Okay…as the title implies, we’re driving from Ohio to the Outer Banks next week. Looking for an audiobook that will appeal to everyone that’s not necessarily a children’s book, (though a well done children’s book would be fine and they love Judy Blume, Roald Dahl, etc). Bonus points awarded for “classics” that they might later have to read in school.
My kids are into grown up books…but it shouldn’t be too hard to follow or complicated.
Last summer our family had a “Steinbeck summer” and we read Steinbeck books to the kids (grapes of wrath, mice and men, red pony, etc…), which they loved. I’m kinda looking for a similar level of writing as Steinbeck for this summer, a classic historical adult writer who’s approachable for kids…
Look forward to suggestions!
by GubbleBum31
28 Comments
Certainly not Steinbeck ( had to read the Red Pony in 7th grade and it put me off steinbeck FOREVER unless forced) but the audio of Project Hail Mary is excellent, my whole family enjoyed. It’s got a little language so if that’s a no go, the audio of The Golden Compass and sequels are phenomenal. Full cast, and one of my favorite series of all time.
Steinbeck summer with kids is wild. 🤣 Maybe the Hobbit? Obviously my recommendation for the whole family will always be the How to Train Your Dragon series because it’s amazing and hilarious no matter the age of the listener.
“Echo” (Pam Muñoz Ryan) isn’t a classic (yet) but it feels like one, and the audiobook is excellent.
“Anne of Green Gables” is pretty universally appealing and also especially wonderful if you get a good narrator.
I remember listening to an audiobook of Peter and the Starcatchers in my dad’s car when I was around that age and enjoying it very much. Recognizable characters with a much cooler story than the Peter Pan most know
Great ages for The Hobbit! You could also try The Sword in the Stone by TH White, but some of the vocab is pretty advanced in that one.
You might enjoy listening to The Giver! Or The Tale of Desperaux
The Harry Potter audiobooks are great! We listened to those on a cross country road trip a few years ago.
How about some Robert louis Stevenson?
Terry Pratchett. The Tiffany Aching series is four books and should see you for a long road trip. Add The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents and Nation if you need more. Pratchett is great at any age.
Harry Potter
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton
Lee Stewart is great fun—It’s technically a children’s book but I absolutely enjoyed reading it as an adult. It’s about a group of brilliant (though quite differently talented) kids who become friends and have to work together to solve puzzles and mysteries to save the world from being taken over by an evil genius. As a bonus, Disney Plus has a great TV series adaptation staring Tony Hale that would be fun to watch after reading.
Okay, these might technically be children’s books, but my whole family loved listening to The Mysterious Benedict Society and Howl’s Moving Castle. And Redwall. We also love downloading a bunch of Stuff You Should Know podcasts for road trips.
Discworld books by Terry Pratchett, or anything by Jonathan Auxier
Watership down! It’s one of those books that doesn’t fit neatly into kids or adult but it’s perfect regardless.
The Hobbit!
My kid adores The Outsiders!
The Andy Serkis version of The Hobbit is outstanding. I imagine the Lord of the Rings books are too.
“Where the Red Fern Grows” if you want to traumatize your family like my parents did to us 🥰
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Not strictly for kids but accessible enough, and a great fast-paced and hilarious story.
Maybe “Watership Down” or “A Wrinkle in Time”.
“The Hobbit” Is pretty easy to follow too, but the lord of the rings books are probably hard for kids.
howl’s moving castle 🙂
Not a classic (yet) but Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin wall Kimmerer is one my family enjoyed on audiobook.
How to Be a Human
Project Hail Mary
Older YA SF is great for this, written for teens in the 1950s. Robert Heinlein’s series of “Juveniles” is wonderful with a lot of thought provoking morality and maturity situations. *Have Spacesuit, Will Travel,* or *Citizen of the Galaxy* are great examples. Arthur C Clarke’s *Dolphin Island* is also great, a runaway boy ends up shipwrecked on a Pacific Island where scientists are trying to communicate with dolphins.
The Wee Free Men
The Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffrey. Get the ones read by Sally Darling. Dragonriders of Pern is a classic at this point and the Harperhall Trilogy is great for that age.
Ellen Raskin’s *The Westing Game* is phenomenal and great for all ages!