Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

By Beverly Cleary
Narrated by B.D. Wong
Total Recording Length: 6 hours and 40 minutes

This audiobook collection includes all three titles in the beloved Ralph S. Mouse series, making it perfect for family road trips.

In the first book, Mouse and the Motorcycle (1965), a young mouse named Ralph, who lives in the Mountain View Inn, makes friends with the young boy staying in room 215. When the boy allows Ralph to ride his toy motorcycle, their adventures together are just beginning!

In the second book and third books, Ralph S. Mouse (1970) and Runaway Ralph (1982), the adventures continue as Ralph attends school and summer camp.

The Book Girls Say... These were the first chapter books that Angela read aloud to her boys when they were just 3 and 4 years old. The stories held their attention and left the whole family smiling.

Another excellent Beverly Clearly audiobook is Henry Huggins narrated by Neil Patrick Harris.

By Kate DiCamillo
Narrated by Kate DiCamillo, Jenna Lamia, and Ann Patchett
Recording Length: 2 hours, 55 minutes

Ten-year-old India Opal recently moved to a new town with her father. One summer afternoon, so goes to the local Winn-Dixie supermarket and she comes home with a dog, whom she also dubs Winn-Dixie.

Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal begins to make friends in her new hometown. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal finally has the courage to ask her dad about her mom who left when she was three. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal gets to know all sorts of interesting people and spends the summer collecting stories.

This book is considered a modern classic that has continued to gain popularity since its publication in 2000.

The Book Girls Say... During the early days of the pandemic, the assistant principal at Angela's sons' school did a daily read-aloud of this book on Zoom. All of the kids loved it - from kindergarteners through 5th graders.

Kate DiCamillo is a favorite author of Angela's 8-year-old son. He's a huge fan of her Tales from Deckawoo Drive series. These books are shorter (around an hour each), but if you downloaded the whole series from your local library, they'd make for great road trip listening as well.

By Emily Jenkins, Lauren Myracle, and Sarah Mlynowski
Narrated by Rebecca Soler
Recording Length: approx. 2 hours, 45 minutes per book

Nory has been practicing and practicing for her magic school entrance exam. But every time she tries to turn herself into a kitten (the task she must perform for admittance), she winds up a dritten - a dragon/kittenn.

She doesn't get into the school she's been dreaming of, but in the Upside-Down magic class at Dunwiddle Magic School, she discovers she's not the only kid whose magic is a little wonky and unpredictable.

The Book Girls Say... If you are looking for funny audiobooks for family road trips, look no further! With this 6-book audio collection, you won’t run out of books to listen to even on long road trips!

Angela's family watched the Disney movie after reading the first two books. The book and the movie are only very loosely related. Even if your kids have seen the movie, the books will be a completely new experience.

By Roald Dahl
Narrated by Kate Winslet
Recording Length: 4 hours, 18 minutes

Matilda is a brilliant and sweet young girl, but her parents just see her as a bother. At just five years old she's read most of the books in the library and she's a wiz at double-digit multiplication.

When Matlida is finally old enough to attend school, she's excited for a whole new experience. Her teacher, Miss Honey, is everything she hoped for. Unfortunately, the school is run by Headmistress Miss Trunchbull, a former hammer-throwing champion who hates kids, and she especially has it in for Matilda.

When Miss Trunchbull goes too far, Matilda discovers that she has a remarkable power that she can use to fight back.

The Book Girls Say... There are so many wonderful Roald Dahl books to choose from, but we highly recommend you put Matlida at the top of your family road trip audiobook list because Kate Winslet is such a wonderful narrator.

Heads Up: This book includes some name-calling between adults and from adults to kids, including insults like "stupid" and "useless bunch of midgets."

OTHER EXCELLENT ROALD DAHL BOOKS INCLUDE:

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• The BFG
• Fantastic Mr. Fox

By Karina Yan Glaser
Narrated by Robin Miles
Recording Length: 5 hours, 39 minutes

The five Vanderbeeker siblings, ranging in age from 6 to 13 - have lived in the same brownstone on 141st Street for their whole lives. When they learn that their landlord is not going to renew their lease, the kids are determined they can change his mind - but they'll have to come up with a plan quickly because they are set to move out in just 11 days.

This is a great slice of life story that's perfect for kids who want to hear stories about other kids, without any elements of fantasy. Parents will appreciate that it includes some wonderfully wholesome messagwes.

The Book Girls Say... Angela recently listened to this charming audiobook with her boys, and then they immediately started book 2 in the series. After finishing this series, they plan to also listen to The Penderwick series and the All-of-a-Kind family, both of which have very similar vibes.

by Neil Patrick Harris
Narrated by Neil Patrick Harris
Recording Length: 4 hours, 13 minutes

You know him as Doogie Howser or the legendary Barney Stinson, but NPH has also served as President of the Academy of Magical Arts. He's put all of his magical knowledge to good use in writing this delightful middle-grade book.

Carter is a runaway who thought magic was only useful for tricking and stealing. But when he arrives in a small New England town, he meets an illusionist who uses magic only to make people happy. Carter befriends the illusionist's daughter and her crew of young magicians. But when a crooked circus comes to town, Carter and his new friends must stop B.B. Bosso's Circus from running a major scam.

