If you are looking for a way to keep your children away from screens while also sparking their interest in reading, then audiobooks for kids are a great option to consider. A good audiobook can not only help children build vocabulary but also improve their comprehension skills, so it is especially perfect for bedtime, car rides, or long travel days.
In this article, we have curated a list of 15 of the best audiobooks for kids aged 3-12, ranging from short educational tales to longer classics, providing you with a truly hassle-free selection guide. Plus, we will share the effective tips on how children can listen to audiobooks without a phone below. Let's start exploring!
Best Audiobooks for Kids 3-6 Years Old
The age range of 3-6 is a golden stage for children's early literacy and listening skill development. When choosing audiobooks for children in this age group, it is best to look for short stories with simple core plotlines and repetitive language patterns. These features help children understand and remember the stories, making them ideal for bedtime stories or daily early learning. Below is a list of great audiobooks for children aged 3-6 years old.
#1. The Cat in the Hat (1 hr and 59 mins)
Author: Dr. Seuss
Narrated By: Kelsey Grammer
The Cat in the Hat is a timeless classic by the beloved children's author Dr. Seuss. This delightful book narrates the mischievous adventures that ensue when a zany cat in a tall striped hat pays a visit to Sally and her brother while their mother is away. Utilizing simple words and repetitive patterns, it is one of the best audiobooks for 3-year-olds and preschoolers for early literacy development.
#2. Winnie the Pooh (2 hrs and 46 mins)
Author: A. A. Milne
Narrated By: Peter Dennis
Winnie the Pooh, by author A. A. Milne, invites listeners into the gentle world of the Hundred Acre Wood. This is a good audiobook for kindergarteners because of its heartwarming tone and touching adventures that celebrate friendship. Additionally, the peaceful narration also makes it an ideal choice for quiet time and a perfect bedtime story.
#3. Amelia Bedelia Audio Collection (1 hr and 8 mins)
Author: Peggy Parish
Narrated By: Suzanne Toren
The Amelia Bedelia Audio Collection features Amelia Bedelia, a quirky housekeeper known for hilariously misinterpreting instructions. Her literal blunders are excellent for listening skill development and preschool learning, teaching children about language nuances in a fun way. It is one of the best children's audiobooks for laughs, and is perfect for young children who are ready for short, humorous tales.
#4. The Gruffalo Collection (1 hr and 2 mins)
Author: Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler
Narrated By: Imelda Staunton, Jim Carter, Steven Pacey
The Gruffalo is a classic choice in audiobooks for kids, read aloud by stars Imelda Staunton, Jim Carter, and Steven Pacey. This collection includes 4 delightful stories: The Gruffalo, A Squash and a Squeeze, The Smartest Giant in Town, and Monkey Puzzle, all following a clever little mouse on his adventures through the forest. Each story runs for about 25 minutes, making them perfect for listening to at home, in the car, at bedtime, or anytime!
#5. Pete the Cat I Can Read Audio Collection (1 hr and 22 mins)
Author: James Dean, Kimberly Dean
Narrated By: James Fouhey, Lewis Grosso, Teddy Walsh
Pete the Cat I Can Read Audio Collection follows a groovy, cool-blue cat who learns to stay positive in the face of life's little inconveniences. These cheerful audiobooks for kids blend catchy songs and positive messages, keeping young attention spans thoroughly engaged. So, this collection is highly recommended audiobooks for 5-year-olds looking for fun, music, and simple life lessons.
Tips.
To listen to these top audiobooks for kindergarteners on any player, TuneFab Audible Converter offers great help! With it, you can easily download audiobooks from Audible to an MP3 player for hassle-free listening!
Best Audiobooks for Kids 6-9 Years Old
Children aged 6-9 are ready for slightly more complex stories. The audiobooks chosen for this age group should have clear themes, such as friendship, honesty, bravery, and personal growth, as these are important topics that children begin to encounter and learn in real life. Below, we have selected some of the best children's audiobooks for this age group.
#6. The Mercy Watson Collection: Books 1-3 (1 hr and 3 mins)
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Narrated By: Ron McLarty
Mercy Watson is a charming series of children's audiobooks penned by the acclaimed author Kate DiCamillo. This story follows Mercy Watson, a lovable pig obsessed with buttered toast, and her human family. These funny, short tales are perfect for young children transitioning to longer stories, offering great audiobooks for kids content that builds confidence.
