Children's Audiobooks Archives - AudiobooksNow Blog

Why Audio Books are Great for Kids

There is a lot of hype around audio books. They are easily accessible and can go everywhere with you. Probably the trickiest part about it is learning how to download an audio book, but even that isn’t too difficult. Because audio books are so readily available they are great for kids and adults alike! So, why are audio books good for kids? Here are a few reasons!

1. They are Convenient
There is no need to carry around multiple, large, clunky books. Simply download audio books and have them with you wherever you go so your child always has books with them. This allows your child to listen to books when they are in the car or doing simple chores around the house.

2. Improve a Child’s Reading Skills
When a child is able to follow along visually while listening to an audio book, they are able to enhance their word recognition ability. This can work to expand their vocabulary and make them a better reader.

3. Children are Able to Read More Difficult Books
Listening to audio books enables your child to delve into deeper, more complicated topics than they can find at their reading level. The exposure to better-quality books will enhance comprehension skills, especially in children who struggle with reading.

4. No Stigma
Children who struggle with reading may be reluctant to read books below their level for fear of being picked on or teased. When children listen to audio books, no one will know what they are listening to, so there is no need to worry about being made fun of!

5. They’re Fun!
When audio books are done well they add a more realistic sense of drama that brings the story to life. When a child is excited about their books they will want to read and listen more, in order to discover more stories and improve their imagination.

Once you discover how to download an audio book the world is at your fingertips. You can enjoy books with your child and enjoy the stories everywhere you go. Audio Books Now has a wide selection of children’s books that will enhance your child’s view of the world and provide them with good-quality books that they will be excited to listen to!

A Fantastic Voyage in Believing That There is GOOD in the World…”A Wrinkle In Time”, by Madeleine L’Engle

What would you do if your scientist father was experimenting with a fifth dimension, then suddenly disappeared? You would, of course, try to find your father by whatever means possible. For Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace, and her friend Calvin, the time had come to rescue Mr. Murry from whatever dimension had grabbed him. Author L’Engle is well into her 80’s, but those who have met her say she is spirited, engaging, challenging and very sharp for any age. She autographed one reader’s copy of A Wrinkle in Time by inscribing…….with love and a flourish, “ananda”! The ending word loosely means bliss or joy. What an amazing comment by such a spirited author.

Creativity is the central word to describe this book. From its wonderful names, such as Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Witch who were lively supernatural neighbors. Then, there is the lovely Aunt Beast. The three ladies, whose names begin with W, are escorts for the Murry children and their friend from Meg’s school into the universe and into the fifth dimension to try to rescue their father.

The story ramps up in excitement……so much so that most children might become a little frightened and anxious. This commonly happens when a story deals with the forces of good and evil. Fortunately, for the reader, the story does have a happy ending. One reviewer said what we can all wish……I love believing there is GOOD in the world…….but sometimes we still feel sad.

Major motion picture, starring Oprah Winfrey, Reece Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Storm Reid and Chris Pine was released to theaters on March 89, 2018.

Get your digital audio copy today!!

Non-Fiction

Kids don’t just read fiction. Indeed, older boys often abandon stories completely in favor of fact-based reading. Non fiction covers most of the subjects that adults are interested in – history, biography, even self-help.

Again, many excellent non-fiction books aren’t available as audiobooks. In some cases, the reason for this is obvious – as in Canadian author/illustrator Bill Slavin’s marvelous “How Things are made” book Transformed.

This time we’ve selected an audiobook about Habitat for Humanity, the charitable group that builds houses for needy people, with the future owners taking part in the building process – David Rubel’s “If I had a Hammer”

Pete Seeger says of this book, “This is an inspiring book, telling how ideas starting on a little farm in Georgia have grown to a worldwide movement bringing people together.”

Classics

There’s no end to the list of older books, beloved by generations of readers. You’ll see them listed – Charlotte’s Web and Anne of Green Gables, Peter Pan and A Wrinkle in Time.

Since there are so many, why don’t I simply recommend my own favorite children’s book of all time, Kenneth Grahame’s “The Wind in the Willows”.

Long-ish at seven hours – that’s a vacation car trip across country – this tale of Ratty and Mole, and the outrageous Mr. Toad will make the time go by quickly.

Audiobooks For Young Adults

Books written for the middle school years (and a little beyond) are classed as YA (for Young Adult). This is a category that has grown in recent years with the understanding that there was a gap between reading books about plucky twelve year olds and the mainstream of books for adults. Here is a ‘top ten’ selection that will give you plenty of ideas.

In particular let’s look at Marcus Zusak’s “The Book Thief”. Set during World War II in Germany, the novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. She shares stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau. It’s long – eight CDs – but critically lauded.

Audiobooks for Middle Graders

This age group is – nominally – nine to twelve, but in practice, bright younger children can enjoy Middle Grade books, as can adults.

Many excellent MG books aren’t available as audiobooks, alas. So, you’ll have to invent your own funny voices and flying machine noise in Howard Whitehouse’s hilarious “Mad Misadventures” series, set in Victorian England:

Our recommendation for an audiobook is Neil Gaiman’s wonderfully creepy, yet touching Graveyard Book, about a living boy raised by the ghostly residents of a cemetery. There’s a lot to this story about bravery and loyalty – it’s not just a horror tale!

Audiobooks for Young Listeners:

The pre-school and early elementary school years are usually associated with picture books – usually 32 pages long, less than a thousand words (far less, for the youngest kids) and full of colorful pictures. How does that connect with a listening experience?

Well – it’s different!

One classic beloved by young children is the story of Paddington Bear. Not too long for little kids – 2hrs and 39 minutes – it’s a classic, read by the wonderful Stephen Fry.