I do nearly half of my reading on audio, and it has been life-changing! Audiobooks are accessible, especially for people who may be dyslexic or visually impaired. But even if you don’t fit into either of those boxes, audiobooks make it easier to multitask, enjoy some slower-paced books, and turn long car days into story-infused days. If you’re wondering whether audiobooks are good for kids, this post will help. I’m also sharing over 25 fantastic audiobooks for kids ages 5 and up!
But first, let’s answer some commonly asked questions about audiobooks.
Are Audiobooks Good for Kids?
Absolutely! Audiobooks have numerous benefits for kids, and several studies (like this one and this one) have confirmed this, citing benefits such as improved emotional intelligence. Here are a few other ways listening to audiobooks benefits kids:
- It improves comprehension skills: Just as reading builds strong written language decoding skills, listening allows kids to process language faster. Audiobooks build listening stamina and concentration skills, and kids follow a story orally.
- Audiobooks are great for fidgety kids: Got a reader who can’t sit still while you read? This is perfectly normal, but it can be frustrating for us when we read to kids. Put on an audiobook for them and let them use their fidget spinner, do a puzzle, or draw and paint as they listen. Being physically active allows the brain to focus on the audiobook.
- Audiobooks allow dyslexic kids and reluctant readers to enjoy more books: This is one of my top benefits of audiobooks–accessibility. Kids who are reluctant to read words for themselves can easily be lured into a story when they listen to it. Audiobooks allow kids who can only read audiobooks to enjoy chapter books with the rest of the family. (See a list of my favorite family audiobooks.)
Do Audiobooks Count as Reading for Kids?
YES! A study in the Journal of Neuroscience shows that the same parts of the brain are stimulated while listening to an audiobook as those affected when we read the text physically. So, to your brain, it makes no difference whether you’re reading or listening. Cool, huh?
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The Best Audiobooks for Kids of All Ages
Here are 25+ of the best audiobooks for kids arranged from youngest to oldest:
Great Audiobooks for Preschoolers
These are some of the best audiobooks for preschool kids:
Narwhal and Jelly
Published: September 08, 2020
Listening Length: 11 minutes
Narwhal and Jelly is a great graphic novel for younger readers. This graphic novel is so fun to listen to — it felt like a short audio Disney movie. Narwhal is a happy-go-lucky narwhal. Jelly is a no-nonsense jellyfish. The two might not have a lot in common, but they do love waffles, parties, and adventures. Join Narwhal and Jelly as they discover the whole wide ocean together.
Frog and Toad Audio Collection
Published: November 12, 2004
Listening Length: 1 hour and 29 minutes
Once upon a time, there were two good friends, a frog and a toad…From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other – just as best friends should be. This is a sweet series about friendship that’s great for kids who love animal stories.
The Good Egg
Published: December 03, 2019
Listening Length: 6 minutes
I love this series of picture books, and they are fantastic on audio as well. Kids will love meeting the good egg who always tries to be perfect and please everyone. What happens when the pressure becomes too much for him?
Waiting on Mr. Sloth
Published: June 13, 2023
Listening Length: 11 minutes
Sasha is back with her friend, Mr. Sloth, for some beach day fun, but as usual, Mr. Sloth is determined to take his time while Sasha wants to get moving right away. This is a great picture book on audio about being patient. If you like it, you might like its predecessor, Mindful Mr. Sloth.
Fancy Nancy
Published: March 20, 2012
Listening Length: 5 minutes
Meet Nancy, who believes that more is ALWAYS better when it comes to being fancy. From the top of her tiara down to her sparkly studded shoes, Nancy is determined to teach her family a thing or two about being fancy. How Nancy transforms her parents and little sister for one enchanted evening makes for a story that is funny and warm – with or without the frills.
