This is a little different from my normal Best Children’s Books for a Trip To series. This time we’re looking at the best WANDERLUSTING children’s AUDIOBOOKS for a road trip.
While I try to be electronic-free while road tripping with the family, I have no problem with listening to things. Listening to music is fun, but sometimes we need a break from that. I have, in the past, picked up a good chapter book that I’m reading with the kids. It works for a little bit, but my voice gets hoarse and I want to enjoy the road trip, too, myself. Enter audiobooks.
Finding the right audiobook is not the same as finding the right book. Especially on a road trip. The key here is that it has to be engaging to everyone in the car. The length of time has to somewhat match the length of the trip. No one wants to finish a road trip hours before the book ends, and shorter books may not be enough. It’s also good to make sure the narrator’s voice is pleasing. A good book can be ruined by the wrong narrator.
Tip: I feel enjoying audiobooks is a skill. So, it may be best to introduce kids to audiobooks with either shorter books or with characters they’re already familiar with.
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You can sign-up for Audible here.
I hope you find something to fit your family and your trip below.
Audiobook series for kids
The first group of books I want to recommend are book series that are already popular with kids. I went with a series because there are so many books that it would take a while to get through them all. These series were picked specifically because their settings would be interesting.
Magic Treehouse
Kids love Magic Treehouse. Parents will appreciate that the audible versions include more than one of the books in a “book” which means it’s not only a long listen – but so affordable. There are two types of Magic Treehouse books. The traditional Magic Treehouse books for early chapter book readers, and the Merlin Missions for more advanced readers. The Merlin Missions frequently take place in Camelot, so may not be what you’re looking for on a road trip.
Below I’ll list the first group of audible books for each series, and then you can use those links to find more books in the series.
Magic Treehouse, Books 1-8
By: Mary Pope Osborne
Narrated by: Mary Pope Osborne
Length: 6 hrs and 1 min
Buy it on Amazon.
Merlin Missions, Books 1-8
By: Mary Pope Osborne
Narrated by: Mary Pope Osborne
Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
Buy it on Amazon.
Harry Potter
Harry Potter books make me want to travel. These are the only series of books (on this list) that should be listened to in order. Instead of linking to each of them, I’ll start at the beginning.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Book 1
By: J.K. Rowling
Narrated by: Jim Dale
Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
Buy it on Amazon
American Girl
The American Girl audiobooks are organized by main character. If you aren’t familiar with the series, each character represents a different time and place in American history. There are several books for each character included in an audiobook. So, find the character that best fits your situation – and get those books.
Buy the American Girl Audiobooks here.
Kaya, An American Girl
By: Janet Beeler Shaw
Narrated by: Christina Moore
Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins
Setting: 1764 Oregon
Felicity, An American Girl
By: Valerie Tripp
Narrated by: Carrie Hitchcock
Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
Setting: 1774 Virginia
Josefina, An American Girl
By: Valerie Tripp
Narrated by: Barbara Fox
Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins
Setting: 1824 New Mexico
Kirsten, An American Girl
By: Janet Beeler Shaw
Narrated by: Rachel Botchan
Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
Setting: 1850s Minnesota
Addy, An American Girl
By: Connie Porter
Narrated by: Cynthia Adams
Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins
Setting: 1860s Philadelphia
Samantha, An American Girl
By: Susan Adler, Valerie Tripp, Maxine Schur
Narrated by: Cecelia Riddett
Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins
Setting: 1904 New York
Rebecca, An American Girl
By: Jacqueline Dembar Greene
Narrated by: Rachel Botchan
Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
Setting: 1910s Wisconsin
Kit, An American Girl
By: Valerie Tripp
Narrated by: Therese Plummer
Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
Setting: 1930s Cincinnati
Molly, An American Girl
By: Valerie Tripp
Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren
Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
Setting: 1940s Illinois
Julie, An American Girl
By: Megan McDonald
Narrated by: Ali Ahn
Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins
Setting: 1970s San Francisco
Buy the American Girl Audiobooks here.
Newbery books in Audio
Ok, maybe not wanderlusting. But these books fit the bill as “kid’s travel books”. They have a stronger sense of setting and, bonus, they’re Newbery winners.
Merci Suárez Changes Gears
By: Meg Medina
Narrated by: Frankie Corzo
Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins
Setting: Florida
Buy on Amazon
Moon Over Manifest
By: Clare Vanderpool
Narrated by: Jenna Lamia, Cassandra Campbell, Kirby Heyborne
Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
Setting: Kansas
Buy on Amazon
A Single Shard
By: Linda Sue Park
Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins
Setting: Korea
Buy on Amazon
King of the Wind
By: Marguerite Henry
Narrated by: David McCallum
Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins
Setting: Morocco, France, England
Buy on Amazon
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
By: Laura Amy Schiltz
Narrated by: Christina Moore
Length: 1 hr and 33 mins
Setting: Medieval Town
Buy on Amazon
And also…
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the Long Haul
By: Jeff Kinney
Narrated by: Ramon De Ocampo
Length: 1 hr and 53 mins
Setting: A road trip
Buy on Amazon
Hoot
By: Carl Hiaasen
Narrated by: Chad Lowe
Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
Setting: Florida
Buy on Amazon
I’ve also been working through our 2,000 books in the global directory to mark off which children’s books are available on Audible. Still working through it. What books would you add?
You can sign-up for Audible here. Amazon Prime customers get two books free. There’s a discounted rate available (6.95/month – the first three months) until the end of December 2019. After that it’s 14.95. Membership includes one free Audible book a month and two free Audible originals.
