I get all of our audiobooks for free, either as discs from the library or as free audio-downloads through the library system. In Portland, the discs are generally very badly scratched and hardly ever in good enough condition to hear the whole piece without skipping, so I try to get audio downloads. In Austin, the discs have been in pristine condition and I can easily grab a handful of audio books right off the shelf (Austin's library has audio downloads here). I find that the best audio books are rich chapter books, more than 2 hours long, with the very best experiences being in the 4 hour (+) range. There are so MANY fantastic books out there that I never knew about until I had Eleanor! I am always taking tips, so do share.
Our all time favorite audiobook, and the one that started it all for us is The Doll People by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin, read by Lynn Redgrave. First heard by us when Eleanor was 5, on a long road trip around Texas. Dolls have a whole life we don’t know about, because they have to be still when we are around. At least, if they’ve taken the Doll Oath and have not fallen into Doll State. Inspiring and imaginative with a dash of mystery. Not just for girls. The first book is about 4 hours, and the two sequels are great (Meanest Doll in the World and Runaway Dolls).
Our Favorite Audiobooks (+ Eleanor’s age at the time we listened)
- The Doll People, Martin and Godwin, read by Lynn Redgrave (age 5.25)
- Stuart Little, E.B. White (5.25)
- James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl (5.25)
- The Meanest Doll in the World, Martin and Godwin (age 6)
- The Runaway Dolls, Martin and Godwin (6)
- Happy Birthday Mrs. Piggle Wiggle (or any of the Piggle Wiggle books, I’m sure – age 6)
- Magic Tree House series, Osborne (age 6) – we’ve read and listened to these books, and we would again. You can start these before Kindergarten and keep going for years. They aren’t the best audiobooks for us because they are only about 1 hour long. But they are fantastic at getting kids to connect with historical times, places, events. If you are visiting something historical, see if Jack and Annie have visited there too.
- Cricket in Times Square (6.5)
- Fantastic Mr. Fox (6.5)
- The BFG (Big Friendly Giant), Roald Dahl (6.5) – sweet and wonderful, in his own way
- A Christmas Carol, Dickens (6.5) - Challenging language. Eleanor hung in there through the whole 5 hours, but I doubt she’d do it again until she is much older
- Half Magic, Edward Eager (6.5) – we’ve read and listened to this one, and would again.
- Anastasia Krupnick, Lowry (age 7) – I was nervous there would be older subject matter in here, but it was sweet.
- The Secret Garden (7) – really high marks for this one. Easy to follow, interesting, and long!
- Wind in the Willows (7) – we’ve read this several times, and now listened to the unabridged, 7 hour audiobook. Complicated language and while we loved reading the book even when she was much younger, I am glad we didn’t try to listen to this version until now, just because the language can be a bit tough to follow.
- Rascal by Sterling North (age 7) - I can't glow enough about this book. A boy and his pet racoon for one golden year of an independent childhood in Wisconsin (and without the tragic ending of similar stories). I will now read more by this author, I am so in love. Autobiographical.
- Boy by Dahl (age 7) - Autobioghraphical account of a string of childhood events. Some stuff was hard for me to take (they really treated kids badly at schools in England) so beware.
- The Magic Finger by Dahl (age 7) - so far, I love everything by Dahl.
This is the list I am slowly working my way through; some we read, some we hear.
- The Boxcar children series
- Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon (a series)
- Catwings
- Babe the Gallant Pig
- The Dutch Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins and Dandelion Cottage by Caroll Rankin, because both were listed as Beverly Cleary’s favorite books when she was in second grade
- Knights Castle; Magic by the Lake; and Time Garden all by Eager
- The books about Laura Ingall’s Wilder’s daughter Rose
- The Giants and the Joneses
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- The Poppy Stories
- Travels of Thelonious
- Tales for the Odyssey – The One eyed giant book #1
- The Tale of Despereaux
- Arabels Raven
- Charlie and the chocolate factory + sequels
- Anne of Green Gables
- Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series - read some, more to come
- Magic Treehouse series - read some, more to come, ages 4-
- Little House series - done, ages 5-6
- Pippi Longstocking - done, age 5
- Mary Poppins - done, age 5
- Nurse Matilda – done, pick one of the three to read and don’t bother with more.
- The Secret Garden - done, age 7
- Stuart Little – done, age 5
- Thimbleberry Stories - done, age 4
- Pooh - done, age 4
- Charlotte’s Web - done, age 6
- The Littles - done, age 5
- James and the giant peach - done, age 5
- Fantastic Mr. Fox - done, age 6
- Ralph and the motocycle + all in series – done, age 3.5, but need to do again
- Ramona series – done, age 6
- Small Persons with Wings, Booraem - done, age 6. We loved this book, but you have to be brave and be ready to talk about some 12 year old issues. I say get your opinion in first, and this book will start the conversation.
This Amazon list posted by another parent, with reviews of 24 great chapter books to read to young children.
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