Kids love listening to stories, and audiobook narrators can be the best storytellers.
Beyond just entertainment, audiobooks offer significant benefits, such as enhancing language skills in young readers and cultivating their imagination. Audiobooks not only ignite children’s passion for books, but also help those who struggle with reading. From preschool reads to YA, and mythology to fairy tales, here is a list of our favorite audiobooks ideal for the whole family to enjoy together.
Top Audiobooks for Preschoolers
Anna Hibiscus
Nigerian-born author Atinuke’s acclaimed Anna Hibiscus tales have won starred reviews from Booklistand Kirkus Reviews. This first tale in the series introduces young listeners to Anna, who lives with her parents, twin brothers, and large extended family in Africa. Anna is overjoyed when she learns she gets to go on a beach vacation with her parents. But once away from her aunties and cousins, Anna begins to think that vacations aren’ t so great after all- especially when you can’ t experience them with everyone you love.
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The Food Group Audio Collection: The First Bunch
The whole Food Group is coming to the table in one fresh package! Dig in and enjoy this jam-packed audio collection, featuring five charming stories about learning and self-discovery, from the creative minds of Jory John and Pete Oswald.
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5-Minute Ada Twist, Scientist Stories
Revisit some of your favorite episodes of the Netflix series in audio for the first time with this storybook collection. Each of the twelve stories retells a beloved episode from the show, making it perfect for when it’s time to settle down for bed or spend some time away from screens.
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Where the Wild Things Are
This new digital audio edition narrated by Michelle Obama celebrates the 60th anniversary of Where the Wild Things Are. The beloved story, acclaimed for its depiction of parental love and childhood tantrums, has inspired a movie, an opera, and countless readers over generations.
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Goodnight Moon
In this classic children’s story, a little bunny says goodnight to all the familiar objects in his room, creating a soothing bedtime ritual. The audiobook of Goodnight Moon combines gentle poetry with lulling music, making it a timeless favorite for families.
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Nate the Great Collected Stories
Nate, the boy detective who “likes to work alone,” solves different cases and tracks down the culprits. The audiobook features four stories, serving as great bedtime reads for kids who love mysteries.
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Frog and Toad Are Friends
Frog and Toad Are Friends is designed for children who are starting to read on their own but still require some help. These engaging stories feature longer sentences and playful language that support children’s next steps toward reading success.
View the audiobookBest Audiobooks for Early Readers (Ages 5-7)
Charlotte’s Web
“This book is an extremely well kept secret, but it doesn’t need to be because it’s delightful! This wonderful cast brings this children’s classic to life and even an adult who has read the book multiple times is engaged and captivated by the story. Meryl Streep’s gentle narration provides such warmth that I found myself not wanting the book to end.”
— Jennifer, The Bookstore at Fitger’s
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Growing Home
An unlikely team of talkative plants, a curious spider, and a grumpy goldfish use their newfound magical abilities to defend their family from a greedy human in this charming middle grade novel from New York Times bestselling author Beth Ferry, with illustrations from the award-winning Fan brothers.
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Stella & Marigold
There is the whole world, and in it, there’s a city, and in that city, there’s a house, and in that house, there are two half-houses, and in one of those half-houses, there lives a pair of sisters named Stella and Marigold.
Stella and Marigold do all the regular things—like going to school, playing with their friends, sometimes going to the zoo, and sometimes getting sick—but even the most regular things have a secret side. There’s a secret that involves a blanket.
And another one about wolves, a terrible storm, and two brave children. That’s a very exciting secret, and no one knows about it except Stella and Marigold. And—if you read this book—you!
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How to Train Your Dragon
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans, tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan by catching and training a dragon. Can Hiccup do it without being torn limb from limb?
Join his adventures and misadventures as he finds a new way to train dragons–and becomes a hero. This action-packed, hilarious, and perfectly illustrated novel is a modern classic beloved by millions across the globe.
View the audiobookEngaging Audiobooks for Middle Grade Readers (Ages 8-12)
The Trouble with Heroes
“When 13-year-old Finn makes front-page news for all the wrong reasons, he’ll have an uphill climb to get out of the mess he’s made. Literally. He’s got to climb all 46 peaks in the Adirondack mountain range before summer ends or it’s off to juvie. It gets worse. He also has to write an entire stupid poetry collection for the English class he’s been skipping (who even reads that stuff??). The last thing he wants to do is go on a bunch of mucky hikes with nothing but a slobbery dog and bad memories to keep him company. But as he is about to find out, sometimes “there’s no good path—only a bad way and a worse way-so you might as well choose one and get started.” This book made me cry, laugh, and crave cookies. It’s basically the best ever.”
— Eden, Changing Hands
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Impossible Creatures
The day that Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever.
It’s the day he learned about the Archipelago—a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years, until now. And it’s the day he met Mal—a girl on the run, in desperate need of his help.
Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what’s happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.
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The Wild Robot
Can a robot survive in the wilderness?
When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is–but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island’s unwelcoming animal inhabitants.
As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home–until, one day, the robot’s mysterious past comes back to haunt her.
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From the Desk of Zoe Washington
“With friendship challenges, cupcake creations, and a fight for justice—not to mention Bahni Turpin’s peppy narration—From the Desk of Zoe Washington is an absolute delight to listen to.”
— Mary, Raven Book Store
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The Lightning Thief
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is fast-paced and filled with magic, mythology, and plenty of monsters. The engaging narration brings the characters and the action-packed story to life, making it a popular choice for both kids and adults.
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The Barren Grounds
“Morgan and Eli are two foster siblings who just can’t seem to get along, or fit in at school, home, or really anywhere except for Morgan’s fantasy novels and Eli’s sketchbooks. When Morgan invites Eli to her hideout in the attic, they find that his drawings create a portal to another world of cold and ice even more intense than their home of Winnipeg, Canada. […] Their thrilling, funny, and heartwarming adventure serves not only as a way to maybe save Misewa, but too to reconnect to their culture, their past, and to one another.”
