As you prepare your children for the school year ahead—whether your little one is heading off to school for the very first time and has some jitters, or is an expert and wants a relaxing listen after their homework is done—we’ve put together this list of listens that is sure to make going back to school fun.
May the new school year be filled with new friends, beautiful stories, and even better listens!
This adorable audiobook celebrates all the familiar milestones and moments shared by every single kindergartener. Whether it's overcoming the first-day-of-school jitters or joining in the fun of the 100th-day-of-school party, every aspect of the kindergarten experience is introduced using poetry. The story also includes a very catchy original song titled “Kindergarten, Here I Come!”
As the first day of school approaches, some of Hattie Harmony’s friends are feeling anxious. Not to worry—Hattie is a Worry Detective with bag full of ways to deal with big emotions! Listen along as Hattie teaches her friends how to calm the jitters by using movement, mindful breathing, and the catchy mantra, “Worry, worry, go away! There’s no time for you today!” This fun, singsong listen introduces little ones to the importance of self-care with warmth and humor.
Have you ever wondered how pole vaulters are able to jump so high? Or about the weird things famous athletes eat? Game On is the new adventure series that answers those questions and more! Each episode takes listeners on imaginative and hilarious journeys through time and space, exploring everything about professional sports and the incredible athletes who play them. Whether it’s a tour through the history of legendary players’ signature moves or an in-depth look at athletes’ unexpected hobbies, Game On covers it all with a blend of curiosity, awe, and plenty of LOLs.
The Baby-Sitters Club series was a staple for many ‘90s kids. Kristy's Great Idea comes from the original group of novels, published in 1986. These stories are listener favorites, and it’s no wonder why—they follow a dynamic group of preteen girls as they live out lessons of self-discovery, true friendship, and changing family dynamics. Whether you were a BSC member in the past and want to connect your tween-aged kids with an enduring fave, or you're discovering these classics for the first time, these listens are sure to keep your whole family entertained while learning a lesson or two along the way.
Imagine taking on Latin America's version of the boogeyman! In this much-anticipated sequel from award-winning author Kaela Rivera, follow Cece Rios as she saves her sister Juana from the dreaded criatura king, El Cucuy. Cece Rios and the King of Fears contains action, cathartic humor, emotional consequence, and joyous triumphs. Performed by Almarie Guerra and Karla Serrato, this middle-grade listen is perfect for young fans of action-packed fantasy adventure inspired by fascinating folklore.
Root Magic is a unique ghost story abounding with local folklore and traditions. A young Gullah girl in 1960s South Carolina grows into the legacy from her ancestors—her rootworker heritage. She learns to conjure small charms through potions and elixirs, while grappling with big changes like school integration, and her grandmother’s death. The spine-chilling encounters with spirits—and lessons in Gullah history and culture—make for a perfect middle-grade listen.
From Caldecott Honor illustrator Dav Pilkey, this outrageously funny series revolves around two class clowns and their brainchild: Captain Underpants! Bored with the usual comic book heroes, fourth-graders George Beard and Harold Hutchins set out to create the greatest superhero in the history of elementary school. (His true identity is so secret, even he doesn’t know who he is.) In a flash, Captain Underpants takes on a life of his own, doing battle with nasty villains from Bionic Booger Boy to the Purple Potty People. Len Forgione, Dazjon Freeman, and Ben D’Amico will keep the entire family laughing with their hilarious performances.
Cartoonist Jeff Kinney became a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World on the strength of creating a middle-school weakling named Greg Heffley. In the newest installment of the listener favorite Wimpy Kid series, Greg is up to his eyeballs in stress. His homework is overdue, and his study partners are proving to be very flaky. Listeners will laugh along with No Brainer as Greg hilariously navigates middle school.
This Earphones Award-winning rendition is the first audio version of the beloved classic, and it's only appropriate that author E.B. White narrated his own 1953 Newbery Medal Book. He tells the story of Wilbur, a pig who befriends a spider named Charlotte who helps him avoid slaughter. White wrote the story with care and compassion, and performs it as such—there’s no added drama, and each character is portrayed exactly as he intended. Children will be swept up in this tale of kindness and compassion, and parents will value the lessons it instills. Even 70 years after its debut, Charlotte’s Web still holds the same gentle magic that parents and grandparents will remember from their own childhood.