Audiobooks can make family road trips more enjoyable than you ever imagined! Check out my top 5 recommendations for audiobooks to enjoy as a family this summer!
Our family is no stranger to long road trips.
With my husband’s entire family living 12 hours away in Mississippi, we make the trek there at least once or twice per year.
But even short road trips can be a challenge with little ones.
While our mini van is equipped with a DVD player, my husband and I aren’t keen on our girls spending hours upon end in front of a screen–even if it does give us some peace and quiet on the road.
Instead of a steady stream of movies while on the road, our family has fallen in love with audiobooks!
Audiobooks are a great way to introduce non-readers and readers alike to great literature from an early age.
Much like podcasts, audiobooks can be streamed from any smart phone or electronic device via the Audible app.
Audible (get 1 free book) and Audiobooks (get 3 free books) are an easy ways to help your family–both adults and children alike–reach their summer reading goals.
A voracious reader in my youth, I was sad to miss out on my favorite hobby for the first few years of motherhood because I simply could not find the time to sit down and devour books.
Discovering audiobooks has been a game-changer for me.
Now, I can “read” while cleaning the house, doing yard work, taking walks or bike rides, and, yes, even while driving around town or on long road trips.
Audiobooks can be the bookworm and multi-tasker’s dream, especially as a busy mom!
Check out my top 5 audiobooks to make family road trips more fun.
Peter Pan
Peter Pan has been one of my husband’s most beloved stories since his childhood.
While we introduced our girls to Peter and his gang of Lost Boys via the movie years ago, we are excited for them to listen to the original J.M Barrie novel soon.
Audible Studios recently released an audio interpretation narrated by actress Lily Collins.
We know this classic story is something the whole family can enjoy, whether it’s on a family road trip or just riding around town together.
While it’s one of my husband’s favorites, this title will be great for everyone.
The Magic Treehouse Series
This is a whole series of books that my first grader has been enjoying this year. Many elementary school educators highly recommended the series.
In fact, my daughter’s teacher used the Magic Treehouse books as readers with her class.
Audible offers the entire collection, and I am most excited about our little rising 2nd grader being able to listen to the narration while reading along with the series since it’s at her current reading level.
Charlotte’s Web
Our family listened to Charlotte’s Web together while on a road trip last fall, and it’s one you won’t want to miss.
The novel is so much richer than both movie adaptations, and with E.B. White himself narrating, you know the voice intonations and expressions come across exactly how he originally intended.
Your early readers can read along or just listen, but be prepared with tissues for everyone. This one’s a tear-jerker!
The Secret Garden
This was the first audiobook my girls and I ever listened to. It kept us so intrigued that we’d often sit in our driveway and keep listening even after we arrived home.
While I had watched a movie depiction of the novel when I was a little girl, I had never read the book. I had also forgotten how the mystery unfolded.
The Secret Garden is a piece of classic children’s literature that you will not want to miss sharing with your kids.
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables is my all-time favorite children’s book, so I couldn’t leave it off this list!
Although later Anne books speak to the innocent romance between her and Gilbert, the first novel in the series is appropriate for even young elementary children. You might be surprised at how boys and girls alike will fall in love with the world’s most famous redhead and her daydreaming adventures.
I’m excited about introducing this novel to my girls, as all three share Anne’s red hair, fair skin, and freckles.
Bonus: Little House on the Prairie
An all time favorite that my girls have loved is the Little House series. We have listened to them all more than once.
Try Audible and Audiobooks for FREE for 30 days!
Not sure if audiobooks are for your family? I think you’ll LOVE them once you give them a try, and there is no better way to find out than to take advantage of a FREE 30-day membership! Audible offers 1 free book, and Audiobooks.com offers 3 free books.
Does your family listen to audiobooks on family road trips? What are some of your favorites? Please share in the comments, so the community can learn from you as well!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Audible. The opinions and text are all mine.
Cindy
Jonathan Park
Box car children
Chuck Black has some great ones
Little house on the Prairie
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
We LOVE audiobooks! We don’t take many road trips, but we love to listen to audiobooks in the car around town, while we are making dinner, or doing crafts together at the table. My eldest is super excited about starting The Jungle Book soon. We have read the abridged Classic Starts version and really enjoyed it.
We also like the Magic Tree House books. They are so wonderful for introducing important events and places in history. We have also enjoyed Miss Pigglewiggle, The Children of Noisy Village (my kids LOVED this one), Henry Huggins, Rikki Tikki Tavi (another favorite), and more.
Erin
I’ve never heard of some of those titles and need to add them to our list! Thanks for sharing,Lisa!
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
Also, I can’t wait to introduce my kids to Anne. Maybe in a few years… I just downloaded Little Men from Audible too and I’m hoping my boys enjoy it as much as I did.
Erin
Let me know how you like Little Men! I’ve actually never read it myself!
K. Swaim
We travel quite often and my kids (11,10, 8 & 6) love listening to books! We’ve listened to Adventures in Odyssey, Jonathan Park, Harry Potter (the 1st one) , Little House in the Big Woods. I just joined audible and downloaded a book for myself to listen to John Eldridge’s Wild At Heart! For those of us who have boys (or are married to one!) this is a great read! (Not one to listen to with littles ears in the car. ? Thanks for the suggestions! I can’t wait to download a few for trips this summer!
Heather @ A Simple Southern Life
Thanks for the audio suggestions! I love Anne of Green Gables, but I don’t think my car full all boys would be able to handle it. 😉 My family is all about road trips too. We actually leave on our first one for the summer next week. Now I just need to find some audio for the trip.