Audiobooks for Ages 6+

Dion Graham’s skilled narration and singing, along with lively music and vibrant sounds of the city, transport listeners to the neighborhood of Tremé in New Orleans. A young Trombone Shorty ponders what it takes to be a good bandleader of his 5 O’Clock Band. Graham creates a high and youthful voice for Shorty. Listeners will discover valuable universal messages as Shorty seeks... Read More

Narrator Thomas Quasthoff's voice has a musicality perfectly suited to this rich alphabet book with its own symphonic score. This is a poetic tribute to the orchestra—from the titular oboe, offering its musical “A” at each symphony’s beginning, to musical notation, the conductor, the instruments, and the audience. In concert with the authors' passages, Quasthoff's... Read More

Alice Waters, owner of the restaurant Chez Panisse, is an American chef who is known for creating the “slow food” movement—which promotes the benefits of healthy, organic food to ordinary people. Narrator Laura Hamilton portrays her in a voice that sounds eager and child-friendly. She sounds keenly engaged with Alice’s travels, her love of enjoying fresh, delicious food with... Read More

Listeners travel back through time to explore the life of Harriet Tubman, guided by four African-American narrators. Lisa Renee-Pitts, Bahni Turpin, January LaVoy, and SiSi Aisha Johnson narrate in turn to describe Tubman’s voice rising in protest as a suffragist, the heroics of General Tubman, the secrecy of her work as a Union spy, all the way back to her childhood as a slave... Read More

Versatile British actor David Walliams pulls out all the stops from his vocal repertoire to create a romping narration of this children's classic. There’s no voice too big or too small for him, whether it’s giving the Big Friendly Giant a deep, rumbling Cockney accent or endowing the queen of England with a prim and proper tone. Helping him along are well-placed sound effects... Read More

Author Matt de la Peña narrates this spare audiobook for young children, and his beautiful words need no embellishment. It’s Carmela’s birthday, and she’s finally old enough to accompany her big brother on his errands. Outside, Carmela finds a puffy dandelion to make a wish on. Her wishes reflect the simple joys of childhood but also reflect the complex realities of a child of... Read More

A retired search-and-rescue dog and "four fuzzy little chicks" team up with one terrified squirrel in a hilarious escapade. The audiobook is made even more entertaining by the expert pacing and inflection of narrators Adam Grupper and Michele O. Medlin. Moving swiftly from solemn to silly, the two depict the serious dog J.J. Tully and the exuberantly youthful chicks to... Read More

Music, sound effects, and poet Bao Phi’s soothing voice transport the listener to a boy's early morning fishing trip with his father. The audible smiles in Phi’s tone and the evocative way he says “slimy” bring joy to a story that also describes poverty and xenophobia. For the boy's family, fishing means food on the table, not sport, and his parents work all day, even on... Read More

From the first minute, it's clear this audiobook is special. Even without words, the lilting guitar music, the irresistible laugh of a baby, and the tinkling of wind chimes set the mood of a young Hispanic family with high hopes. Adriana Sananes narrates this picture book’s simple text with a positive spirit. With sounds of birds and surf in the background, she describes the... Read More

This delightful audiobook companion to the charming picture book will have little listeners giggling and learning a made-up bug language. Youthful voices for kid bugs, the deeper voices of older insects, uplifting and dramatic music, and forest sounds will draw listeners into the story of a sprout near a fallen tree that grows into a beautiful flower. Kids will enjoy... Read More

A full cast performs Cece Bell's graphic memoir for kids. After losing her hearing during a childhood illness, Cece starts school with special earphones that are attached to a large box around her neck. With her box, she navigates making friends and working hard in her classes. The cast performs the dialogue among the many characters, giving each one a unique voice. The sound... Read More

Can you say "red wiggler worms" in a way that no one will forget? Narrator Peter Jay Fernandez can! He brings drama to the inspirational story of former basketball player and MacArthur award recipient Will Allen and his quest to bring fresh vegetable gardening into the urban setting. Cherishing the gardening, food, and friendship of his childhood, Will has a vision of "city... Read More

