Favorite Children's Audiobooks + More Ideas for Wholesome Listening

Favorite Children’s Audiobooks (and More Wholesome Listening Ideas)

Classic Children's Books

We are inundated with visual entertainment options for our children but when it comes to finding wholesome options children can listen to sometimes we have to dig a little deeper. So today I’m sharing our favorite children’s audiobooks, iTunes, and podcasts plus a list of devices you can use to play them. These are great for quiet time or for keeping siblings occupied while homeschooling. 

Have you joined our Classic Children’s Summer Book Club? Learn more here

What devices are best for audio listening?

  • Old iPhone – just clear it of everything but the Audible or Music app.
  • iPad – Set appropriate restrictions.
  • Kindle -You can set it so they can only listen to Audible (and not play apps). They can use headphones or just listen aloud.
  • Amazon Echo Dot – Stream Audible audiobook into whatever room they are in.
  • Bluetooth Speaker – If an iPad or Kindle during quiet time might be too distracting put a mini bluetooth speaker in their room and play from your phone.
  • Playaways – Some libraries have these tiny audio players that can be checked out. Just add headphones!
  • CD player – Yes, they still make them ;). Good for the library CDs you can check out.

Where do I download things for them to listen to?

Audible

Audible is the main way my children listen to audiobooks. Audible is part of Amazon and is an app on your phone, iPad, or Kindle. You don’t have to have a subscription to use Audible, but it may be cost effective if you are going purchase a lot of books.  Definitely watch for sales. Many of the classic children’s books I talk about are on Audible and they are often narrated by celebrities which makes it fun.

While schools are out for the Coronavirus pandemic, Audible is offering free streaming via Audible Stories. Click here access and I’ve noted below which audio books can be streamed for free. 

Audible Short Story collections (good for for young children’s quiet times):

Other Audible Favorites 

iTunes Music/Short Stories

  • Hide Them In Your Heart – You may have listened to this as a child. I love playing these in the car, too.
  • Jim Weiss Stories – short and sweet; perfect for quiet time for children who don’t sleep. He has Bible stories, Uncle Wiggiliy Storybook, and fairytales .
  • Focus on the Family Theatre Radio – Classics come to life with this series. Also available in CD form!
  • Slugs and Bugs – Children love these and the CD’s make great gifts! Lullabies and Sing the Bible are just some of the options.

Podcasts

There are a plethora of children’s podcasts. I am still exploring as we take road trips this summer but some we’ve enjoyed:

  • Your Story Hour – Family-friendly Bible, adventure, and and historical stories that children will enjoy. They are short so good for young children and short attention spans but all children will enjoy and hopefully benefit from the moral lessons.
  • Focus on the Family Adventures in Odyssey – 30 minutes dramas on faith and character. Ages 8-12. y 
  • Stories – They release a new short story every week. Everything is G-rated and they often share Fairytales and classics like Peter Rabbit.
  • Brains On! – Science podcast answering burning questions like what makes paint stick and how do animals breathe underwater. Ages 4 – 10.
  • Circle Round – From NPR, these stories are for children ages 3-10 and feature folktales and stories from around the world with themes of “kindness, persistence, and generosity.”
  • This article has several podcasts recommendations that look good.

Librivox

Free audiobooks read by volunteers around the world. Sometimes the sound quality isn’t great, but waned to share that there is free resource out there.

Scribd

Scribd is another popular audiobook service that is offering a free 30 day trial right now. Some of the recommended titles above are available on Scribd so check their too. 

Tips for Listening to Audiobooks

My two older girls took naps until they were five years old (what a blessing!) but my third daughter stopped much younger. My sanity needed that quiet time, though, and she needed rest. I found listening to audiobooks or music was a quiet thing she could do in her room. When we first started I made her stay in her bed and listen to the short stories mentioned above. (Sometimes she would fall asleep!). Later, I let her play quietly in her room while she listened. 

During other times of the day giving children something to do with their hands is helpful:


P.S. Have you downloaded our Top 100 Classic Children’s Book List? It would be a great thing to work through during this extended time at home!

Don’t forget to pin this post for the future!

Audiobooks for children

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18 thoughts on “Favorite Children’s Audiobooks (and More Wholesome Listening Ideas)

  1. My 7 year old loves Wow in the World (first one listed in the article you linked). Science and nature concepts taught in a fun and “zany” way. Not really a good one for quiet time, but great for car rides or other times you’d like them to choose something other than watching TV! We love the Stories podcast too. Excited to try a few others!

  2. I grew up listening to the Hank the Cowdog audio books on car trips with my family. They kept the whole family laughing and have a great Texas flair!

  3. My son has introduced me to an app he uses at school called Epic. You pay $7.99 a month and have unlimited access to tons of books…some of which are available in a “read to me” version.

      1. Yes! Epic! My kids use this at school on their iPads there are SO many books on it. Great resource especially right now to find many different books while libraries are closed. There are books to read as well as lots of audio books- I saw Peter Rabbit stories and other classics as I was browsing! My daughter has been listening to Boxcar children and loving it.

  4. Thank you for the suggestions! Do you know how to set the kindle for access to only audio books? I am having trouble getting this set up and the kindle helpline didn’t know how. Thank you!

  5. If you have a Dallas library card, you can download the OverDrive or Libby app and borrow audiobooks from the library! It gives you a loan period of 21 days, and you can download them on a phone/iPad or send them to a Kindle.

  6. The How to Train Your Dragon series of books is amazing as audiobooks. My kids (girl age 9 and boy age 5) love listening to them. And they listen together – which is magical in itself! I highly recommend!

  7. Hi I first want to say THANK YOU for this valuable list of audiobooks. Especially for little ones since they are still learning to hold still and listen.
    We have had huge success with the Jonathan Park series as well. My son will sit and listen for hours playing with Lego and listening to Jonathan park. And very educational too. I have friends that say they learn a great deal listening with their kids.
    I wasn’t able to connect to the 100 classics page with the link above. Is there another way to access that?