Audiobooks for Kindergarteners
Kindergartners can handle chapter books, so they’ll love these audiobooks:
The Princess in Black
Published: February 09, 2016
Listening Length: 55 minutes
Princess Magnolia alter-ego is a monster-fighting superhero. Julia Whelan is fantastic in her narration of this series, and this collection has the first three books — all of which you can listen to in less than an hour. Kids who love adventure and humor will enjoy this audiobook.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Published: June 13, 2013
Listening Length: 3 hours and 18 minutes
This delightful classic lends itself beautifully to the audiobook format. Stronger listeners, ages 6+, will enjoy hearing Charlie’s adventures in Willy Wonka’s factory during car rides or quiet time.
Mercy Watson to the Rescue
Published: October 13, 2006
Listening Length: 19 minutes
To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig–she’s a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons’ bed. BOOM! CRACK! This funny chapter book series is a tried and true favorite for kids ages 5-7.
Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Published: October 05, 2010
Listening Length: 2 hours and 6 minutes
There’s a reason why this is the first book that comes to mind when I think of a family audiobook! It’s perfect even for kids as young as age 5. Ramona’s hijinks are relatable, and the story is warm and captivating, even for older listeners.
Dory Fantasmagory
Published: April 14, 2015
Listening Length: 55 minutes
This one is a huge favorite of many young readers! Dory is a lastborn with an overactive imagination who exhausts her parents and siblings with her high energy and propensity for chaos. Join her in the first book of the series as she finds monsters around the house and puts them in their place. The audio is imaginative and fun — but most importantly, only 55 minutes long.
Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters: The Questioneers, Book 1
Published: October 02, 2018
Listening Length: 1 hour and 9 minutes
If your kids love audiobooks with sound effects that feel like an audio movie, this. is a great choice for them. Especially if they’re big fans of all things S.T.E.A.M! When Rosie’s beloved Aunt Rose and her pals the Raucous Riveters – a gaggle of fun-loving gals who built airplanes during World War II – need her help, it’s up to Rosie to save the day. Will Rosie be able to invent a contraption to help one of the Riveters paint in the annual mural competition?
Audiobooks for Elementary Schoolers Ages 7-9
Time for elementary schoolers! These are the best audiobooks for elementary schoolers:
Ways to Make Sunshine
Published: July 30, 2020
Listening Length: 2 hours and 51 minutes
Ryan Hart and her family are moving to a new (old) house because her dad lost his post office job and his new job doesn’t pay as much. Ryan is unhappy about the change for many reasons. She liked their old house, and even though she has her own room in this new house, this house is a smaller bungalow, which means there will be no stairs to play on. She also fears that it will be too small to entertain guests, because Ryan loves to create new recipes — and cook them! I found this absolutely delightful and I would recommend this book to any who enjoy strong female leads, books about female friendships, and heartwarming sibling dynamics.
The Stupendous Switcheroo
Published: September 12, 2023
Listening Length: 3 hours and 19 minutes
What if you woke up to new powers every day? Such is the fate of our protagonist in this graphic novel-prose hybrid (think PIE IN THE SKY format—swipe for photos). Daily, he develops and loses everything from potent superpowers like telekinesis and super speed to cute, but not-so-useful ones like bubbles and speaking cat. He’s even recruited by the city’s superhero to help fight the villains popping up everywhere. The one thing he can’t seem to figure out though is where his scientist mom is.
As each day passes, readers follow Switcheroo one step closer to the mystery of his mom’s whereabouts and why there are so many villains around all of a sudden.
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
Published: September 12, 2023
Listening Length: 3 hours and 19 minutes
The Vanderbeekers have always lived in the brownstone on 141st Street. It’s practically another member of the family. So when their reclusive, curmudgeonly landlord decides not to renew their lease, the five siblings have eleven days to do whatever it takes to stay in their beloved home and convince the dreaded Beiderman just how wonderful they are. I adore this series (and the narrator is phenomenal) and haven’t met anyone who hates them!
City Spies
Published: March 10, 2020
Listening Length: 6 hours and 50 minutes
Twelve-year old Sara Martinez is a hacker bouncing from foster home to foster home in Brooklyn, New York. After getting arrested for hacking into the NYC foster care system to expose her foster parents as criminals, she meets a man named Mother who is not a lawyer but convinces her to take on her case. Mother somehow wins and Sara gets released only to join a team of kid spies operating out of a base in Scotland.
