Some Good Audiobook Choices

If you'll be traveling a lot this holiday season, I highly recommend a good audiobook. They make hours in the car practically fly by! I have listened to quite a few children's audiobooks from our collection, and here are a few of my favorites:

Henry and the Clubhouse by Beverly Cleary, narrated by Neil Patrick Harris. Beverly Cleary's stories are wonderful classics that are enjoyed by pretty much all school-age children who like realistic stories. Since they were originally published around 50 years ago they have a nice nostalgic feeling, but the characters and situations are so universal and true-to-life that kids have no trouble relating to it. Neil Patrick Harris does a wonderful job narrating, with good enunciation and nice subtleties in tone that make for a great listening experience.

The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney, narrated by Hal Hollings. The Humphrey the Hamster stories are incredibly popular with elementary-age children, and no wonder! You won't find a cuter, funnier, or more absorbing hamster than Humphrey. Kids who like books about animals but don't necessarily like fantasy stories will love these. Hal Hollings, the narrator, is the perfect choice because his voice can be high-pitched and hamster-like without being annoying or grating in the least. I had a lot of fun listening to this.

For older audiences (middle school and older) I really liked the Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, narrated by Anne Hathaway, who starred in the movies. Anne has proven that she can do a fantastic job with Mia's breezy yet sometimes neurotic voice, and the story is full of laugh-out-loud moments. It is kind of girly, though, so the boys might need persuading to give it a shot.

And lastly, there's Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins (yes, the same Suzanne Collins who wrote The Hunger Games) and narrated by Paul Boehmer. Gregor's story is less disturbing but more fantastical than the Hunger Games books, and so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it for a middle-school-aged audience. The story is compelling and action-packed, but also sprinkled with some funny bits that help alleviate the tension sometimes. The narrator taps into Gregor's voice perfectly and does a great job with the voices and tones of supporting characters.