Road Trip “Reads” :: Audiobooks for the Whole Family
Hitting the road for that summer beach vacation, Thanksgiving trip to Grandma’s or Mardi Gras break to Disney World and looking for something to entertain the whole family? Try audiobooks.
Audiobooks are quickly becoming my favorite way to consume books. I’ve always dabbled in audiobooks, but recently I’ve been getting the audiobook and ebook for every title I read. I think audiobooks are a great tool to engage the whole family in a story.
I think we’re all looking for ways to connect with our kids in new and healthy ways. Reading is a great way to do so, but it’s not always easy to do. Summer reading or vacation assignments aren’t necessarily “fun” for kids and kids who struggle with reading may be resistant. Audiobooks are a great way to engage with kids who learn by listening. Grabbing a print or ebook can be a great way to consume the audiobook as it allows them to follow along.
It can be difficult to find stories that are engaging, entertaining and appropriate for the whole family.
Here are three series that meet the above criteria and have great audiobooks. I’ve listened to all of these and can attest to the entertainment value of each.
Harry Potter and the… by J.K. Rowling
(7 novels, 100 hours)
The basic plot: a lonely boy finds out he’s a wizard, goes to school, makes friends, battles bullies and bad guys, saves the world (thanks to those friends).
I know, I know, there is a lot said about the series, there is die hard fandom, millennial adoration, dislike and so much merchandise. Maybe your kids have seen the films, or you’ve handed down your tattered paperback, or perhaps you’ve never read the books at all. No matter what, the audiobooks are fun and provide approximately 100 hours of entertainment. The American version is read by the great Jim Dale (who won 2 Grammy awards for his recordings of Harry Potter novels), while the British version is read by the legend that is Stephen Fry. They are both amazing narrators and bring the books to life in a way that can bring even the most stubbornly anti-Potter person into the fandom.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Series by Rick Riordon
(5 original novels, 57 hours)
The Basic Plot: An awkward outcast finds out his dad is actually a Greek God and he’s a Demi-god. He goes to a new school/camp, makes friends, goes on adventures, saves the day.
I’ve shared my love of this series when discussing the wonderful family friendly TV series on Disney+. Greek mythology, locations all over the US and a rag-tag group of kids make for a fun and engaging listen. The series starts with 12 year old Percy and follows him for several years and adventures. There is love, loss, adventure, sadness, and found family. Actions have consequences and lessons are learned. The series also has a satisfying conclusion. This series is great for those middle grade readers. All of the stories are read by Jesse Bernstein who is engaging and entertaining. Die hards may point out that technically this series now has six books, but there are several other series from the author that take place in the same universe/timeline that come between the original five novels and book six, so add on book six or don’t. It stands alone as the original five do have a definitive ending.
Lockwood & Co. by Jonathan Stroud
(5 novels, 58 hours)
The basic plot: 3 teens in a psychic detective agency fight ghosts real and internal. They become a family, go on adventures and…you guessed it save the day.
These novels are simply beautifully written. As an adult, I didn’t feel like I was reading/listening to a “middle grade” book at all. They may not be as well known as the boy wizard or the demi-god mentioned above, but they are so worth the read/listen. Set in an alternate universe London where ghosts are “the problem” and the only ones who can really fight them are kids/teens with “gifts.” The narrators for books 1 & 2 are different from the narrator who finishes the series (books 3-5). Despite the series being called Lockwood & Co., it is told from the perspective of Lucy, the female protagonist, which was a nice change of pace. These books would be best for older kids, or kids who aren’t easily scared. There can be some scary moments when talking about ghosts, hauntings, or the dead. It takes some adjusting to the different narrators, but it’s quickly forgotten once you get into the story.
