Audiobooks: Great Family Listening for the Early Summer Days

AudioFile for The Children’s Book Review

Award-Winning Audiobooks for Ages 4 – 8

Storytelling can nurture an appreciation for words in even the youngest of listeners. Two of the recommended titles this month focus on how we use words and the emotions that they create. And June is the perfect month for stories about gardening, fathers, and farmers’ markets, too! All of these titles will provide great family listening for these early days of summer.

Be You!

Story by Peter H. Reynolds

Read by Peter H. Reynolds

In a gentle, friendly tone, author/narrator Peter Reynolds reaches out to listeners with words of encouragement and positivity in this guidebook of advice for young children. Without plot or characters, short declarations like “Be curious” and “Be kind” are followed up with brief, heartfelt explanations for listeners seeking to be themselves amid life’s challenges. Review »

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Ages 4-8 | Length: 12 mins. | Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks | March 03, 2020

Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market

Story by Raul the Third

Read by Gary Tiedemann

Little Lobo, a wolf, and his pet dog, Bernabé, wake up and set out for a busy day at the mercado. Lively music and narrator Gary Tiedemann’s playful opening make for a warm greeting at the start of this charming children’s audiobook. Listeners will delight in the layered sound effects that create a bustling scene with squeaky cart wheels, busy chatter, and chirping birds–all of which pull listeners into the story. Review »

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Ages 4-7 | Length: 21 mins. | Publisher: Dreamscape | April 27, 2020

The Word Collector

Written by Peter H. Reynolds

Read by Guy Lockard

Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award

The tale of Jerome, a word collector, begins with a cheerful melody that expresses his excitement. Reynolds’s beloved story is even more spectacular with Guy Lockard’s narration and Sandra Hart’s music. As various words are introduced, the music reflects the tone and Lockard embraces Jerome’s enthusiasm, imbuing words with so much passion that they are almost personified. The ending is a symphony of giggles and exclamations! Review »

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https://westonwoods.scholastic.com

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Ages 4-8 | Length: 9 mins. | Publisher: Weston Woods Studios | 2018

Going Down Home with Daddy

Story by Kelly Starling Lyons

Read by Daxton Edwards

Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award

In an homage to dads everywhere, Lyons’s lyrical text recounts a trip to a family reunion. Daxton Edwards narrates with down-home warmth and sincerity, adopting a folksy speech pattern and a cadence reminiscent of the rural South, keeping in harmony with the production’s lilting music. This immersive audiobook stands well on its own, but listeners may want to pick up the print book so they can also enjoy Daniel Minter’s luminous 2020 Caldecott Honor illustrations. Review »

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Ages 4-8 | Length: 12 mins. | Publisher: Dreamscape | January 14, 2020

Grandma’s Gardens

Written by Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton

Read by Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton

This nostalgic ode to gardens and grandmothers, written and narrated by the mother-daughter Clinton team, shares personal memories of gardening with the late Dorothy Rodham, Hillary’s mother and Chelsea’s grandmother. Listeners will discover the ways gardens can be places of learning, contentment, and story-sharing while also providing homes for animals and food for people. Perfect for little ones listening together with their own grandmothers. Review »

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Ages 4-8 | Length: 6 mins. | Publisher: Listening Library | March 31, 2020

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