The Book Girls Guide... From hilarious dialogue to pratfalls and slapstick, this book is full of laugh-out-loud fun for the whole family! It includes fun codes and secret messages, as well as explanations of some simple magic tricks (along with reminders of the importance of patience and practice).

All of that, PLUS narration by NPH himself, the four books in this series are sure to become favorite family audiobooks!

By Peter Brown
Narrated by Kate Atwater
Recording Length: 4 hours, 14 minutes

This is a robot nature adventure story, which is a very unique concept, but one the whole family will love!

A robot named Roz opens her eyes for the first time and discovers that she's alone on a remote island. Roz doesn't know anything about how she was created or why she's on the island, but she does know that she needs to survive. She gets off to a rough start after a huge storm and a bear attack, but Roz slowly befriends the animals on the island and adapts to the island.

The island finally starts to feel like home to Roz, until one day her past comes back to haunt her.

The Book Girls Say... This audiobook was recommended by Angela's friend who listened to it with her 3, 5, and 7-year-olds, all of whom were captivated by the story. Parents will appreciate the themes of friendship, motherhood, teamwork, empathy, and overcoming adversity.

By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Narrated by Jim Dale
Recording Length: 8 hours, 40 minutes

This book is a fantastic backstory to Peter Pan with a cast of characters that you'll know and love, as well as new ones to discover. In this swashbuckling adventure, Peter and Molly overcome bands of pirates and thieves. As such, the book does include lots of fighting, some weapons, and the children are often in peril. The sailors and pirates alike drink throughout the book - indulging in grog and rum.

This book has action and humor (including some that will make parents laugh while going over kids' heads. The well-developed storyline will keep parents engaged while listening with the kids.

The Book Girls Say... Reviewers say that this book stands on its own, so even if your kiddos aren't yet familiar with Peter Pan, they'll still enjoy this story.

By E.L. Konigsburg
Narrated by Jill Clayburgh
Recording Length: 3 hours, 45 minutes

When Claudia decides to run away, she knows she doesn’t just want to run from somewhere, she wants to run to somewhere — to a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and, preferably, elegant. She chooses the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. She invites her younger brother, Jamie, to join her because he's the one with the cash.

Once settled into the museum, Claudia and Jamie find themselves caught up in the mystery of a statue that the museum purchased for a bargain price but that may be the work of Michelangelo. If it's true, then the statue is worth millions. They are determined to find out!

The Book Girls Say... This 1968 Newbery Medal winner was a favorite of Melissa's when she was young,, but she's never outgrown her desire to live in the Met!

By Chris Colfer
Narrated by Chris Colfer
Recording length: 8 hours, 59 minutes

This is the first book in the Land of Stories series about twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.

In these fractured fairy tales, the twins encounter witches, wolves, goblins, trolls, and more.

By R.J. Palacio
Narrated by Kaya McLean, Lila Sage Bromley, Dariana Alvarez, Santino Barnard, Ry Chase, and Madeleine Curry
Recording Length: 7 hours, 10 minutes

Ten-year-old Auggie has a facial deformity that previously prevented him from attending a traditional school. In his own words "I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse." Wonder begins from Auggie's point of view as he starts 5th grade, but soon switches to also include his classmates. While there are also chapters told from the perspective of his teenaged sister, her boyfriend, and others, Auggie remains the focus of the story throughout. The multiple perspectives create a beautiful portrait of Auggie's community as they struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

The Book Girls Say... In a time when the world could use more kindness, listening to this book that inspired the Choose Kind movement is a wonderful family experience and it can lead to some wonderful conversations. Of all the audiobooks that Angela has listened to with her sons - this one ranks #1 as everyone’s favorite!

If you're listening on a road trip, we highly recommend also downloading the three follow-up stories that have been collected into a book called Auggie & Me. Once you finish Wonder, you won't want to leave Auggie's world, and you definitely want to hear Julian's story!

By Kelly Yang
Narrated by Sunny Lu
Recording Length: 6 hours, 30 minutes

Mia Tang is keeping a lot of secrets. She lives in a motel rather than a big house. And her parents are immigrants. If the motel owner finds that out, he won't let them continue to stay in the empty rooms for free. And finally, Mia dreams of being a writer even though English isn't her first language.

The Book Girls Say... In addition to being a wonderful story of determination and hope, this book provides history and context for a number of social justice issues in an age-appropriate manner.

By Stuart Gibbs
Narrated by Gibson Frazier
Recording Length: 7 hours, 26 minutes

There's trouble at the new FunJungle zoo. The hippo went belly up and even though the zoo's top brass claims he died of natural causes, twelve-year-old Teddy believes it was hippo homicide. But who did it? Maybe the zoo's owner who only cares about money or the animal-hating head of operations?

This book is the first of seven in the FunJungle middle-grade mystery series, which are perfect for kids around ages 8 and up.

The Book Girls Say... Kids will learn lots of great animal info from the books in this mystery series. Keep in mind, however, that the descriptions can be a bit graphic at times - from animal autopsies and organs to their pooping habits and smells. There's also some insulting language used in Belly Up, although reviewers say there is less in future books in the series.

