The perfect way to listen and learn!
We can’t agree on music. The ‘I spy with my little eye’ game definitely has an expiry date and Dad’s triumphant proclamations of ‘Back in my day – !’ are never welcome.
But we can all share a good story.
Dive into an audiobook with the family or with your class. They’re great for road trips, bedtime stories, to wind down or for entertainment while colouring.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Jeff Kinney
What we love about this story: Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the world’s most popular children’s book with over 200 million copies sold, and counting! Greg Heffley is just a wimpy kid facing all the challenges of American middle school. Selfish, lazy, greedy, cheeky and mischievous, he is also very funny and is prone to moments of kindness.
Great for primary school kids.
Narrator: Dan Russell
Length: 2hr 21min
Themes: Schoolyard drama, confidence and a whole lot of good humour
Other books in the series: Diary of a Wimpy Kid books 1–14 and (coming September 2020) Diary of a Wimpy Kid 15: The Deep End.
Atticus Van Tasticus
Andrew Daddo and Stephen Michael King
What we love about this story: The hilarious story of an 11-year-old wannabe pirate named Atticus, brought vividly to life by a unique musical soundtrack, special sound effects and the energetic voice of author, Andrew Daddo.
Great for primary school kids.
Narrator: Andrew Daddo
Length: 2hr 53min
Themes: Pirates, creativity, adventure and all round ridiculousness. Arrrrrr me hearties!
Other books in this series: Atticus Van Tasticus 2: The Map of Half Maps and (coming September 2020) Atticus Van Tasticus 3: The Treasure of Treasures.
Kensy and Max 1: Breaking News
Jacqueline Harvey
What we love about this story: Sibling cooperation! Twins Kensy and Max have their world turned upside down when they wake up one day to discover their parents are missing. With some good sleuthing and decoding skills, the eleven-year-old twins uncover a world of crime-busting secret agents and are thrown into exciting adventures across London and the world. Read the first chapter of Kensy and Max 1: Breaking News.
Great for older primary school kids.
Narrator: Jacqueline Harvey
Length: 4hr 56min
Themes: Secret agents, missions, family team work and mystery-solving.
Other books in this series: Kensy and Max books 2–5 and (coming September 2020) Kensy and Max 6: Full Speed.
The Tales of Mr Walker
Jess Black and sara acton
What we love about this story: An adorable collection of eight individual stories inspired by the real-life dog Mr Walker, living at the Park Hyatt Melbourne who is also a Guide Dog Ambassador. Mr Walker is a charming Labrador determined to put his best paw forward, though things don’t always go to plan. Royalties from sales of this audiobook go to Guide Dogs Victoria. Download the free Mr Walker activity pack.
Great for younger primary school kids.
Narrators: Dave O’Neil, Michala Banas, Karen Hayes, Virginia Trioli and Jane Bunn
Length: 5hr 10min
Themes: Dogs, heart-warming friendships, humour and uplifting family relationships
Two Wolves
Tristan Bancks
What we love about this story: Gripping, fast-paced and full of life, this is a thrilling story for adults as well as kids and raises important ethical questions. Ben and Olive Silver don’t realise that their parents are in trouble with the law until suddenly they are thrown in the car – on a surprise ‘holiday’, says Mum – racing through red lights and up the Pacific Highway for as far as it will take them. Ben has always dreamed of becoming Sydney’s toughest detective. While gathering evidence, he tries to uncover what his parents have done. But what will he do with the truth when it could cost him his family? Read the first two chapters of Two Wolves.
Great for high school kids.
Narrator: Tristan Bancks
Length: 4hr 53min
Themes: Ethics and morality, crime and family drama
Detention
Tristan Bancks
What we love about this story: Detention was a bestselling YA book in 2019 and has a 4.11 rating on Goodreads as a ‘confronting, powerful, emotional and important story.’ This narrative of a refugee escape will grab parents as well as their teens, and the heavier themes provide a good springboard to family discussions about human rights.
Great for high school kids.
Narrator: Tristan Bancks
Length: 4hr 31min
Themes: Asylum seekers, human rights, action-packed adventure
You Must Be Layla
Yassmin Abdel-Magied
What we love about this story: The perfect conversation starter for important social justice issues including racism, schoolyard bullying and Islamaphobia. Layla is a loveable and chatty Sudanese-Australian girl of Islamic faith who stands out like a sore thumb at her new prestigious school. She’s determined to prove that she was worthy of her scholarship by setting out to win the school’s scientific invention competition.
Great for younger high school kids.
Narrator: Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Length: 5hr 21min
Themes: Social justice, making friends, confidence and ambition
Limelight
Solli Raphael
What we love about this story: Limelight is a collection of slam-poetry written by Solli Raphael, the youngest-ever winner of the Australian Poetry Slam competition at twelve years old. Solli speaks as a voice for his generation at a time when youth movements, worldwide, hold significant importance. This extraordinary collection showcases creativity and the power of social consciousness.
Great for high school kids.
Narrator: Solli Raphael
Length: 1hr 48min
Themes: Social justice, environmentalism, confidence and optimism
Other books by Solli Raphael: (Coming September 2020) Spotlight
No One Likes a Fart
Zoë Foster Blake and adam nickel
What we love about this story: Yep, this is an audio version of a picture book. No One Likes a Fart is only seven minutes long, but we promise there will be so many laughs for everyone in the car that you’ll want to play it over and over again! An outrageously fun story, written and read by Australia’s sweetheart Zoë Foster Blake, with voices by her larrikin husband, Hamish Blake. It’s a short and sweet (albeit smelly) introduction to audio stories for young kids.
Perfect for pre-schoolers.
Narrator: Zoë Foster Blake and Hamish Blake
Length: 7min
Themes: Fart jokes, finding friends and . . . more fart jokes
Other books by Zoë Foster Blake: (Coming September 2020) Back to Sleep