Narrating a Caldecott Medal-winning book is both an honor and a challenge. Erin Moon rises to the occasion. She is the gentle mother telling a family story to her young son, Cole; she is the wondrous young son himself; she is the adventurous, young Canadian soldier; and she is the storytelling father who takes his son to see a bear at the London Zoo. Listeners will treasure... Read More

Did you know that Neil Gaiman can sound like a stegosaurus, a pirate, a volcano god, and even a bunch of green blobby aliens? Not only that, but he sounds like he's having an utter ball while he narrates, and it's impossible not to be swept up into the brilliant, batty fun. A father steps out at breakfast time to pick up some milk at the corner store, and when he takes rather a... Read More

In a performance that pays homage to dads everywhere, Daxton Edwards narrates with down-home warmth and sincerity, voicing Lyons’s lyrical text, which recounts a trip to a family reunion. Adopting a folksy speech pattern and a cadence reminiscent of the rural South, Edwards provides a narration that is in harmony with the production’s lilting music. Occasional sound effects... Read More

When Gooney Bird enters Mrs. Pigeon's second-grade class, she lets everyone know she likes to be "right smack in the middle of things." It's not long before the eccentric young storyteller has everyone—including her teacher—waiting to hear every word she says. Lee Adams captures the listener’s rapt attention as she demonstrates the power of storytelling. Best of all, Adams... Read More

Listeners begin their journey by learning about how the French built the Statue of Liberty and then gave it to the United States. Almost halfway through the story, a new narrative begins as the focus shifts to “her right foot” and the author asks listeners to think about why Lady Liberty appears to be in motion, where she is going, and the connection these details have with... Read More

David Tennant uses his Scots brogue to full enthusiastic effect as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third and his Viking and dragon friends brave Driller Dragons, Red Hot Itchyworms, and the Hairy Scary Librarian to steal a book from the forbidden library. Crowell's book is silly, clever fun, and Tennant makes the most of every over-the-top character (Big-Boobied Bertha is a... Read More

David Tennant, best known for his role as Doctor Who, brings a slew of Scottish accents to this high-spirited rendering of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III’s journey toward true heroism. Hiccup is the heir to the Hairy Hooligan Viking Tribe, but he must pass the dragon initiation program to become a full member. When Hiccup manages to catch the smallest dragon anyone’s ever seen,... Read More

Nancy Wu expresses the youth, verve, and mercurial feelings of Uma as she wonders at the number of stars in the huge, cold sky. Gabi Swiatkowska’s illustrations show the small girl dwarfed by the celestial immensity she is just beginning to appreciate. Uma begins a quest to discover what infinity is by asking peers and elders their views. Wu’s narration blends beautifully with... Read More

Listening to Junot Díaz's narration is like having a story read to you by your uncle who can do all the best voices. Lola's class is full of kids from around the world, and her teacher asks them to draw pictures of their first country. But Lola left "The Island" as a baby, and Díaz's voice reflects her anxiety over not remembering her brief time there. Lola asks her neighbors... Read More

"She shimmied. She shook. Sparks flew.” Like Josephine Baker herself, Lizan Mitchell's narration dazzles with verve and vivacity. The story of Baker's uninhibited rags-to-riches life is told in poetic, often staccato, sentences that Mitchell delivers with gusto, punctuating the action in a volcanic life that "erupted into the Roaring Twenties." Though Baker’s life was often... Read More

Bahni Turpin’s and Adenrele Ojo’s crisp style introduces 40 women who made an impact through their determination and innovation. These brief biographical sketches, filled with interesting information for young listeners, are narrated with energy and enthusiasm. Turpin and Ojo highlight author Harrison’s appealing choices of women to learn about, whether they are familiar names... Read More

An avid follower of Admiral Drake's radio broadcasts from the South Pole, housepainter Mr. Popper, of Stillwater, USA, receives an astonishing delivery from the Admiral, which has delighted readers for more than 50 years. Audio listeners have a singular opportunity to delight in this visit of penguins to 432 Proudfoot Avenue. Nick Sullivan brings unflappability to the tale. He... Read More

