For a parent, summertime can only mean one thing: lots and lots of free time to fill. Whether it’s a road trip or a long, lazy day at home, audiobooks are a great way to keep your child captivated. Here are 10 of our favorites for easy listening on a hot summer day.
‘The Red Sun’ by Alane Adams
If your kids are fans of the show Jessie on the Disney Channel, they will love this audiobook read by one of the stars — Karan Brar! When Sam’s friends are taken prisoner, he embarks on the journey of his life to the magical realm of Orkney. But when an ancient curse turns the sun a poisonous red and threatens to destroy the land, Sam must choose between saving his friends and saving the world.
Recommended ages: 9 – 13
‘Wishing Day’ by Lauren Myracle
Children are enchanted by the timeless concept of the three wishes, and I’m sure your child is no different from the rest. On the third night of the third month after her 13th birthday, Natasha is given three wishes. Your child will instantly feel connected to Natasha as she watches her wishes unfold in a manner far beyond anything she could have ever imagined.
Recommended ages: 8 – 12
‘The Firefly Code’ by Megan Frazer Blakemore
For Mori and her friends, life is pretty perfect on Firefly Lane. But their bubble bursts when Ilana moves in. Ilana is a little too perfect, leading Mori and her friends to wonder. Their curiosity leads them to a trifling decision: Must they start to question the only world they’ve ever known? Your child will follow right along with these five unlikely friends as they journey to discover the truth about their world and friendship.
Recommended ages: 8 – 12
‘The Trials of Apollo’ by Rick Riordan
If your child was as obsessed with The Percy Jackson series as we were, then they will love The Trials of Apollo. After his son angers him, Zeus is left wondering, how do you punish an immortal? The answer: Make the immortal mortal. After losing his immortality, Apollo is thrown into the mortal world with countless enemies who would jump at the opportunity to ensure the former Olympian’s permanent destruction. As he searches for a way to get back into his father’s good graces, Apollo turns to the only safe place he can think to go — Camp Half-Blood.
Recommended ages: 10 – 13
‘When Friendship Followed Me Home’ by Paul Griffin
Ben Coffin has always stuck to his lonesome self, but when he rescues a mutt, Scruffy, all that changes. Scruffy leads him to befriend Halley, a girl who enchants Ben with her rainbow-colored clothes to her dazzling laugh. As the duo begin to write a novel together, Ben’s life takes an unexpected turn. Your child will be mesmerized by this tale of friendship.
Recommended ages: 10 and up
‘The Gallery’ by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
Martha has no choice but to work as a maid for the wealthy Sewell family. But as the opulence grows more obvious, she suspects there might be something deeply wrong within the Sewell household, specifically the mysterious reason Rose Sewell no longer leaves her room. Martha will take your child on an adventure through the house filled with secrets to discover the truth about Rose.
Recommended ages: 10 and up
‘The Misadventures of Max Crumbly 1’ by Rachel Renée Russell
The Misadventures of Max Crumbly is the perfect preparation for any child gearing up this summer for middle school. Max loves everything about his new middle, except for Doug, the relentless locker-stuffing school bully. Max longs to be like the heroes he reads about in comic books, but he will have to make do without superhuman abilities to be the hero his school needs.
Recommended ages: 9 – 13
‘School of the Dead’ by Avi
Tony Gilbert, besides attending a new school, has a tiny problem: His “Weird Uncle Charlie” won’t leave him alone. And did we mention “Weird Uncle Charlie” is a ghost? As rumors circulate about a student who went missing, Tony is forced to wonder if it is all somehow related to his uncle’s ghost.
Recommended ages: 8 – 12
‘The Taken (Foxcraft #1)’ by Inbali Iserles
If you’re looking for a touch of magic to add to your child’s summer reading list, The Taken is the perfect fit. Isla’s life is turned around when she returns home to find it set on fire, surrounded by a strange group of foxes. She is forced to flee into the unknown. In order to survive, she must unravel the secrets of foxcraft, a cunning known only to foxes.
Recommended ages: 8 – 12
‘A Clatter of Jars’ by Lisa Graff
Summer plans for Talented kids include singing songs by the campfire, practicing for the campfire and swims in the lake. The Talented kids didn’t expect to be set at the center of a complex mystery surrounding swapped talents and switched memories that all lead to their mysterious camp director. This is a story of summer, family and the strides we take for the people we love.
Recommended ages: 8 – 12
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