#7. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1 hr and 57 mins)
Author: Jeff Kinney
Narrated By: Ramón de Ocampo
Diary of a Wimpy Kid presents as a diary that follows the ups and downs of middle school student Greg Heffley's life and adventures as he navigates his way through adolescence. Narrated with authenticity and humor, this children's audiobook provides a window into the life of a typical adolescent dealing with family, friends, school, and the challenges of growing up. With engaging sound effects and narration, it keeps listeners engaged while introducing themes of identity, friendship, and resilience.
#8. Charlotte's Web (3 hrs and 34 mins)
Author: E. B. White
Narrated By: E. B. White
Charlotte's Web is a timeless and touching classic that tells the story of the extraordinary friendship between a gentle pig named Wilbur and a clever spider named Charlotte. The emotional depth, courage, loyalty, and sacrifice make it one of the best children's audiobooks for developing empathy and value recognition in kids. Also, its rich vocabulary and beautifully paced narration help children understand more layered stories as they move beyond early chapter books.
#9. The Adventures of Pinocchio (4 hrs and 2 mins)
Author: Carlo Collodi
Narrated By: Simon Vance
The Adventures of Pinocchio tells the tale of a wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy, exploring fundamental lessons about honesty, responsibility, and what it means to be a good person. Plus, the skilled narrator brings characters and scenes to life with his distinctive voices and passionate performances. While it might be a bit challenging for a three-year-old, this is undoubtedly one of the best audiobooks for 9-year-olds.
#10. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (3 hrs and 18 mins)
Author: Roald Dahl
Narrated By: Douglas Hodge
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a timeless classic among the best kids' audiobooks. The story follows a poor, kind-hearted child, Charlie, who triumphs over spoiled, wealthy children, delivering valuable moral lessons about kindness and greed without feeling preachy. Thanks to the humor and distinct voices from the excellent narrator, Wonka's whimsical, slightly dark world and the Oompa Loompas are brought vividly to life for the listener, creating an engaging and entertaining experience for both children and adults.
Want your child to listen to audiobooks without a phone? TuneFab Audible Converter is the answer. It helps you convert Audible books to MP3, M4A, and FLAC and play them on Apple Watch or any device.
Best Audiobooks for Children 9-12 Years Old
As children enter the upper age bracket of 9 to 12 years old, they are ready to challenge long-form audiobooks and immerse themselves in complex storylines. Here are some of the best kids' audiobooks for 9-12-year-olds.
#11. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Book 1 (8 hrs and 18 mins)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Narrated By: Jim Dale
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone follows the young wizard Harry Potter, who discovers his magical heritage on his 11th birthday and embarks on a thrilling journey to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With immersive narration and rich world-building, this audiobook for kids ages 9-12 encourages imagination, emotional growth, and long-form story engagement. Also, it is a gateway to the fantasy genre.
#12. The Hobbit (11 hrs and 5 mins)
Author: J. R. R. Tolkien
Narrated By: Rob Inglis
This masterful long-form audiobook, The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, is a quintessential fantasy audiobook for kids. It follows the hobbit Bilbo Baggins on an epic quest with dwarves to defeat a dragon, introducing themes of heroism and sacrifice. Plus, the engaging narration successfully blends the fantastical childlike wonder with the epic journey, making it suitable for all ages and every mood, even serving well as a bedtime story.
#13. Matilda (4 hrs and 18 mins)
Author: Roald Dahl
Narrated By: Kate Winslet
Matilda tells a story of an exceptionally talented young girl, Matilda, who uses her resilience, intelligence, and newfound telekinetic powers to fight injustice. Its engaging narration and witty storytelling make it one of the great audiobooks for kids who enjoy strong character-driven plots.
#14. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (3 hrs and 49 mins)
Author: L. Frank Baum
Narrated By: Anne Hathaway
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is one of the best audiobooks for children aged 9-12, especially those beginning to explore classic literature and longer stories. This timeless classic is filled with captivating adventures and profound messages about courage, friendship, and discovery. Although there are some frightening parts in the story, the ultimate message is reassuring: home and family are important, and true happiness ultimately comes from within.
#15. The Wild Robot (4 hrs and 14 mins)
Author: Peter Brown
Narrated By: Kate Atwater
The Wild Robot audiobook is a favorite among children, telling the story of Roz, a robot stranded in the wilderness, as she learns to survive and eventually forms meaningful bonds with the world around her. Roz's journey of self-discovery and learning about love is captivating, teaching children empathy and the meaning of being part of a family. Plus, the kids' audiobook is enhanced with music and sound effects, making the island world and Roz's adventures come alive in the listener's ear.
Bonus Tips. How Can Kids Listen to Audiobooks Without a Phone?
