50 best audiobooks for kids

Audiobooks are a fantastic way to encourage a love for stories, spark imagination, and keep kids entertained during car rides or quiet time. Whether your child loves fantasy, mystery, or humor, there’s an audiobook for them. Here’s a curated list of 50 amazing audiobooks for kids, categorized by age and interest.

Best audiobooks for toddlers (ages 2 to 4)

1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? – Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle, narrated by Gwyneth Paltrow A rhythmic and colorful classic that introduces young children to animals and colors through repetition.

2. Goodnight Moon – Margaret Wise Brown, narrated by Susan Sarandon A soothing bedtime story following a bunny’s nighttime routine, perfect for winding down.

3. The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle, narrated by Kevin R. Free A delightful journey of a caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly, teaching counting and healthy eating.

4. Llama Llama Red Pajama – Anna Dewdney, narrated by the author A heartwarming story about bedtime fears and a mother’s comforting reassurance.

5. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom – Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, narrated by Ray Charles An engaging, musical alphabet story that introduces letters in a lively and fun way.

Best audiobooks for preschoolers (ages 4 to 6)

6. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes – Eric Litwin, narrated by James Dean A fun, musical story about Pete the Cat and his never-ending positive attitude, no matter what happens to his shoes.

7. Where the Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak, narrated by Peter Schickele The classic tale of Max, who sails to an island of mysterious creatures and becomes their king.

8. The Gruffalo – Julia Donaldson, narrated by Imelda Staunton A clever mouse outwits forest creatures by inventing a monster, only to find out the Gruffalo is real!

9. Dragons Love Tacos – Adam Rubin, narrated by Robbie Daymond A hilarious story about dragons who love tacos but absolutely cannot handle spicy salsa!

10. The Pout-Pout Fish – Deborah Diesen, narrated by Alexander Gould A grumpy fish learns to turn his frown upside down in this uplifting underwater adventure.

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Best audiobooks for early readers (ages 6 to 8)

11. Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White, narrated by Meryl Streep A heartwarming tale of friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte, who spins messages in her web to save him.

12. Junie B. Jones series – Barbara Park, narrated by Lana Quintal A hilarious and relatable series following the adventures of Junie B. Jones, a spunky and outspoken kindergartener.

13. The Magic Tree House series – Mary Pope Osborne, narrated by the author Siblings Jack and Annie embark on time-traveling adventures through history using their magical treehouse.

14. Ramona Quimby series – Beverly Cleary, narrated by Stockard Channing A charming and humorous look at the everyday challenges and adventures of the spirited Ramona Quimby.

15. The BFG – Roald Dahl, narrated by David Walliams A whimsical story about Sophie and her friendship with the Big Friendly Giant, who catches dreams and fights against child-eating giants.

Best audiobooks for middle grade kids (ages 8 to 12)

16. Harry Potter series – J.K. Rowling, narrated by Jim Dale Follow the magical adventures of Harry Potter as he discovers his destiny in the wizarding world and battles the dark forces of Voldemort.

17. Percy Jackson & The Olympians series – Rick Riordan, narrated by Jesse Bernstein Join Percy Jackson, a modern-day demigod, as he navigates thrilling quests based on Greek mythology.

18. The One and Only Ivan – K.A. Applegate, narrated by Adam Grupper A touching tale of a silverback gorilla named Ivan, who rethinks his life in captivity after meeting a baby elephant.

19. Wonder – R.J. Palacio, narrated by a full cast A heartwarming story of Auggie Pullman, a boy with facial differences, as he embarks on his journey through middle school.

20. The Chronicles of Narnia series – C.S. Lewis, narrated by a full cast Step into the magical land of Narnia, where children embark on epic adventures filled with wonder and bravery.

Best audiobooks for teens (ages 12+)

21. The Hunger Games series – Suzanne Collins, narrated by Tatiana Maslany A gripping dystopian saga following Katniss Everdeen as she fights for survival in a televised battle for her life.

22. The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien, narrated by Andy Serkis A classic fantasy adventure of Bilbo Baggins, who embarks on an epic journey to reclaim a lost treasure guarded by a dragon.

23. Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery, narrated by Rachel McAdams A heartwarming story about Anne Shirley, an imaginative orphan who finds a home in Green Gables.

24. The Outsiders – S.E. Hinton, narrated by Jim Fyfe A powerful coming-of-age tale about class struggles, friendship, and identity in 1960s America.

25. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee, narrated by Sissy Spacek A poignant story exploring racial injustice and morality through the eyes of young Scout Finch in the American South.

Best educational audiobooks for kids

26. How to Train Your Dragon – Cressida Cowell, narrated by David Tennant A thrilling tale of Hiccup, a young Viking who befriends an unlikely dragon and discovers true bravery.

27. The Story of the World – Susan Wise Bauer, narrated by Jim Weiss A fascinating journey through history, making the past come alive for young listeners.

28. Who Was? series – Various authors, narrated by a full cast Engaging biographies that introduce kids to historical figures and influential people.

29. Ada Twist, Scientist – Andrea Beaty, narrated by Bahni Turpin A curious young girl uses science to solve mysteries, fostering a love for STEM.

30. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind – William Kamkwamba, narrated by Korey Jackson The inspiring true story of a Malawian boy who builds a windmill to save his village.

Best audiobooks for family road trips

31. Matilda – Roald Dahl, narrated by Kate Winslet A brilliant young girl with telekinetic powers overcomes neglectful parents and a cruel headmistress in this witty and empowering tale.

32. A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle, narrated by the author A sci-fi adventure where Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin travel through space and time to save her father.

33. The Tale of Despereaux – Kate DiCamillo, narrated by Graeme Malcolm A courageous little mouse embarks on a quest to save a princess in this beautifully written fairy tale.

34. Holes – Louis Sachar, narrated by Kerry Beyer A boy sent to a juvenile detention camp uncovers a family curse and a hidden treasure in this clever and adventurous novel.

35. The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett, narrated by Johanna Ward A neglected girl discovers a hidden garden and unlocks the magic of nature, healing, and friendship.

Best funny audiobooks for kids

36. Diary of a Wimpy Kid series – Jeff Kinney, narrated by Ramon de Ocampo A humorous and relatable series about middle schooler Greg Heffley, who navigates the challenges of adolescence through diary entries.

37. Wayside School series – Louis Sachar, narrated by a full cast A collection of absurd and whimsical stories set in a peculiar 30-story school with quirky students and teachers.

38. The Bad Guys series – Aaron Blabey, narrated by a full cast A fun and fast-paced series about a group of animal criminals trying to prove they can be good guys.

39. Captain Underpants series – Dav Pilkey, narrated by Len Forgione A hilarious adventure following two prank-loving kids and their hypnotized principal-turned-superhero, Captain Underpants.

40. Dork Diaries series – Rachel Renée Russell, narrated by Jenni Barber A diary-style series that follows Nikki Maxwell’s humorous and dramatic experiences navigating middle school life.

Best adventure and fantasy audiobooks

41. The Mysterious Benedict Society – Trenton Lee Stewart, narrated by Del Roy Four gifted children are recruited for a secret mission at an enigmatic institution, where they must solve puzzles and uncover hidden dangers.

42. The Golden Compass – Philip Pullman, narrated by a full cast Join Lyra Belacqua as she journeys to the Arctic to uncover a sinister plot involving kidnapped children and a mysterious substance called Dust.

43. Peter Pan – J.M. Barrie, narrated by Jim Dale The enchanting story of Peter Pan, Wendy, and the Lost Boys as they explore the magical world of Neverland.

44. Eragon – Christopher Paolini, narrated by Gerard Doyle A young farm boy discovers a dragon egg, setting him on an epic adventure filled with magic, battles, and destiny.

45. The Neverending Story – Michael Ende, narrated by Gerard Doyle A young boy discovers a mysterious book that transports him into the fantastical world of Fantastica, where he must help save its ruler from an impending doom.

Best classic audiobooks for kids

46. Winnie-the-Pooh – A.A. Milne, narrated by Stephen Fry and Judi Dench Join the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood in this heartwarming classic.

47. Little House on the Prairie – Laura Ingalls Wilder, narrated by Cherry Jones A beloved pioneer story following the Ingalls family's adventures as they settle in the American frontier.

48. Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson, narrated by Alfred Molina A thrilling tale of pirates, treasure maps, and high-seas adventure featuring young Jim Hawkins.

49. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll, narrated by Scarlett Johansson Follow Alice as she falls down a rabbit hole into a whimsical world filled with eccentric characters and curious adventures.

50. The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame, narrated by Derek Jacobi A charming story of friendship and adventure among Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger in the English countryside.

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