The kids get codenames (they’re basically renamed) to match their city of origin. On the team are five kids: a Black boy named Paris, a girl named Sydney, Brooklyn (formerly called Sara), a boy named Rio, and a girl named Kat (for a city in Nepal). As Sara adjusts, the team prepares for their first mission in Paris, France, even as Mother is working hard to find his two kids lost as a consequence of a previous mission.
When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie
Published: November 16, 2021
Listening Length: 5 hours and 34 minutes
The Peach family is embarking on The Great Peach Experiment, their first one: making and selling pies out of a food truck! Oh, and they’ll be road tripping the whole summer too. Lucy, Freddie, and Herb have spent more time with each other than with their father since their mom died. But now one of their mom’s inventions has sold for a lot of money and their dad has bought a food truck and wants them to spend the summer traveling through the country as a family.
The kids are hesitant at first, but Freddie is glad to miss summer school, so he gets on board super quickly. Firstborn and permanent watcher of her siblings, Lucy is suspicious but agrees because she wants her dad to be more present in their lives. However, she does have a summer reading list that she plans to get through during the summer. Herb is just happy as long as he gets to swim every single day while they’re on the road. The family plans to also enter a food truck contest at the end of their trip to compete for $10,000. But along the way, they learn a lot about what really matters.
All Four Stars
Published: September 19, 2016
Listening Length: 6 hours and 31 minutes
Meet Gladys Gatsby: New York’s toughest restaurant critic. (Just don’t tell anyone that she’s in sixth grade.) When Gladys gets a chance to write restaurant reviews, the food enthusiast is thrilled to oblige, but she has to stay undercover (even to her parents). I found this book utterly delicious and delightful book about a middle-school food aficionado who becomes a food critic. Enjoyed all the mouth-watering food descriptions (always read this one with a plate of food by your side!).
Odder
Published: September 20, 2022
Listening Length: 2 hours and 22 minutes
This is a wonderful choice for fans. of full-cast audiobooks. Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she’s known. She’s a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself—and about the humans who hope to save her. This delightful animal story is perfect for younger readers ages 7-9. If your kids like Odder, try Always, Clementine!
Audiobooks for Middle Graders Ages 10-13
Now for the big kids! Here are some amazing middle grade books for upper middle schoolers:
The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity
Published: September 05, 2023
Listening Length: 4 hours and 53 minutes
A propulsive work of narrative nonfiction about how the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre, how the robbery made the portrait the most famous artwork in the world—and how the painting by Leonardo da Vinci should never have existed at all. I struggled to get into this one via text but enjoyed it on audio. The storytelling is engaging and kids who love art and history will adore this book.
The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry
Published: August 15, 2023
Listening length: 6 hours and 32 minutes
Juniper and her family live off-the-grid, and she loves it. Her mom has warned her that life in society is stressful, but Juniper’s older sister still wants to try living there. Unfortunately, regardless of the family’s desires, they all have to move to the nearest town when their youngest family member becomes seriously ill. Juniper’s dad even has to work to pay the hospital bills while the girls live with their uncle and his daughters.
It turns out that school is hard for Juniper. The kids treat her like a weirdo, and her cousin doesn’t even want to be seen with her — she prefers to hang out with the kids who bully her. Juniper wants to help her dad pay the bills, so she gets a job helping a neighbor with her garden and starts a YouTube channel to teach people about the woods, which leads to more bullying but also heartwarming surprises.
The Jules Verne Prophecy
Published: June 27, 2023
Listening Length: 7 hours and 33 minutes
Owen is in Paris with his mom for the summer studying the popular French writer Jules Verne when he becomes the center of several weird coincidences, ending with a never-before-seen Jules Verne book ending up in his possession. Suddenly, he and his new friends are being tailed by dangerous people who want the book back. This is a high-energy mystery with plenty of chases around Paris, perfect for fans of Paris. The audiobook is excellent, with captivating sound effects.
