Welcome to the Audio Revolution!
You’ve probably noticed by now that the word “audiobook” is in the air, at least in the Book Realm. While a few people may defiantly be stopping up their ears and clinging fast to their dear old paperbacks, I for one am welcoming the Audio Revolution with open arms… and without relinquishing the least bit of love for my own dear old paper-n’-ink book friends.
The word “Revolution” in Audio Revolution may be part of the problem. It suggests throwing out all that’s traditional about books. But this phenomenon is more of an Audio Revival than a revolution if you ask me, a harkening back to the classic days of radio entertainment when the whole family gathered around the wireless for the latest instalment of their favourite adventure. And all you children of the 80s like me, I’m sure you remember those cassette tape read-along books: “turn the page at the magic chime…”
Oh the hours of page-flipping joy!
So, in this article, I would like to share why I think the Audio REVIVAL is something to celebrate, and I’ll share some fantastic audiobooks the whole family will enjoy and tell you where you can find them!
Why I love Audiobooks… and why you should to!
Contrary to the snobbish claim that listening to an audiobook doesn’t count as “reading”, studies show that listening to audiobooks in fact does wonders for literacy. Here are just a few of the many ways it works:
- When reading along to an audiobook, children make word sound/meaning connections, which expedites learning (it’s not just infants who learn best through multi-sensory!).
- It improves attention spans of children who get frustrated staring at page after page or who frequently lose their place (that’s me!). The audio track keeps them… well … on track!
- It helps children expand their vocabular. When reading along, young readers learn to “read” more difficult words that the narrator helps them sound out. Left to themselves, children will often pass over words they can’t pronounce.
Bonus: Listening instead of reading from an e-reader saves little eyes from screen time!
Ok, so audiobooks improve children’s literacy. Any other benefits that aren’t just “educational”?
Try this one: Audiobooks are more relational. What do I mean by that? I mean that while audiobooks can certainly be enjoyed alone, they invite communal listening, just like the old days around the wireless set!
The whole family can enjoy a book together, anytime & anyplace. Even if mom and dad are busy folding clothes or fixing dinner, you can still listen & laugh together over a story with your kids! This is revolutionary!
That painfully long car journey becomes a shared family adventure! (And audiobooks are especially good news for poor souls prone to motion sickness. That’s me too!).
But there’s one more HUGE benefit to this Audio Revival that’s got me cheering it on: it’s reviving the lost art of storytelling, an art that was treasured and valued by our ancestors that has been swallowed up in recent years by fast-paced, bells-&-whistles technology.
Despite all those beeping, flashing techno toys, the Audio Revival proves that all is not lost: Kids still love to curl up and LISTEN to dramatized stories.
This is great news! It means children of 2019 still do have the power to conjure up their imaginations… to listen to words and then paint whole worlds in their own minds! Audiobooks can help them develop that wonderful gift. And hey! It can help us older folk whose imaginations may have gone a little rusty too!
Where to Find Them: Start up your own Audio Revival
This is by no means an exhaustive list of where to get a hold of audiobooks, but just to get you started, here are a few different options to explore.
Audiobooks by paid subscription
- Audible – this is Amazon’s branch for audiobooks. You pay a monthly subscription and get credits towards audiobooks each month. It’s a great option if you just can’t get enough audio. They have an enormous selection
and Audible allows you to download your books & keep them forever (even if you cancel your subscription). https://www.audible.com
- Kobo – works like Audible, but cheaper. On the downside, it has a smaller selection for the time being. https://www.kobo.com/audiobooks
- Google Audiobooks – Actually not a subscription-based site. You can buy audiobooks individually and download them easily to your device (or listen right from the computer). They are yours to keep & from a glance, the prices look pretty good! https://play.google.com/store/books/category/audiobooks
Audiobooks for FREE – huzzah!
- Librivox.org & Loyalbooks.com These two awesome sites provide hundreds of audiobook titles that have gone into the public domain for FREE! You can download them or listen straight from the site. While you might not find many new-releases in the catalogue, there are tons of classics to enjoy. And don’t mistake free for poor quality. I’ve enjoyed some top-notch narration gratis
loyalbooks - Check out Scholastic’s
longer list of free audiobook sites: https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/free-audio-books-and-why-you-should-try-them.html - LIBRARIES! Did you know you can borrow audiobooks from your local library just like you can borrow regular books? Go forth & borrow!
My Top 5 Audiobook Recommendations for the Whole Family
- How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell, brilliantly narrated by David Tenant in his own epic Scottish accent. Once you start, you’ll want to binge listen to the whole series!
- Just William series by Richmal Crompton, narrated by Martin Jarvis (who is, quite frankly, the BEST dramatic reader I have ever heard, hands down). Hysterical laughter guaranteed!
- Redwall series by Brian Jacques, read by the author. The stories of robin-hood-like rodents are great in any format, but Jacques reads them like a true minstrel. Best enjoyed in his North England accent.
- Dahl Audio I’ve only just discovered this app by Penguin. You can browse & sample all of Roald Dahl’s titles, then purchase directly from the app!
- Katie Watson and the Painter’s Plot Ok, I had to include my own book. But I’m actually pretty proud of how this audiobook turned out, and now it’s available worldwide, wherever audiobooks are sold. Borrow it from our local library or make it your first free audiobook on
Audible !
Yes, that’s right. I’m getting on the board the Audiobook Revival. My first book is already an audiobook (narrated by Yours Truly), and will soon be releasing Books 2 & 3 of the Katie Watson series in audio, so stay tuned (literally!).
Nice list. I too have been joining the revolution as a subscriber to libro.fm, where a portion of everything you buy supports your local indie bookseller… at least here in the US.
Oooh, thanks, Carol! I had not yet come across libro.fm but will definitely be checking them out. Thanks for adding to the list!