Road tripping and traveling in the car, whether it's a 45 minute drive to Grandma's or a 6 hour trip to a great vacation spot, necessitates engaging entertainment. This past summer I knew it was time to pop in a new audiobook when the backseat started getting rowdy, and every time a good book grabbed everyone's attention and quieted the car down.
These are books I've listened to with preschoolers and lower elementary aged kids, but many of the titles are great choices for older kids, too. Good stories are good stories, and I try to not overly judge a book on it's recommended age. I have organized the titles below from youngest audience to oldest audience. So far, our favorites have been:
My Father's Dragon
"The classic fantasy trilogy of Elmer Elevator and the flying baby dragon
has delighted children and their parents for generations. Now, on the
occasion of their fiftieth anniversary, Random House is proud to bring
the three timeless tales together in one beautiful commemorative
edition, complete with the original delightful illustrations. A Newbery
Honor Book and an ALA Notable Book,
My Father's Dragon is followed by
Elmer and the Dragon ("rich, humorous, and thoroughly satisfying"*) and
The Dragons of Blueland
("ingenious and plausible, the fantasy well-sustained"*). Each story
stands alone, but read in succession, they are an unforgettable
experience." *
Library Journal, starred review.
The Mercy Watson Collection
"Mercy Watson #5: Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig: Eugenia and
Baby Lincoln may live next door to a pig, but that doesn't stop them
from living a gracious life. And the amiable Mercy Watson is equally
determined to follow the delightful scent (and delicious taste) of the
pansies her thoughtful neighbors are planting to beautify their yard.
"Where have all the flowers gone?" shouts Eugenia, who is finally ready
to take extreme measures --- and dial Animal Control Has Mercy's swine
song come at last? Or will her well-pampered instincts keep her in
buttered toast?
Mercy Watson #6: Something Wonky This Way Comes: Mr.
and Mrs. Watson and their porcine wonder, Mercy, are off to the Bijou
Drive-In. What will happen when the Lincoln Sisters, Frank, Stella, and a
gaggle of familiar characters get the same idea for a night out? With
the tempting scent of hot buttered popcorn wafting through the air,
everyone's favorite pig leads the way in this hilarious romp featuring
movies, mayhem, and Mercy."
The Princess in Black
"Princess Magnolia is having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess Wigtower when . . .
Brring Brring The
monster alarm Stopping monsters is no job for prim and perfect
Princess Magnolia. But luckily Princess Magnolia has a secret: she's
also the Princess in Black Can Princess Magnolia sneak away, transform
into her alter ego, and defeat the monster before the nosy duchess
discovers her secret?
The Perfect Princess Party: Today is
Princess Magnolia's birthday party, but just as her guests are arriving .
. . The monster alarm Princess Magnolia runs to the broom closet and
becomes the Princess in Black She rushes to the goat pasture, defeats
the monster, and returns to the castle before her guests discover her
secret. But every time Princess Magnolia is about to open her presents,
the monster alarm rings again. Don't those monsters understand that now
is
not a good time for an attack?
The Hungry Bunny Horde: Princess
Magnolia and her unicorn, Frimplepants, are on their way to have brunch
with Princess Sneezewort. But just when they arrive, Princess
Magnolia's monster alarm rings. Princess Magnolia and Frimplepants
transform into the Princess in Black and her faithful pony, Blacky. But
when they get to the goat pasture, all they can see is a field full of
darling little bunnies nibbling on grass, wiggling their fluffy tails.
Where are the monsters? Are these bunnies as innocent as they appear?"
Little House in the Big Woods
"The book that started it all
Little House in the Big Woods
is the first book in Laura Ingalls Wilder's treasured Little House
series, which is based on her life growing up as an American pioneer.
Told
from four-year-old Laura's point-of-view, this story begins in 1871 in a
little log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. Laura lives
in the little house with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie,
and their trusty dog, Jack. Pioneer life is sometimes hard for the
family, since they must grow or catch all their own food as they get
ready for the cold winter. But it is also exciting as Laura and her
family celebrate Christmas with homemade toys and treats, do the spring
planting, bring in the harvest, and make their first trip into town. And
every night they are safe and warm in their little house, with the
happy sound of Pa's fiddle sending Laura and her sisters off to sleep.
And
so begins Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved story of a pioneer girl and
her family. The nine Little House books have been cherished by
generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America's frontier
history and a heartwarming, unforgettable story."
Farmer Boy
"The story of a boy named Almanzo Wilder...While Laura Ingalls grows up
on the western prairie, a boy named Almanzo Wilder is living on a farm
in New York State. Almanzo and his brother and sisters work at their
chores from dawn until supper most days -- no matter what the weather.
There is still time for fun, though, especially with the horses, which
Almanzo loves more than anything.
Farmer Boy is the third book in the Laura Years series."
The Cricket in Time Square
"Tucker is a streetwise city mouse. He thought he'd seen it all. But he's
never met a cricket before, which really isn't surprising, because,
along with his friend Harry Cat, Tucker lives in the very heart of New
York City--the Times Square subway station. Chester Cricket never
intended to leave his Connecticut meadow. He'd be there still if he
hadn't followed the entrancing aroma of liverwurst right into someone's
picnic basket. Now, like any tourist in the city, he wants to look
around. And he could not have found two better guides--and friends--than
Tucker and Harry."
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
“In the poor village of Fruitless Mountain -- where there is
always lots of work to do and little food or time to rest -- a young
girl named Minli decides to set off on a journey to find a way to
improve her family's plight. Lin's story takes you on a magical
adventure with a vivid setting and wondrous characters.” — Lisa Fabiano, Wellesley Booksmith, Wellesley, MA
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
"Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last But only five
lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus
Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a
spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger;
Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws
around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is
obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is
honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time
of his life."
What audio books have you loved? What are you listening on your next trip?