After picking out the best audiobooks for kids, many parents face the same challenge: How can kids enjoy these great stories without increasing screen time? The simplest and most effective solution is to download these children's audiobooks in advance and play them on a screen-free device
This is where TuneFab Audible Converter comes in handy! This professional tool can easily bypass DRM protection and quickly convert Audible audiobooks to common formats such as MP3, M4A, FLAC, WAV, and AIFF. This means you can freely transfer these files to any compatible screen-free device, so you can effectively control your children's screen time and perfectly keep kids away from screens.
Highlights of TuneFab Audible Converter:
- Preserve the original audio quality to ensure your child enjoys the best listening experience.
- Support converting protected AAX audiobooks to MP3, M4A, FLAC and more.
- Ensure efficient batch conversions at 60X faster speed, saving parents time when managing files.
- Converted files can be easily split by chapter for flexible listening time control.
- Retain original metadata such as audiobook bookmarks, chapter information, cover art, and more.
- Seamlessly integrate with the official Audible website, no complicated setup required.
Read on to discover how TuneFab Audible Converter helps you reduce screen time for kids by downloading kids' audiobooks in a truly flexible, device-friendly way.
Step 1. Open TuneFab Audible Converter
Download and install the latest TuneFab Audible Converter on your Windows or Mac computer. Then, go to the "Audible" service and log in with your account.
Step 2. Add Audible Audiobooks for Kids
Browse the built-in Audible website and find your desired children's audiobooks. Then, simply click on the "Add to Convert" button.
Step 3. Adjust Output Settings
In the pop-up, choose a proper output format (MP3, FLAC, ALAC, M4A, WAV, or AIFF) and adjust output bitrate and sample rate for optimal quality.
Step 4. Download the Best Audiobooks for Kids to Your Computer
Select all added audiobooks in the conversion queue and click "Convert Now". Then, TuneFab will start downloading Audible books for children at an impressive 60X faster speed.
Find all downloads in the "Local Library" tab. Click on the folder icon to locate your DRM-free audiobooks on your computer. Then, you can easily transfer them to any player as you want.
FAQs About Audiobooks for Kids
Are Audiobooks Good for Toddlers?
In general, there are numerous benefits to incorporating audiobooks into a child's routine. Audiobooks expose young children to a diverse range of vocabulary and language patterns, thereby enhancing their language skills, vocabulary, and comprehension abilities. Some audiobooks, especially those featuring engaging narrators and captivating storylines, can assist toddlers in honing their attention spans, a skill that holds great value for their future learning endeavors. Furthermore, exploring a variety of audiobooks introduces young children to different cultures, settings, and perspectives, promoting cultural awareness and broadening their horizons.
However, it is crucial to carefully choose audiobooks that are appropriate for the child's age, ensuring they are both simple and comprehensible. Additionally, it's advisable to set reasonable time limits and engage in meaningful parent-child interactions while listening to audiobooks.
Can You Move Audiobooks for Children to Listen on Yoto?
Yes. However, please note that audiobooks purchased or downloaded from Audible are typically in the AAX format, while Yoto devices usually support MP3 audio files. To make them compatible, you'll need to convert AAX to MP3. Here's how to do it:
Step 1. Start by Downloading the audiobooks to your computer in AAX format.
Step 2. Download and install TuneFab Audible Converter on your computer. Follow the software's instructions for importing AAX files, selecting the output format as MP3, and starting the conversion. Once done, you can transfer the MP3 files to your phone.
Step 3. Create a new playlist on the Yoto app on your phone, and then upload the transferred MP3 files to the playlist from your phone. When finished, these audiobooks for children are accessible on Yoto.
Where can I listen to free audiobooks for kids?
There are several great platforms to enjoy free audiobooks for kids across different age groups:
- YouTube: Offers a vast library of kids' audiobooks for all ages.
- Spotify: Provides a curated selection of free children's audiobooks through playlists or podcasts.
- PBS Kids: Features educational stories and audiobooks for young children, combining fun with preschool learning.
- Storynory: Offers a variety of fairy tales, classics, and original stories.
- LibriVox: A volunteer-driven platform providing public domain audiobooks for children, from classics to timeless tales.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, this article has introduced the 15 best audiobooks for kids ages 3-12. These carefully selected audiobooks offer your kids engaging stories and valuable life lessons, making them an excellent choice for both entertainment and education.
Additionally, if you want to enable your kid to enjoy these audiobooks on MP3 players, Yoto, or other portable screen-free devices, you can use TuneFab Audible Converter to efficiently convert them into MP3 format, allowing your child to easily access and enjoy these good audiobooks for children in their bed, in the car, or on the go, without any hassle! Download TuneFab today and give it a try!
