Reading Archives | Kids Ain't Cheap

We all know reading to a child is paramount to his or her development. In my experience as a mother of two, I’m always on the hunt for fun, new ways to teach my kids. One of our favorite ways is listening to audiobooks. Therefore, I put together my top 10 list of the best kids books on Audible.

There are several benefits from audiobooks that I would like to share with you.

Kids learn to sit still. A byproduct of your children sitting in one place and paying attention to the narration of a book is that they’ll develop a stronger habit of sitting still. Even my two-year-old has shown improvement in his ability to sit quietly when the need arises. This comes in handy when you’re in a public place such as a waiting room or classroom.

Also, audiobooks expand a child’s vocabulary. Children are often introduced to new words in context and with their pronunciation. Often these books promote education, behavior, language, mathematics, etc. It also gives your child a fresh form of media besides a screen.

While reading to your child at bedtime is a vital bonding experience, audio books for kids create another dimension of imagination and education without the addictive side effects of screen time.

Let’s take a look at some great audio books my kids enjoyed over the last few years.

8 Memorable Audio Books for Kids of All Ages

EARLY LEARNERS – 0 to 5 years

1. “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper

Despite its small size, the little engine used the power of positive thinking to conquer a mountain. This lesson is great for every generation of kids and can be enjoyed on audio with the rich tones of Mike Ferreri narrating.

2. “The Peter Rabbit Collection” by Beatrix Potter

This beloved classic exposes your children to the adventures of Peter Rabbit and his woodland friends. On Audible.com, you can now enjoy the entire Peter Rabbit collection for a very low price.

3. “The Cat and the Hat and Other Dr. Seuss Favorites” by Dr. Seuss

What was your favorite Dr. Seuss book as a child? Well, now it might be available on Audible for your whole family to listen. These best-sellers have stood the test of time for six decades.

Not to mention, this collection of audible stories is narrated by:

Kelsey Grammar
John Cleese
Dustin Hoffman
Billy Crystal
And More…

GRADE-SCHOOLERS – 6 to 11 years

4. “The Wizard of Oz” by Frank L. Baum

This classic story is so enjoyable to listen to, due to the dynamic narration performed by award-winning actress, Anne Hathaway. She brings an “all-in” devotion to each character that will capture your kids’ attention (and yours, too!).

5. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling

Why am I putting one of the most popular children’s books on this list? Two words: Jim Dale. Never have you heard an audiobook until you’ve been read to by award-winning voice talent, Jim Dale. Even as an adult, I get a kick out of J.K. Rowling’s great storytelling and Dale’s diverse collection of voices for the memorable characters in Harry’s world.

If you believe your child is old enough for the thematic elements of this book, then give the audiobook a shot.

6. “The Kid Who Only Hit Homers” by Matt Christopher

Do you have a ball player in your family? I don’t know of anyone who wrote better sports books for middle readers than Matt Christopher. I’d finish a story, and feel a strong impulse to grab a ball and glove and speed off to the park.

One of Christopher’s most popular stories, “The Kid Who Only Hit Homers,” is available on audio with a full cast of narrators.

7. “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien

This dramatized audiobook is the narrated telling of Tolkien’s bedtime story about the adventures of Bilbo Baggins. Follow his journey with a whole slew of dwarves as they head toward the Misty Mountain in search of their long-lost treasure – guarded, of course, by a fire-breathing dragon.

8. “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly

This is the true story of the African-American women who helped the United States win the space race. Shetterly’s book became a movie in 2016 and sends an important message to young people that their minds are precious, no matter their color or gender.

Reading is a delight that can last a lifetime. Help your child understand the many layers of literature and the skills he or she will need to get lost in a story and enjoy the endless worlds waiting on the pages.

Bonus Reading: “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Wants to Give Your Child a Free Book Every Month”

Got your own list of best kids books on Audible? We’d love to hear it!

If you’re a stay-at-home mom, make sure you bookmark or pin some of these great resources for later!

Yes, I am indeed a comic book geek but I am a proud geek at that. As a parent, I think we all hope that our children will come to enjoy the same things that we enjoy. To have a son or daughter you can share your hobby with is a fantasy most parents have, whether that hobby is sports, a favorite team, movies, music or in my case, comic books. I grew up with comic books, they have fueled my passion for reading and have kept my imagination active.

Instilling a Love of Reading

We try very hard to instill a love of reading into our children. Every night when we put them to bed, we read them 1 – 2 books each and we encourage them to spend time with their books on their own. They are always getting new books on their birthdays and Christmas, from friends and relatives whose children have outgrown their books, from the library and from Goodwill when we can spare a couple of bucks. They love it and I hope it continues.

One of the things I started incorporating into their reading just this week is comic books. Comics can be a bit edgy and most are no longer written for kids, they are written for adults. The content is typically too mature for young kids. However, there are a few publishers that make comic books specifically for children. DC Comics puts out a few featuring their stable of heroes as does BOOM (who bought the rights to make Disney comic books). Both are putting out quality books every month for younger audiences.

Both of my kids know who Batman is and both like him so for our first month I got them Batman Brave and the Bold from DC Comics. So far, they have requested that comic as one of their nightly books every night this week. It’s been really nice to see their excitement and interest. They are still a little young for it but they love it nonetheless.

Comic Books Can Be Educational

I believe comic books can be an educational experience for children and an economical choice for parents. On average, comics cost $2.99 each. That is actually a bit steep when you are an adult and you are getting 20 – 30 titles each month. As adult collectors, we buy them, read them and then generally stick them in a back with a backer board and save them as part of our collection. Children get significantly more use out of them. They aren’t concerned with saving them forever now are they worried about keeping them in good condition. Even though they can’t read them yet, they pour through them and look at the pictures, they come up with their own stories and they exercise their imagination. It gives them exposure to a new art form that they may not have ever experienced before. It helps them develop their imagination and most important of all, it is a fun activity for Daddy to share with his boys.

If you don’t have a comic book shop near you, there are plenty of online comic book stores. When I was buying comic books for myself every month I used to use Discount Comic Book Service, now I just go and get 1 or 2 titles per month at my local comic book store.

What are your thoughts on using comic books as a reading tool?

Here are 8 of the Best Kids Books On Audible