Shop Audiobooks for the Whole Family
June is the time when kids are getting out of school, families are spending more time together, and road trips are in the works. That means plenty of patrons are going to start searching for audiobooks that the whole family can enjoy together.
June also marks OverDrive’s Audiobook Month Sale, so it’s the perfect time to stock up on all the family-friendly audiobooks your patrons will need as they get ready to hit the road or spend some time at home together. Here is a list of great juvenile audiobooks that adults will love just as much as younger listeners!
Books You Should Know About
The Long Way Around by Anne Nesbet, narrated by Laura Knight Keating
From your OverDrive DCL: If you’re embarking on a road trip, you may find yourself needing some adventure to make the miles fly by, and Nesbet’s tale of strength and survival will certainly keep you engaged. During a hiking trip with their parents in the mountains of California, cousins Owen, Vivian, and Amy are finally allowed to camp for one night at a little lake all on their own. But when a massive earthquake blocks their return path, there’s only one way home: the long way around, through a wilderness filled with fierce animals, raging rivers, unstable weather, and high passes. The hardest challenges the cousins face, however, are the troubles they’ve brought with them – personal fears, scary life changes, and real-world troubles that will force the cousins to summon up their courage and humor to weather storms, make the most of dwindling rations, and face their deepest fears in order to bring each other safely home. This gripping contemporary novel, which earned a starred review from Kirkus, is bursting with excitement, rich natural settings, and characters who will have readers (and listeners) rooting for them all the way.
Olivetti by Allie Millington, narrated by Christopher Gebauer and Simon Vance
From the publisher: Being a typewriter is not as easy as it looks. Surrounded by books (notorious attention hogs) and recently replaced by a computer, Olivetti has been forgotten by the Brindle family—the family he’s lived with for years. The Brindles are busy humans, apart from 12-year-old Ernest, who would rather be left alone with his collection of Oxford English Dictionaries. The least they could do was remember Olivetti once in a while, since he remembers every word they’ve typed on him. It’s a thankless job, keeping memories alive.
Olivetti gets a rare glimpse of action from Ernest’s mom, Beatrice—his used-to-be most frequent visitor—only for her to drop him off at Heartland Pawn Shop and leave him helplessly behind. When Olivetti learns Beatrice has mysteriously gone missing afterward, he believes he can help find her. He breaks the only rule of the “typewriterly code” and types back to Ernest, divulging Beatrice’s memories stored inside him.
Their search takes them across San Francisco—chasing clues, maybe committing a few misdemeanors. As Olivetti spills out the past, Ernest is forced to face what he and his family have been running from, The Everything That Happened. Only by working together will they find Beatrice, belonging, and the parts of themselves they’ve lost.
Benny on the Case by Wesley King, narrated by P. J. Ochlan
From your OverDrive DCL: There’s nothing quite like a good mystery to bring the family together. If you’re on the road, it distracts you from the drive, and it’s a great way to get the whole car connected – discussing clues, sharing theories, and guessing at what comes next. This mystery manages to blend suspense, emotion, and humor all in one go, and it earned a starred review from Booklist.
Benny isn’t your average boy from Newfoundland. He lives in a retirement home that his mother runs, he has an eighty-six-year-old best friend named Mr. Tom, he knows more about fixing boats than video games, and he has Mosaic Down syndrome. When Benny transitions to a mainstream classroom for the first time, the other students tease him for his differences. Everyone except Salma, another new student, who is not your typical Newfoundland girl: she’s tech savvy, speaks Arabic, plays basketball, and isn’t afraid to eat lunch with Benny. So when Salma’s grandmother and several other residents in the retirement home are robbed, Benny asks Salma to help him catch the thief. The pair must race against time as an inspector threatens to close the home, and to make matters worse, Benny and Salma must crack the case while working on a class assignment with their bullies. Can Benny save his home and take a stand against the bullies once and for all?
The Flicker by H.E. Edgmon, narrated by Suzy Jackson and Kyla Garcia
From the publisher: One year ago, a solar flare scorched the Earth and destroyed life as we know it. With their parents gone and supplies running dangerously low, step-sisters Millie and Rose only have one chance at survival: leave home with their infant half-brother and loyal dog Corncob in search of Millie’s grandma, a Seminole elder. As they navigate the burning land with a group of fellow survivors, dodging The Hive, a villainous group that has spent the last year hoarding supplies and living in luxury, the siblings have to learn to rely on each other more than ever, and discover how to build a new life from the ashes. Expertly balancing heartbreak and hope, The Flicker is both a thrilling survival story and a tender exploration of Indigenous ideas of identity and found family.
Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes that Dot Our Plant by Geo Rutherford, narrated by the author
From your OverDrive DCL: Maybe your family is looking for some nonfiction that will capture your attention and help you all learn along the way – we’ve got you covered! This must-listen nonfiction book from TikTok star and educator Geo Rutherford explores some of the Earth’s strangest and creepiest wonders that lie deep below the surface. From briny Lake Natron’s mummifying capabilities to Lake Superior’s mysterious disappearances and shipwrecks, this extensively researched book dives into the facts and fascinating histories of twenty-five unusual lakes around the world. Listeners will learn not only about the science of hydrology, but why understanding the natural world is crucial to protecting it from pollution and climate change. There truly is something new for listeners of all ages to learn. Kirkus called this “a chilling but thrilling primer for budding limnologists,” and it earned a starred review from Booklist.