By Stuart Gibbs
Narrated by Gibson Frazier
Recording Length: 6 hours, 1 minutes

Ben Ripley may only be in middle school, but he already knows that his dream job is to join the CIA. Unfortunately for him, his personality doesn't exactly scream "secret agent". In fact Ben is so awkward, he can barely get to school and back without a mishap.

Because of his innate nerdiness, Ben is not surprised when he is recruited for a magnet school with a focus on science - but he's entirely shocked to discover that the school is actually a front for a junior CIA academy. Could the CIA really want him?

Actually, no. There's been a case of mistaken identity - but that doesn't stop Ben from trying to morph into a supercool undercover agent, the kind that always gets the girl.

The Book Girls Say... This is the first book in the Spy School series by Stuart Gibbs, the same author as Belly Up and the FunJungle series. We debated on putting two series by the same author on the list, but we know that the animal mysteries and CIA spy stories may appeal to different kids, so we decided to include them both.

By Katherine Applegate
Narrated by Adam Grupper
Recording Length: 3 hours, 46 minutes

Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this novel is told from the point of view of Ivan himself.

Ivan spent 27 years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes. 

The Book Girls Say... If this book is your road trip audiobook pick, we recommend also downloading the sequel, The One and Only Bob.

By Trenton Lee Stewart
Narrated by Del Roy
Recording Length: 13 hours, 17 minutes

When an ad appears in the newspaper that says: "ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD Looking for special opportunities?" dozens of children show up to take a series of mysterious and confusing tests. Only the four brightest and most unique children will succeed. Their challenge: to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened.

The Book Girls Say... The audiobook version of this great novel isn't currently available from Amazon, but there's a great chance that you can download the audiobook from your local library. Angela's family has been listening to this book from her library, and everyone is hooked!

This book is on the long side for a middle-grade novel, making it perfect for a longer family road trip. Your kids will likely want to pause the story often to talk about what they think is really going on and what they predict will happen next.

By Rick Riordan
Narrated by Jesse Bernstein
Recording Length: 10 hours, 2 minutes

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson can't seem to stay out of trouble no matter how hard he tries. He's about to be kicked out of boarding school again when his life gets even more complicated.

Suddenly, mythical creatures seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. The gods of Mount Olympus, he's coming to realize, are very much alive in the 21st-century. And worse, he's angered a few of them: Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

The Lightning Thief is the first of five books in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

The Book Girls Say... This fantasy series is perfect for fans of Harry Potter and those who love Greek mythology!

By Ellen Raskin
Narrated by Cassandra Campbell
Recording Length: 6 hours, 59 minutes

In this 1979 Newbery Medal-winning book, sixteen strangers are invited to a reading of Samuel W. Westing's will. They soon discover that someone will walk away with the eccentric millionaire’s vast fortunes. But first, they must compete in the Westing Game, a tricky and dangerous game involving blizzards, burglaries, and even bombings!

The Book Grils Say... Angela loved this book as a child and can’t wait to listen to the audiobook with her boys!

By James Ponti
Narrated by Lisa Flanagan
Recording Length: 6 hours, 50 minutes

Sara is a hacker who recently broke into the New York City foster care system to expose her foster parents as cheats and lawbreakers. She expected to be hailed as a hero, but instead Sara finds herself facing years in a juvenile detention facility and banned from using computers for the same stretch of time.

Enter Mother, a British spy who not only gets Sara released from jail but also offers her a chance to make a home for herself within a secret MI5 agency.

Operating out of a base in Scotland, the City Spies are five kids from various parts of the world. When they’re not attending the local boarding school, they’re honing their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can't.

The Book Girls Say... Because of the nature of this middle-grade spy novel, it does include scenes of the tweens and teens doing scary things. like climb up the sides of tall buildings, go through the bone-encrusted catacombs of Paris, as well as some light violence.

There are three books in the City Spies series. The first takes the young spies to Paris, then in books 2 and 3, they travel to San Francisco and Beijing.

by J.K. Rowling
Narrated by Jim Dale
Recording Length: 8 hours, 18 minutes

Harry Potter was orphaned as a baby and sent to live with his abusive aunt and uncle. On his eleventh birthday, he receives an invitation to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and learns for the first time that he possesses magical powers and that his parents did not die in a car accident, but were in fact powerful wizards who were murdered.

At Hogwarts, Harry befriends Ron Weasly and Hermione Granger. Throughout each book, Harry and his best friends learn about their magic and overcome dangerous obstacles at every turn. The main story arc of the series involves Harry struggling to defeat Lord Voldemort - the powerful dark wizard who seeks to take over the wizarding world.

The Book Girls Say... The Harry Potter books make excellent family read-alouds and road trip listens, but we don’t recommend binging the entire Harry Potter series one right after another with younger children.

Each book has some elements that might be frightening to some children, depending on how sensitive they are, but the first three are generally enjoyable for most kids. Angela read the first three with her boys when they were 6 and 8.

The final four books, however, become darker and more complex. This is one of the reasons that teens and adults love them, but they might be a bit too intense for kids under age 10 or 11.