Narrator Hugh Bonneville’s rich and melodious voice makes for easy listening. His even-keel narration takes Paddington bear’s adventures in stride—whether he’s tailoring trousers with his vintage sewing machine, taking dancing lessons, repairing a car, doing detective work, or carrying out equestrian exploits. He may exasperate his family and Mrs. Bird, the housekeeper, but he... Read More

Tavia Gilbert performs this first-person narration with an enthusiastic high pitch--which is perfect for the eccentric young heroine who lives on an island in Maine and takes a lobster boat to school. Piper is a small girl with big feelings, especially strong since her older brother left for boarding school. Her emotions shift frequently, and Gilbert captures them all,... Read More

This concise audio biography is a special tribute to acclaimed writer, poet, and Civil Rights activist Maya Angelou. Narrator Cherise Boothe's beautiful, clear voice evokes Angelou's spirit and embodies the power of the spoken word. Boothe's tone and pacing are genuinely engaging, creating natural pauses that encourage listeners to reflect on the significance of the author's... Read More

Narrator Rachel Jacobs gently shares the story of an imaginative second-grader who is enthralled with creating who-knows-what from scavenged items. Jacobs narrates slowly, letting young listeners tune in to Rosie’s late-night brainstorms and dreams as well as her moments of confidence and despair. While rhyming couplets abound, Jacobs’s even-keeled pacing keeps the story in the... Read More

Fermentation expert Sandor Katz’s hearty voice punctuates Lori Prince’s overall narration of this picture book. It’s a biography of Katz, who moved to a “community of queer folk” in Tennessee in search of a healthy life after his HIV diagnosis. He has become famous for his recipes for fermented foods. The titular “tiny wild”—the microbes that make the culinary magic—swirl as... Read More

Fairuza Balk expertly differentiates the characters in this retelling of a mysterious Tyrolean folktale. From the beginning, Balk captures Otilla’s youth and curiosity. Her courage becomes clear when she meets the other character in this story, a skull. Balk’s noble tone and accent fit him, and the way she expresses his approachability transforms a typically scary icon into a... Read More

How better to communicate this vital history of racism in America to its young audience than to have the audiobook narrated by a peer? Nine-year-old Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem Jackson hits it out of the park with her lively and engaging reading. Her voice and delivery are unmistakably those of a kid—and she's an inspired casting choice. Short chapters, ideal for listening to one at a... Read More

Peter Berkrot energetically narrates the story of Carl Sagan’s love affair with the stars and outer space. In 1939, a young Sagan visited the World’s Fair, an event that ignited his sense of wonder about the universe. Berkrot’s enthusiastic tones express Sagan’s boundless curiosity, a force that took him to the library, deep into science fiction, and, ultimately, to his... Read More

Walter Harrison superbly narrates Henson’s wonderful story of the Pack Horse Librarians, who brought books to those living in Appalachian Kentucky during the Great Depression. Harrison reads with a subtle dialect that helps listeners understand the story’s time and place. Harrison embodies the young boy Cal, a reluctant reader whose life is transformed by the bravery of “that... Read More

Dion Graham’s narration elevates this fascinating true story with a message for kids to be bold, courageous, and unique. The audiobook describes the history of the Golden Gate Bridge, including the process of developing and approving its design, transporting its steel across the country, building it, and debating what color to paint it. Eggers’s writing is informative but also... Read More

Narrator Yetide Badaki's light and gentle voice is just what one might expect from a serene princess--a water princess, no less. Badaki gently but urgently shares the story of Princess GieGie and her journey to the well for her family's water. The princess rises at six in the morning and then begins her walk through a dust-filled world. Shea nuts, music, and the company of... Read More

The sounds of crickets, a crackling campfire, and music greet listeners as five narrators share the meaning of the term “otsaliheliga,” a Cherokee word meaning “We are grateful.” Each narrator lends a unique voice to the story, complementing the diverse contemporary Cherokee families who are depicted celebrating every season. Cherokee pronunciations are beautifully delivered to... Read More

Third-grader Winnie is a delightful character in this charming chapter book, which captures the joys and tribulations of navigating close friendships while maintaining a sense of individuality. As narrator, Laura Hamilton does a great job centering the story in a young girl's experience and tone, though she's equally capable of depicting adults, such as Winnie's dad and her... Read More