I remember teaching second grade and having literacy stations, or centers. The listening station was always a hit. There would be some children’s book or another on a cassette tape, accompanied by a copy of the book. My delighted children would don gigantic blue headphones, buddy up, press play on the massive cassette player, and read along. While those experiences were magical, we’ve come a long way since “books on tape” really meant on tape. Now, there are many ways to access recorded books, from free library rentals to audiobook subscription services. Presently, it’s pretty easy to get our hands — and ears — on quality literature. Much like traditional read-alouds, audiobooks for kids offer a variety of benefits. They provide a model of fluent reading, allowing children to access and comprehend texts above their independent reading levels. Additionally, they can help motivate reluctant readers and expand children’s vocabularies. Whether your child is reading along with the audiobook or just listening, the benefits abound! If you’re still reading, I assume you’re sold on the idea, so let’s get started. Here are 20 awesome audiobooks for kids to get you toddlers, teens, and in-betweens reading and loving it!
Audiobooks for Younger Children
Audiobooks for Middle Schoolers and Older Teens
There you have it — 20 great audiobooks for kids guaranteed to offer hours of enriching amusement. Now, go forth and spread that sweet book magic! If you need more suggestions, check out these other great lists:
The 25 Best Children’s Audiobooks, From Preschool to Middle School 29 Free Audiobooks for Kids and Anyone Else 20 Excellent Audiobooks for Preschoolers