— Cat, Oxford Exchange
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New from Here
This middle-grade novel explores courage, hope, and resilience as an Asian American boy strives to keep his family united and confronts racism during the early days of the coronavirus outbreak. Despite rising racism during COVID-19, he confronts hate, finds his place, and embraces his uniqueness.
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Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
“I came for blood-thirsty unicorns; I stayed for the fun, spunky unicorn riders and their ornery steeds. Skandar’s dream is to be a unicorn rider. When given the opportunity, he dives head-first into the Hatchery and the world of sky battles, powerful elemental magic, secrets, and shady villains. Along the way, he develops strong bonds between friends and embraces who he’s meant to be. This is a fun read, playing off the ‘Chosen One’ trope, I really liked the characters and, of course, blood-thirsty unicorns!”
— Anna, The Well-Read Moose
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Wonder
August Pullman was born with a facial difference. Starting 5th grade, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid, while his classmates struggle to look beyond his appearance. Narrated from multiple perspectives, the story explores empathy, compassion, and acceptance, highlighting the power of kindness and friendship.
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Refugee
“This book could not be more timely. At times heart-breaking and encouraging, the three narrators weave in the fictional stories of a refugee from Germany, from Cuba, and from Syria that show the echoes of hope and hate that haunt the world time and again. For older children 10 and up who have questions about what they see on the news. Be prepared for a discussion.”
— Jessica, Once Upon A Time
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Look Both Ways
“While adults may discount the heavy emotions of middle school, Jason Reynolds has captured all the real life that is young emerging adulthood in his new middle grade book. These middle school children are dealing with the same adversities that hit grown folks but without all the tools adults have and they’re doing alright. This book is insightful, brilliant, heart-breaking and an especially good audiobook from Libro.fm that would be a great family listen.”
— Rachel, Avid Bookshop
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Remember Us
“A pitch perfect realistic fiction chapter book for grades 4-8, Remember Us is a joyous celebration of community and friendship. It’s the summer before 7th grade in the 1970s, and Sage is the best basketball player in her Brooklyn neighborhood (and the only girl playing). Jacqueline Woodson tackles tough issues with grace and beauty, showing the humanity behind the headlines. Plus, Jacqueline Woodson’s narration on Libro.fm made me feel like I was sitting on a stoop in Bushwick listening to the book.”
— Jennifer, Sidetrack Bookshop
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Children of Blood and Bone
“A sprawling fantasy teeming with deep and meaningful magic. One of the things I like most about this debut is that it raises very real and important issues of our time through multiple character’s perspectives. No character is one-dimensional, and every character must learn from failure and introspection to become who they were meant to be.”
— Kelly, Mysterious Galaxy Books
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Firekeeper’s Daughter
“Firekeeper’s Daughter is a wonder! We so rarely hear YA through an Indigenous people’s voice and this book does it so very well. Main character Daunis Lorenzo Fontaine lives a fine line between her white French Canadian mother and her Ojibwe father in a complicated family dynamic. She is smart, hockey talented, driven, and tenacious as she navigates the murder of her best friend Lily, rampant drug culture, and the journey to find herself. Angeline Boulley seamlessly incorporates the Ojbiwe language and lifeways that both inform and educate the reader in this amazing story that will stay with me long after I have moved onto other books. A MUST-read (or listen)!”
— Rebecca, Rediscovered Books
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The Hunger Games
In a dystopian future, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen must fight for survival in the deadly Hunger Games. Emmy Award-winning actress Tatiana Maslany narrates the first audiobook of the internationally bestselling trilogy. The audiobook also includes a bonus Q&A with Maslany.
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The Fault in Our Stars
This audiobook brings John Green’s most beloved novel to life, narrated by Kate Rudd. This poignant and heartwarming story follows a sixteen-year-old cancer patient Hazel and her encounter with Augustus at Cancer Kid Support Group. Discover or rediscover this timeless romance story on audio.
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So Let Them Burn
“Looking for an exquisitely written Black Queer fantasy about DRAGONS?!?! Look no further as this Jamaican-inspired tale delivers a new interesting perspective on the chosen-one trope. While also posing the question: can there be peace between warring factions if the weapons of mass destruction (the DRAGONS) are sentient and making unbreakable bonds the opposition? Stunning Debut! Fast paced. Great political intrigue. Multiple POVs. A gut-wrenching cliffhanger ending!”
— Zinna, A Great Good Place for Books
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Snowglobe
“Think of a much darker, more intense Truman Show with subfreezing temperatures and you’ll come close to Snowglobe. Definite distinct lines between the haves and have nots, but do some of the haves, have it all or is their reality manipulated so that they can stay on top. Chobahm quickly learns that being a star isn’t what it cracks up to be, and the truth is something beyond her wildest imagination. I listened to this and the narration was spot on. “
— Audrey, Belmont Books
View the audiobookWhy choose Libro.fm for your audiobooks?
Libro.fm’s audiobooks are downloadable and DRM-free, which means you can play them anywhere. For example, if you have a Yoto Player, you can turn your Libro.fm audiobooks into Yoto Cards that kids can listen to again and again!
Check out our handy guide on how to download the mp3 files, and this guide on making your own Yoto cards.
What do audiobooks do for children?
Head to our blog post to learn more about why audiobooks count as reading and benefit little one’s educational growth.
Listen to bookseller picks for kids with Libro.fm
Libro.fm offers recommendations from real people: the dedicated indie booksellers working in our 3,000+ partner bookshops! Below, explore the audiobooks that booksellers recommended for children.