Wink
Published: March 31, 2020
Listening Length: 6 hours and 24 minutes
When Ross is diagnosed with a rare lacrimal gland cancer (in his eye), it’s like a new trial for his seventh grade existence. Add to that the fact that his mom died from cancer years before, he’s going blind in one eye, his best friend is moving away soon, and mean kids at school are making terrible memes about his illness and you have a dumpster fire of a year waiting to happen. Or is it?
I especially loved the audiobook version, which has fun intermissions featuring Will’s comic alter-ego BatPig (with a different narrator, background jingles, and everything). I would recommend this book to 6th graders and up looking for funny books with male protagonists. It’s also a great one to hand to kids coping with cancer or chronic illnesses.
The Next Great Paulie Fink
Published: April 16, 2019
Listening Length: 7 hours and 12 minutes
This thought-provoking middle grade book lends itself perfectly to the audio format since it’s written in part as interviews. When a new student arrives at a middle school, she discovers that the class can’t stop talking about a former classmate. As she tries to learn more about him, she and the other kids learn a lot about themselves, the many layers of a person, and how to be kinder to others. This one took a while to get into but once I did, it was fantastic.
Audiobooks for Teens Ages 13+
Finally, I have some picks that teens will enjoy. All of these also make great choices for older middle schoolers:
Give Me a Sign
Published: July 11, 2023
Listening Length: 9 hours and 24 minutes
Lilah is a teen with hearing loss but who isn’t profoundly deaf. So she has always felt caught in the middle — not deaf enough to be part of the Deaf community and not fully hearing to fit in completely there either. But when she becomes a counselor at a summer camp for deaf and blind kids, her experiences (and the boy she falls in love with) change the way she views her disability.
The audiobook is lovely(!!) and includes sound effects to depict conversations in ASL and muffled portions to depict the parts where Lilah can’t lip-read. The book italicizes signed portions of the conversations and leaves the spoken parts and narration in normal type.
Love Radio
Published: May 31, 2022
Listening Length: 8 hours and 50 minutes
I adored this swoony romance about a teen who’s a DJ and radio host and the girl he falls in love with. The protagonists have depth as Prince looks after his mom, who has multiple sclerosis, and Dani is reeling from a traumatic sexual harassment incident. Great for teens ages 13+
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Published: February 04, 2020
Listening Length: 10 hours and 53 minutes
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder follows British teen Pippa Fitz-Amobi who’s decided to do her senior capstone project on a local murder case that was closed 5 years ago. Five years ago, high schooler Andie Bell went missing and her boyfriend Sal Singh sent his father a text admitting to the crime, after which he was found in what seemed like an apparent suicide. But Pip doesn’t buy it. With the help of Sal’s younger brother, Ravi, she investigates the events surrounding Andie’s disappearance and Sal’s murder. But the culprit won’t let her find the truth so easily. Can Pippa hack the crime?
What Happened to Rachel Riley?
Published: January 10, 2023
Listening Length: 5 hours and 49 minutes
When Anna Hunt moves from Chicago to Wisconsin for her mother’s new job, she soon realizes that something’s off about her new eighth-grade class. One student, Rachel Riley, who was once popular is now treated as a social pariah. So when their English teacher assigns them an un-essay — which is an exploration of a topic in any other format besides an essay — Anna decides to investigate the question: What happened to Rachel Riley? Of course, the teacher rejects Anna’s topic despite her lawyer mom’s protests. But with some hesitant help from Rachel and some other schoolmates, Anna pieces together the mystery.
The Agathas
Published: May 03, 2022
Listening Length: 10 hours and 58 minutes
In this popular mystery series, two girls band together, using the works of Agatha Christie to solve a murder mystery. If your teen likes Nancy Drew, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, or true crime in general, this is a great option to keep them on the mystery train.
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There they are: 25+ of the best audiobooks for kids! Which of these do your kids love? Which favorites have I missed?
What do you think? Leave a comment