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What are the Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips?
Audiobooks for family road trips are the perfect entertainment for the whole family, young and old. While on a road trip with kids, listening to a story provides many benefits to the entire family. And most importantly, it helps fulfill every parent’s travel dream; it keeps your kids calm!
Parents know that keeping children entertained for hours on a family road trip can be incredibly taxing. When hitting the road for a family getaway, here are a few options to consider for your little ones. Audiobooks for children, craft or activity sets, sticker books, workbooks, printable road trip games, toys, travel games, coloring, books, and screen time, followed by road trip snacks, then rinse and repeat!
Technology has revolutionized our entertainment and lifestyle. With movies being streamed from the comfort of our living rooms to thousands of music records, easily compressed into our pockets. All these developments have made reading books a tedious activity for some. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. With the introduction of audiobooks, ‘reading’ has never been easier. Audiobooks have come a long way in facilitating children’s education.
In this post we will discuss: what are audiobooks, where to get the best audiobooks for family road trips, and why listen to audiobooks for children? Plus a review of our favorite audiobooks for family road trips including the Best Audiobooks for Preschoolers (age 3 to 5 years), Younger Grade Children (age 6 to 8 years), and Older Grade Children (age 9 to 11 years).
What are Audiobooks?
So, what exactly are audiobooks? By now, you must have guessed it, I mean it’s implied in the name. An audiobook is a recording of a book or other work being read out loud, be it academic, fiction or poetry.
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Where to Get the Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips?
There are many sites out there to get audiobooks. Our job here at Be Family Travel is to take the stress off your hands and always provide you with the best options, that’s why we recommend Audible.
Audible is the world’s largest producer and provider of original spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks. It allows users to buy and stream audiobooks and other forms of spoken word content. Audiobooks can be purchased individually or under a subscription model where the user receives ‘credits’ that can be spent on content monthly. Audible also provides its users with a free 30-day trial, so you can try it out and see if it’s to your liking! Click here to learn more about Audible.
Why Listen to Audiobooks for Children?
There are many reasons why listening to audiobooks for family road trips have become popular.
Audiobooks can be used regardless of age or reading level
Audiobooks are great for children of any age, as no one is ever too old or too young to learn. They help expand vocabulary and improve pronunciation, thereby increasing fluency.
Listening to audiobooks improves literacy
Audiobooks help to improve a child’s literacy as they pay attention to not only the story, but the voice, speech patterns, rhythms, and expressions of the reader. Listening to a story can help children with their speaking and articulation.
Audiobooks help keep your kids relaxed
In a moving car with a soothing voice telling a story in the background, what could possibly go wrong? Audiobooks can easily capture the attention of the young ones and hold on to that attention by keeping them engaged. They can also invoke curiosity and positive emotions which will definitely give the whole family something to chat about after.
Multi-task while driving
When driving as a solo-parent, trying to entertain your kids can be exceptionally difficult without a second adult in the car. Listening to audiobooks on a family road trip allows you to multi-task. You can focus on driving while the children are entertained and engaged in a story.
Avoid motion sickness caused by reading
Motion sickness is honestly the worst! And reading in a moving car always does everything within its power to make it worse. Getting children to listen to audiobooks with their eyes closed relaxes them and calms down motion sickness. Just like magic. For more on dealing with motion sickness read our post about how to avoid motion sickness in kids.
Audiobooks are convenient and require less space than a book
Traveling with unnecessary items can be very frustrating and can also make the car ride pretty uncomfortable. Family road trips are meant to be fun! And quite frankly, even the smallest discomforts can go a long way in determining the mood of your trips. Audiobooks are convenient and portable, with a lot of them being easily stored on your cell phones, tablets, and other mobile devices.
Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips
Are you struggling to know what audiobooks would be best for your next family road trip? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered! Here is a review of our favorite audiobooks for family road trips which your kids will love. We have split this into three sections for Preschoolers (age 3 – 5), Younger Grade Children (age 6-8), and Older Grade Children (age 9-11).
Disclaimer: not all books are PG so please evaluate for yourself what is appropriate for your family.
PRESCHOOLERS (Ages 3-5 years): Audiobooks for Family Road Trips
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
A 25-minute humor-filled audiobook that the young ones absolutely love. Complete with a song and read-along track, the book brings to life the animals that live in the deep, dark woods. Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible. Don’t forget your free trial!
