Check out our picks for best audiobooks for kids, both on and off our platform!
The best audiobooks for kids are familiar, beloved tales that entertain them while they help build valuable skills like vocab and listening comprehension. Perfect for emerging, reluctant and avid readers alike, they also let kids “level up” and explore titles that might not be accessible through reading alone.
Check out our favorite audiobooks for kids below!
Audiobooks for Kids on Epic
Bear Snores On
By: Karma Wilson
Ages: 3-7
“In a cave in the woods… in his deep, dark lair… through the long, cold winter… sleeps a great brown bear.” So begins this soothing audio version of the rhyming picture book by the acclaimed Karma Wilson.
All winter long, Bear sleeps in his cozy lair. As he sleeps, animal friends stop by to warm up, brew tea and make popcorn. See what happens when he finally wakes up to a cave full of uninvited guests.
Wizard of Oz
By: Maggie Blossom
Illustrated by: Asha Pearse
Ages: 3-7
One minute Dorothy and her dog Toto are home in Kansas. Then in the next a twister whisks them off to a magical land of munchkins, wizards and adventure. Your little one can follow along in this Read-To-Me book. Or the whole family can listen along to Dorothy’s classic journey with sidekicks Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and Tin Man to save Oz—and the familiar lessons they learn along the way. But most importantly, Dorothy learns the value of love and friendship, and that “there’s no place like home.”
Goodnight Moon
Written by: Margaret Wise Brown
Ages: 4 & under
A little bunny, tucked away and ready for sleep, says goodnight to all the familiar things in its softly lit room. “Goodnight room, goodnight moon,” and everything from the clocks and socks, to the mittens and the kittens. With its melodic word sequences and gentle imagery, “Goodnight Moon” has lulled generations of sleepy kiddos to sleep. This classic tale is one of the most beloved bedtime stories of all time, and it’s the perfect first book for your young reader or pre-reader.
Happy Birthday, Moon
By: Frank Asch
Ages: 4-8
Little Bear decides to ask the moon when its birthday is. After (what seems like) a chat with the moon, he decides to get the moon the perfect present. This charming short audio adaptation of the classic board book is another great relaxing read-aloud before bedtime.
We All Have Tales: Jack and the Beanstalk
By: Eric Metaxas
Ages: 5-12
The sheer fun of this comic retelling of the classic tale puts it among the best audiobooks for kids.
Many of us are familiar with Jack’s foolish decision to sell his family’s cow for a handful of “magic” beans. Despite his family scoffing at his gullibility, he plants them, and overnight they grow into a beanstalk that reaches past the sky. Then after he scales the stalk, he finds himself caught in a series of hilarious misadventures involving a dimwitted ogre and his spouse.
If your kid loves classic fables and folk fairy tales like these, check out our post “Best Folk Tales for Kids” for even more recommendations.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
By: Brian Selznick
Ages: 8-12
Filled with old-world charm, this tender, spellbinding mystery audiobook is perfect for kids who love adventure and intrigue.
An orphaned and mechanically-interested Hugo has to fight to survive. In fact, he secretly lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station all on his own. Life has always been tough. But when his fate meets that of a quirky, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs the station toy booth, Hugo’s life and all of his secrets are put in jeopardy.
For more popular novels for older kids, you can check out our post “Best Novels on Epic to Read Right Now.”
Glory Be
By: Augusta Scattergood
Ages: 9-12
Set in a 1964 Mississippi town, things get tough for Gloriana June Hemphill, known as Glory, as she prepares to turn 12-years old. Her older sister no longer has time for her now that she’s entering high school and things are getting tense with Glory’s best friend Frankie. Plus a debate is raging around her over whether the town should keep a segregated public pool open. This audio novel about family, friends and difficult choices is perfect for older kids and middle school readers.
Other Recommendations
Looking for more children’s books your kid can listen along to? Here are a few more suggestions, available as free audiobooks on Amazon Audible.
A Wrinkle in Time
By: Madeleine L’Engle
Meg’s father, a gifted scientist, is being imprisoned by evil forces from another planet. This science fiction classic follows high-school kid Meg Murry, as she and her brother Charles and friend Calvin travel through time and space to rescue him. This is an ideal choice for fans of other time-traveling books like the Magic Treehouse series.
His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass
By: Phillip Pullman
In this popular modern fantasy classic, young Lyra braves witch clans and more as she travels to the far North where her uncle is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world. She must rescue her friend Roger from fearsome Gobblers but may have to betray her uncle in the process. Lyra is fierce and cunning, but can she make a difference?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
By J.K. Rowling
In this first book in the famed Harry Potter series, Harry discovers that he’s a wizard and finds his place in a world of witchcraft and wizardry. The audio versions of these chapter books narrated by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry are amazingly fun to listen to and really bring the stories to life. Note that while the first few books are perfectly fine for younger listeners, the series does get darker as it progresses. Later books in the series may be more appropriate for 12-year olds.
Hello, Universe
By: Erin Entrada Kelly
Virgil, Valencia, Kaori and Chet couldn’t be more different, and they definitely are NOT friends. That is until a prank-turned-disaster links these four together in an unlikely place and in an unlikely way.
This Newbery Award winner highlights the importance of individuality, friendship and kindness. And it delivers the beautiful message that anyone can build real relationships and find common ground, regardless of our differences. Filled with humor and authenticity, “Hello, Universe” is the perfect read for tweens.
Matilda
By Roald Dahl
Matilda is different from her family. In fact, she’s different from everybody. The magic surrounding this brilliant yet relatable character has captivated children for generations. The audio version narrated by Kate Winslet is sure to mesmerize listeners—whether they’re new to the story or already a fan. If your kid loves “Matilda,” check out other audio stories by Roald Dahl like James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
By C.S. Lewis
This iconic second book in the The Chronicles of Narnia series draws readers of all ages into Narnia, a magic land trapped in eternal winter and under the control of the White Witch. Hope is almost lost, until the Great Lion Aslan, and siblings Lucy, Edmond, Susan and Peter arrive to liberate Narnia from the witch’s evil forces.
The Tale of the Mandarin Duck
By: Bette Middler
Inspired by the real-life rainbow-colored Mandarin Duck who appeared in New York’s Central Park in 2018, this audio version of Bette Midler’s New York Times bestseller celebrates human connection and New York City through charming narration that will delight and inspire your kid.
That’s our list! We hope you found something special for your kid. For more audiobooks for kids of all ages, check out these posts: “Best Audiobooks for Toddlers,” “Best Audiobooks for 5-Year Olds” and “Best Audiobooks for 10-Year Olds.”