: 18 minutes
Quick Summary: A fun introduction for audiobooks for the young readers (or listeners) in your life. Meet the slightly butter-obsessed, fun loving pig Mercy!

In Aunt Giraffe’s Green Garden

Author: Jack Prelutsky
Narrator: Jack Prelutsky
Length: 48 Minutes
Quick Summary: Silly and fun poems to listen in this short but impactful read. You will smell tall flowers and eat oodles of noodles. Espcecially good for reading with the little ones to introduce audiobooks, while expanding their attention span for listening.

Roald Dahl Collection

Author: Roald Dahl
Narrator: Roald Dahl
Length: 3 hrs. 40 mins
Quick Summary: Roald Dahl has created a multitude of astounding worlds. This collection will be a great introduction to some great classic audiobooks for families that we think the everyone will enjoy!

Who Was George Washington?

Author: Roberta Edwards
Narrator: Mike Chamberlain
Length: 1 hr. 4 mins.
Quick Summary: There are so many great audiobooks in this series that introduce some of the greats of this world. If interested, you can also check out many other books in the Who was/Who is series!

Fortunately, The Milk

Author: Neil Gaiman
Narrator: Neil Gaiman
Length: 59 min.
Quick Summary: Pirates and piranhas are a just a small part of this insane tale from the mind of Neil Gaiman. A quick read for the whole family!

Audiobooks for the Middle-Aged Kids (9-13)

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Author: Robert O’Brien
Narrator: Barbara Caruso
Length: 7 hrs. 15 mins.
Quick Summary: The movie Secret of Minh is based of off this book. Mrs. Frisby must move her family from eminent danger while her youngest son is sick with pneumonia. The story is safe for the whole family, but it may be a bit too long for the little children.

Gateway to Fourline

Author: Pam Brondos
Narrator: Lauren Ezzo
Length: 9 hrs. 12 mins.
Quick Summary: A gateway from Earth to Fourline and Natalie Barns goes through. Nat’s whole world is turned over as he learns there is more to both worlds than he ever would have imagined.

The Hobbit

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Narrator: Rob Inglis
Length: 11 hrs. 3 mins.
Quick Summary: The first book of the magical of J.R.R Tolkien. Join Bilbo Baggins as he reluctantly goes on a grand adventure with dwarves, wizards, and dragons. If reading this one with younger ones, we recommend bringing the book alongside it to keep track of characters and plot. Ultimately, this is the book that put Tolkien on the fantasy map!

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Narrator: B.J. Harrison
Length: 5 hrs. 56 mins.
Quick Summary: The best mystery character of all time gets his introductory book as a hellhound has returned to claim another victim. Join Holmes and Watson as they try to determine who is behind this grisly attack. If you like this, you can also check out Benedict Cumberbatch reading 4 Doyle Stories. This is a great mystery classic to add to your audiobooks for families collection!

Ghost

Author: Jason Reynolds
Narrator: Guy Lockard
Length: 3 hrs. 31 mins.
Quick Summary: Ghost desires to be the best sprinter on his middle school team. His family past though is clinging on and slowing him down. Will he be able to focus and rein in his talent to overcome his past and become the greatest sprinter? This is a good read for the sports fan in your life.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Author: J.K. Rowling
Narrator: Jim Dale
Length: 8 hrs. 18 mins.
Quick Summary: Perhaps the most popular fantasy book of an entire generation. Harry Potter will take you on an incredible journey with the continuous battle between good and evil!

Audiobooks for the Older Kids (14+)

The Cricket on the Hearth

Author: Charles Dickens
Narrator: Jim Dale
Length: 3 hrs. 21 mins.
Quick Summary: 5 short stories written by one of the best writers in literature. Follow John Peerybingle and his family as they deal with social and moral situations.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Author: Agatha Christie
Narrator: Nicola McAuliffe
Length: 5 hrs. 18 mins.
Quick Summary: This book is the introduction to Christie’s infamous detective, Hercule Poirot (most popular for Murder on the Orient Express). This mystery will keep you guessing and trying to work out the case alongside one of the greatest fictional minds in literature.

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Author: Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Narrator: Ralph Cosham
Length: 8 hrs. 22 mins.
Quick Summary: A mysterious masked man help innocent aristocats escape the political turmoil and the guillotine. This book can be credited for the popularization of masked heroes which led to the superheros we know today. Lastly, there is a really good chance kids of this age will have to read this book. So, it’s always good to get ahead of it. After all, reading a book for fun is always better than writing a book you are forced to read!

Mere Christianity

Author: C.S. Lewis
Narrator: Geoffrey Howard
Length: 5 hrs. 51 mins.
Quick Summary: In Lewis’ collection of broadcast talks, he gives an overview of what it means to be a christian in the 20th century. We have found this book to be a great introduction to theology books and we would recommend reading and discussing this book with the teens in your life.

The War that Saved My Life

Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Narrator: Jayne Entwistle
Length: 7 hrs. 38 mins.
Quick Summary: Set during WW2, this historical fiction novel tells the story of Ada. Ada has a disfigured foot and her mother won’t let her out of the house. When her brother is called into war, Ada sneaks aboard with him.

Audiobooks for when you need a break from the kids

Girl, Wash your Face

Author: Rachel Hollis
Narrator: Rachel Hollis
Length: 7 hrs. 4 mins.
Quick Summary: If you’re feeling a little stuck and need a big sister to come alongside you with some encouragement and a kick to get you started- this books for you! We have a whole article and discussion guide on this book here. Also, we also highly recommend Girl, Stop Apologizing

Thunder Dog

Author: Susy Flory, Michael Hingson
Narrator: Christopher Prince
Length: 6 hrs. 31 mins
Quick Summary: Michael Higson worked in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Blind, he had to trust his guide dog, Roselle, to lead him down 78 floors (1463 steps). Their descent together helped many others who were around them. The gripping story unfolding on 9/11 is interspersed with background material on his life and on guide dogs. Not only a gripping listen, it will give you much better understanding of the world of the blind, and how they simply want to be recognized as functioning as well as anyone else. 

The Help

Author: Kathryn Stockett
Narrator: Jenna Lamia
Length: 18 hrs.
Quick Summary: The story of a maid (Aibileen) during the civil rights movement who is obedient, but she can only handle so much. Aibileen, along with her friends, meet together to discuss the current climate and how their little town could have big ripples in huge world.

The Gunslinger

Author: Stephen King
Narrator: George Guidall
Length: 8 hrs.
Quick Summary: The Dark Tower series is what happens when Stephen King decides to ply his trade toward the fantasy genre. Ultimately, this is the Ent’s favorite author and on of his favorite audiobook series! Read by one of the best audiobook narrators of all time, we highly recommend the entire Dark Tower Series (starting with The Gunslinger) for those who can handle a bit of dark fantasy!

Do Over

Author: Jon Acuff
Narrator: Jon Acuff
Length: 6 hrs. 48 mins.
Quick Summary: Do Over (And the follow up book- Finish) are all about starting and finishing goals, projects and career changes. What tools do you need to succeed, what’s going to be standing in your way, and how do you push past insecurity? If you are considering a career change, I highly suggest this book!

Do you love audiobooks? What’s are some of your favorite audiobooks for families? For just you? Please take a second and share this article!

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