Paddington Abroad by Michael Bond
A 2 hour plus audiobook based on the Classic Novel. The Browns are going on holiday to France, and Paddington is in charge of the “eyetinnery”. With Paddington in charge, one should always plan on the unexpected! Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible.
Winnie The Pooh by A.A. Milne
Another classic that kids absolutely love, and this time, even longer! This audiobook has a runtime of almost four and a half hours, with the book being dramatized. A great audiobook for family road trips. Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible.
What the Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson
A nature tale to put your kids’ minds in awe. This much-loved modern classic is a perfect story for listening together. Not only is it funny, but this audio edition of the story features a read-along track and a song for lots of farmyard fun. Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible.
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Poor Dick and Sally. It’s cold and wet and they’re stuck in the house with nothing to do…until a giant cat in a hat shows up. Therefore, transforming the dull day into a madcap adventure and almost wrecking the place in the process! The Cat in the Hat and Other Dr. Seuss Favorites are childhood classics for every child to enjoy. Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible.
YOUNGER GRADE CHILDREN (Age 6-8 years): Audiobooks for Family Road Trips
Matilda by Roald Dahl
I’m sure we all know and love Matilda. It is sincerely one of the best audiobooks for a lengthy road trip. This audiobook has a runtime of over four hours and is a family favorite. Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible. Don’t forget your free trial!
The Story of Dr. Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
This is a collection of audiobooks that in total, spans over 15 hours. In this audio book, you will journey into the world of Doctor Dolittle, the kind and eccentric naturalist who can speak with animals. Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Another one of my childhood favorites. Don’t we all just love a great story? Well, that’s what you’re going to get in this 3 hour plus audiobook. Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible.
The Magic Tree House Collection: Books 1-8 by Mary Pope Osbourne
Another great choice for a lengthy road trip. With a run time of about 8 hours, the collection takes you on a journey, from ‘dinosaurs before dark’ to ‘midnight on the moon’. Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible.
The Ramona Quimby Audio Collection by Beverly Cleary
An audiobook collection that can be played over several road trips. In this audio collection, join Ramona, one of Beverly Cleary’s most beloved characters, on all her wacky adventures! Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible. Don’t forget your free trial!
OLDER GRADE CHILDREN (Ages 9-11): Audiobooks for Family Road Trips
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
A global phenomenon and cornerstone of contemporary children’s literature, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series is both universally adored and critically acclaimed. In this 8 hour audiobook, you will experience the magic as you’ve never heard it before. Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The audiobook is another children’s favorite. The Chronicles of Narnia is one of the most-loved novels in the United States. C. S. Lewis’ classic fantasy series, which has been drawing readers and listeners of all ages into a magical land with unforgettable characters for over 60 years. Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible. Don’t miss your free trial!
Little Women by Louis May Alcott
This amazing piece of literature is also suitable for all ages. This audiobook runs for over 19 hours. The thrill of wanting to know what happened next will keep your kids looking forward to more family road trips. Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
A Wrinkle in Time is the first book in The Time Quintet, which consists of A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time. That means there is more to keep your family road trips fun and entertaining. With the audiobook having a runtime of 6 and a half hours. Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
This family-friendly audiobook is narrated and dramatized. The audio runs for 4 and a half hours. The perfect way to keep the road trip fun and entertaining as it is suitable for all ages. Sample and purchase this audiobook on Audible. Don’t forget your free trial!
Wrap-up for Family Road Trip Audiobooks
And that’s just a drop in the ocean of family-friendly audiobooks that you and your children can listen to on road trips! There are so many new and exciting audiobooks you can find on Audible.com Audiobooks are guaranteed to make the family road travel fun, entertaining and memorable.
We hope this guide helps you find lots of great audiobooks for family road trips as you adventure with your kids. The best audiobooks will help your family to enjoy a fun-filled road trip.
For more about family travel check out these posts:
Essential Family Road Trip Checklist
Best Travel Activities for Kids Age 4-8
Printable Road Trip Games for Kids
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Ruth Hutchins grew up in England and now lives in North Carolina with her husband, Doug, and their two young daughters. They always loved to travel, but once having children everything changed because family travel is more complicated. Traveling with a baby may feel overwhelming to new parents. Travel with a toddler can really test your patience, and traveling with kids can lead to utter chaos. However, travel with your little ones doesn’t have to be that stressful or exhausting. On the BE Family Travel blog Ruth shares her parenting wins, and even epic failures about traveling with kids. She provides resources to help you feel empowered to plan a family vacation and travel with your children.
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