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera, narrated by Frankie Corzo
From the publisher: There lived a girl named Petra Peña, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita. But Petra’s world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children – among them Petra and her family – have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race.
Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet – and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity’s past. They have systematically purged the memories of all aboard – or purged them altogether.
Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again?
Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices edited by S. K. Ali and Aisha Saeed, narrated by Siiri Scott and Neil Shah
From your OverDrive DCL: Many of these books are well suited for family road trips, but maybe you’re just looking to listen to an audiobook while running errands or around the house, in short sprints rather than a full marathon. Short stories are the perfect fit for breaking your listening up into smaller sections. This uplifting collection of short stories, which earned starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, and Booklist, showcases the most brilliant Muslim voices writing today, all about the most joyful holiday of the year: Eid! Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it’s waking up to the sound of frying samosas or the comfort of bean pie, maybe it’s the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it’s the gift giving and holiday parties to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy.
Hide and Seeker by Daka Hermon, narrated by Corey Allen
From your OverDrive DCL: What brings a family together better than some chills and thrills? With starred reviews from Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly, this book takes one of our more iconic childhood games and gives it a creepy twist that listeners of all ages can engage with.
Twelve-year-old Zee is back after he disappeared a year ago. Nobody knows where he went or what happened to him, not even his best friends Justin, Nia, and Lyric. But ever since Zee has been back, he’s been different. After Zee freaks out at his friends playing hide-and-seek, strange things begin to occur. Everyone who played in the game has a mark on their wrist. And then they disappear. The kids are pulled into a shadow world — the Nowhere — ruled by the monstrous, shape-shifting Seeker. Justin and his friends will have to band together and face their worst nightmares to defeat the Seeker or lose themselves to the Nowhere forever. Don’t let the Seeker find you!
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, narrated by Andy Serkis
From your OverDrive DCL: Let’s not forget the classics – some books are timeless for a reason. While there have been many audio versions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books, none hold a candle to the series narrated by Andy Serkis. That’s right, Gollum himself narrates this family favorite. Truly for listeners of all ages, this is a perfect road trip pick. Join Bilbo Baggins on the adventure of a lifetime as he finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of a large and dangerous dragon, with no shortage of adventure, mayhem, and friendship along the way.
If you’re interested in exploring more titles that center around family-friendly listening, you can explore our full Readers’ Advisory List here!
Must-Watch Films
While you’re at it, add a few family-friendly films to your watch list that everyone can enjoy!
Hugo, 2011
From the studio: Welcome to a magical world of spectacular adventure! When wily and resourceful Hugo discovers a secret left by his father, he unlocks a mystery and embarks on a quest that will transform those around him and lead to a safe and loving place he can call home. Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese invites you to experience a thrilling journey that critics are calling the stuff that dreams are made of.
Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars, 2017
From your OverDrive DCL: Anne of Green Gables was one of my favorites books to listen to when I was a kid, back in the books on tape days, so if you’ve already listened to the audiobook, check out this film adaptation! This one delves into the life of spirited 13-year-old Anne Shirely as she faces new teenage milestones and adventures. It’s the perfect place to pick up if you’ve already been listening to some L.M. Montgomery and find yourself wanting more. Another timeless classic, this one will be perfect for all ages, offering both nostalgia for existing fans and entertainment for newcomers.
The Water Horse, 2007
From the studio: A sweeping epic rooted in one of the most enduring and intriguing legends of our time. Set in the desolate landscape of the Scottish Highlands during World War II, The Water Horse tells the story of Angus, a 12-year old boy who anxiously awaits the return of his father who is serving in the military overseas. Spending his days exploring the shores of a nearby loch, he stumbles across a mysterious egg. Taking it home he watches as the egg hatches into an amazing creature, the mythical “water horse” of Scottish legend. Based on the children’s novel by Dick King-Smith.
A Little Something Extra
Support your community by diversifying your Libby offerings with Libby Extras. Today we’re highlighting Craftsy.
Craftsy and Craftsy en Español offer resources for all creative makers, from basic instruction to advanced techniques for fabric and yarn crafts, baking, drawing, and much more – including gardening!
Test run Libby Extras to see how each service can entertain and educate your patrons.
Thank you for joining us on this week’s round up of family-friendly materials! Reach out to your Digital Content Librarian or Account Manager for more information on how to provide the best content for your community.
About the author: Claire has worked in publicity for the arts, public libraries, and archives. At OverDrive she helps public libraries manage their collections and creates lists of the hottest titles to help her partners shop and promote their collections to their patrons. When she isn’t reading she loves to run, try new recipes (while listening to an audiobook), plan her next road trip, or hang out with her two dogs and cat. Claire is always excited to talk about a good mystery or spooky books!