Last year about this time, I did a vacation audiobook post. I’m actually on vacation myself right now, so I can’t do as thorough a list for you guys today. But here are a couple of audiobooks my kids and I have enjoyed recently. And if these aren’t enough to get you going, see the links at the bottom for our previous audiobook lists.
- Runaway Ralph (Ralph S. Mouse)
: My youngest daughter has always hated audiobooks…until Ralph. I think of this as a typical boy book about a mouse and his motorcycle, but then my youngest has a more analytical mind than my older daughter, and for whatever reason, she was hooked from the first minute. Some of Cleary’s works aren’t in my good-for-kids list, and there is some rebellion in this one. But on the whole, this series wasn’t bad and it was really beneficial in opening the world of audiobooks for her.
- The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
: We’re listening to this one on our trip this week. So far the kids like it, but I’m not sure it’s DiCamillo’s best work. My favorite of hers is definitely The Tale of Desperaux. She has such a classic kids’ book feel about her writing, with all the good and bad that implies. In Edward Tulane, the plot seems to be that a icey-hearted ceramic bunny comes to really live and love through the many trials and tribulations that come after he is tossed over the side of a ship by some careless young boys. It has a stilted feel to the writing, mainly because we spend so much time in Edward’s stuffy, unfeeling mind. But some of his adventures are quite colorful, including the people he meets (i.e. the King of Trash).
- Pippi Longstocking
: An oldie but goodie. I don’t remember reading this as a kid, but my girls were mesmerized. Pippi is daring and zany enough that I think she’s keep a little boy’s attention, as well as keep from grating on adults’ nerves the way a lot of Modern stories for kids do.
- Rain for Roots: This is an audio CD, but it’s based on classic bible stories for children. (Inspired, I’m told by one of the writers, by a kids’ Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones.) You can pop this in while your kids are reading their story Bibles, and help get them excited about God’s word.
Wish I had time for more! But, alas, it’s time to start my vacation fun! Here are our other two audiobook posts for a more thorough list of our favorites: 1) Ten Vacation Audiobooks for the Whole Family, and 2) Winter Audiobooks (and More) for Kids. Do share any favorites if you have any! I’m always looking for good new books or ones I’ve forgotten!
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Our family’s favorite car audio books (as my kids are older, they were on cassette!) were the Hank the Cowdog books, especially the first books in the series, which the author read in his Texas accent.
I first heard of the Hank books in a book by Diana Waring about homeschooling, they were among her family’s favorites and soon became ours. A great comic relief from serious reading.
Thanks, Emily. Enjoy your vacation!
A couple audiobooks that we’ve enjoyed lately are
Jim Dale’s reading of Peter Pan and Betsy-Tacy.
I love Betsy-Tacy as a sweet old-fashioned girl book!
P.S. Betsy-Tacy is read by Sutton Foster
I’ve never really enjoyed any of DiCamillo’s books. Is it just me or has anyone else felt this way?
I prefer to read books to myself but Jim Wiess’s CDs are good– folktales, history, other true stories or just fun stories– as well as Hank the Cowdog.
Funny you should say that, Anna. I was pretty disappointed with the ending of Edward Tulane. It really never developed any momentum, and the ending just seemed pretty tacked on. And what about the poor boy who is forced to just leave Edward and never come back? Also, parents should be forewarned that an important character does die, so choose your childs’ listening time and age accordingly.
[…] Redeemed Reader has 10 vacation audiobook suggestions for the whole family, along with a few other titles. […]
My son’s are now in their 40s. We did not have audiobooks but I read Pippi Longstocking to them. We all enjoyed her outrageous antics. Our car did not have a radio; I guess you’d say I was the narrator. I read several books to the as we went on short or longer trips.
I read all of The Hobbit to our kids on one summer road trip!