Best New Audiobooks for Ages 4-6, Selected by AudioFile Magazine for The Children’s Book Review.
The Best New Audiobooks for Ages 4-6
We’re starting the new year with a new list of excellent audiobooks for the youngest listeners. Each audiobook can be enjoyed on its own, though listening along with the picture book in hand makes for a magical experience. Read on to discover five new audiobooks to enjoy with your young readers and audiobook listeners.
There Was a Party For Langston
Story by Jason Reynolds
Read by Jason Reynolds
Recorded Books | 6 mins. | Ages 4+ | AudioFile Earphones Award
Acclaimed author Jason Reynolds nimbly narrates his celebration of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes. Based on a picture of a real party in Hughes’s honor at the Schomburg Center, this loving tribute is alive with rhythm. As Reynolds describes how Hughes excelled at making words dance to his tune, he makes his own words dance. He creates an irresistible feedback loop between the poet and the poetry that will have listeners tapping their toes to the beat. Review »
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Where the Wild Things Are
Story by Maurice Sendak
Read by Michelle Obama
Harper Audio | 4 mins. | Ages 1+
Former First Lady Michelle Obama narrates this fresh production of Maurice Sendak’s classic story. Young Max, having been exiled to his room for behaving like a wild thing, sails away to become the king of all wild things. Mrs. Obama’s performance is straightforward and engaging. She enthusiastically roars the terrible roars of the wild things, and her Max is commanding in the way an imaginative young child can be. Review »
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Night in the City
Story by Julie Downing
Read by Harriett D. Foy
Live Oak Media | 10 mins. | Ages 1+
As Harriett Foy guides listeners through the city at night, her voice is as warm as the sunny yellow interior scenes that contrast with the surrounding nighttime blues in this picture book. Its central character is a child of color who is going to bed as nighttime activity is carried out by a diverse group of adults with a variety of occupations. They interact in busy tableaux that beg listeners to stop and look. Occasional full-page scenes are equally arresting; a museum custodian dusting a T. rex skeleton is a highlight. Background sound effects—car engines, sirens, a dog yapping—underscore the bustle. Review »
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The Lunar New Year Surprise
Story by Jade Wang
Read by Christopher Lee
Dreamscape | 15 mins. | Ages 5+
Get ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year with Christopher Lee’s narration of this short picture book full of traditions. Gege has secretly made a present for his little sister, but there are so many activities to celebrate that he can’t find the right time to surprise her. Lee performs the story with exaggerated emotions appropriate to children’s storytelling. A great choice for storytime. Review »
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Backed by snazzy, scratchy electronica, author-illustrator C.G. Esperanza raps an energetic ode to sneakers suspended from telephone wires. “Red kicks, green kicks, yellow kicks, blue./How’d they get up there? Only birds knew.” Esperanza’s execution of this refrain is so catchy that listeners will be chanting it with him by the end of this four-minute track. Whether experienced while looking at the print book’s illustrations or by itself, this audiobook rocks. Review »
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This list of audiobooks was curated by AudioFile. AudioFile is an independent source of audiobook reviews and recommendations with a clear focus on the performance and listening experience. AudioFile Earphones Awards are given to exceptional audiobooks. To learn more, visit audiofilemagazine.com, Twitter @AudioFileMag, Facebook @audiofilemagazine, and Instagram @AudioFileMagazine.
