Listening to audio versions of children's books - children's audio books - is a great way to pass the time at home or when your family is traveling, especially during a long car or plane ride. If your children have individual CD or cassette players, they can each listen to their own children's audio book, or you can choose children's audio books that the whole family will enjoy. Audio books often include music, sound effects, or a full cast, adding to the enjoyment. Here are some I recommend.
1. The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders
The audio book version of The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders reveals another of the talents of author Jack Prelutsky; he is also a musician. Your children won't be able to resist the funny poems set to music and sung by Prelutsky, who also plays the guitar along with John Guth. The musical arrangements by Guth feature bass guitar, mandolin, percussion, and keyboards. I know from experience that two to four year olds love to listen to this recording again and again. It is available in a cassette.
2. The Penultimate Peril (A Series of Unfortunate Events: Book 12 )
If your children are among the middle and upper elementary age kids who love Lemony Snicket's series about the orphaned Baudelaire children and all the miserable things that happen to them, this audio book version of the next-to-last book in the series should hold their attention. It's available on CD or cassette. I'd recommend this series for children nine and up. Younger children may also enjoy it, but are apt to miss some of the author's dark humor.3. The Harry Potter Series
Anyone of these exciting books could take a lot of your family's time. For example, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, one of JK Rowling's shorter books is available on CD or cassette and provides 12 hours of mystery, suspense, wizardry, and fun. Try listening to it and, then, compare it to the movie. I'd recommend these for children eight years old and up.4. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Everyone has a bad day, and the entire family will get a kick out of Alexander's troubles in the title story and in Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday Other stories by Judith Viorst on this CD include Rosie and Michael, Mama Says There Ain't Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Creatures, Demons, Monsters, Fiends, Goblins, or Things, If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries, and The Tenth Good Thing About Barney. I recommend this CD for four to eight year olds.
5. Charlotte's Web
The Charlotte's Web 50th Anniversary Retrospective Edition audio book version is read by the author, E.B. White, and is 3.5 hours long. This classic story of friendship, first published in 1952, is the heartwarming tale of a little girl, a pig who needs help to avoid the slaughterhouse, a remarkable spider, and much, much more. It is available on CD. I recommend it for seven to ten year olds.6. A Bear Called Paddington
The story of the little bear from darkest Peru who travels to England and finds himself on Paddington Station is a classic. The little bear is adopted by the Brown family who name him Paddington. Paddington gets into all kinds of amusing difficulties, and the Browns find their lives turned upside down. This children's audio book is read by actor and comedian Stephen Fry, whose English accent and sympathetic reading make it a delight. (Harper Children's Audio, 1958. ISBN: 0060760710)Do your children listen to audio books?
Vote in our poll and join the discussion on the About Children's Books Forum. Share your recommendations.
