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With the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people have been calling on Threshold’s services, looking for assistance. In fact, so far this year, Threshold has already supported over 18,736 people living in the private rented sector.

“Having a home has always been vital, but this has never been as acutely clear as it has this year with the COVID-19 pandemic,” said CEO of Threshold John-Mark McCafferty.

“We receive a certain amount of funding annually, but as the number of cases we are dealing with continues to rise year-on-year, we seriously need the support of donations to allow us to keep people safe in their homes. And that’s why we’re asking people to subscribe to Threshold’s Bedtime Stories.”

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What are Threshold’s Bedtime Stories?

Threshold has partnered with Children’s Books Ireland and the Laureate na n’Óg in a unique way, asking Ireland’s best writers, actors and entertainers to contribute a special bedtime story, to be enjoyed by you.

Between October and December, subscribers to Threshold’s Bedtime Stories will be able to listen to the collection of stories and poems at anytime for just €10 per month.

Who is Taking Part?

Clockwise from top left: Colm Toibin, Anne Enright, Niamh Cusack, Eoin Colfer, Sarah Webb

More than 50 Irish writers, actors and celebrities are collaborating with Threshold on a collection of bedtime stories for adults and children as part of this new fundraising initiative.

Among those taking part are:

• Colm Tóibín
• Stephen Rea
• Eoin Colfer
• Anne Enright
• Niamh Cusack
• Sebastian Barry
• PJ Lynch
• Sarah Webb
• Niamh Sharkey
• The Den favourite Bosco
• and many more!

Start Listening

“Storytelling is an integral part of Irish culture,” added McCafferty “and a powerful tool for connecting with others and sharing and learning from our experiences, good and bad.”

Delve right in and hear stories and poems of all kinds, for children and adults alike. Favourites from Frank O’Connor, poems from Patrick Kavanagh, oral tales from the Travelling Community and well-loved Irish folk tales. There’s stories in English and Irish, something for everyone…

While you enjoy the magical bedtime stories from Ireland’s best storytellers with your child, you can be assured that the money raised is supporting Threshold’s services and helping someone keep their safe place to rest their head.

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Have your say! Have you subscribed to Threshold’s Bedtime Stories yet? Leave a comment below and let us know – we’d love to hear from you!

The post Threshold’s Bedtime Stories Deliver Magical Tales from 50+ Irish Storytellers appeared first on MyKidsTime.

Mystery and Crime Podcasts for Teens

Welcome to Night Vale

Welcome to Night Vale is a twice-monthly fiction podcast in the style of community updates for the small desert town of Night Vale where every conspiracy theory is true.

Featuring announcements from the Sheriff’s Secret Police, local weather and news, mysterious lights in the night sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable powers, and cultural events. Turn on your radio and hide!

With over 150 episodes to enjoy, there’s lots to get stuck in to!

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Spooked

Spooked features true-life supernatural stories, told firsthand by people who can barely believe it happened themselves.

Host Glynn Washington was born to a family haunted by ghosts. As a teenager, he witnessed his first exorcism — and began the process of whispering back to the shadows plaguing his nighttime. “I grew up feeling the veil between worlds was not as solid as I may have liked.”

“I can’t explain everything I’ve seen.” Washington admits. “I keep wondering, what am I missing? That’s really what this show is all about.”

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

My Favorite Murder

A Top 10 regular on iTunes’ comedy podcast chart since launching in 2016, My Favorite Murder has been featured in Entertainment Weekly, The Atlantic, Nylon and Rolling Stone magazine.

Lifelong fans of true crime stories Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark tell each other their favourite tales of murder and hear hometown crime stories from friends and fans.

Perfect for fans of Buzzfeed Unsolved!

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Culture Podcasts for Teens

Dear Hank and John

Dear Hank & John is a podcast hosted by the Green brothers: musician and author Hank Green and young-adult novelist John Green (The Fault in Our Stars). They offer both humorous and heartfelt advice about life’s big and small questions.

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Let’s Be Real with Sammy Jaye

On the Let’s Be Real podcast, Sammy Jaye delivers honest and unfiltered conversations with celebrities, activists, athletes and influencers by not shying away from real and authentic discussions.

They discuss real-life issues – from mental health, political activism and the pressure of social media to lighter topics like friendships, dating and pop culture.

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

The Blindboy Podcast

With a number one bestselling book under his belt and a podcast that has garnered over one million listeners – not only in Ireland but internationally – Blindboy from Irish act The Rubberbandits could single-handedly change people’s mindset on mental health and the deafening stigma surrounding it.

The Blindboy Podcast is an eclectic mix of short fiction, interviews and comedy.

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Teen Girl Talk

Join siblings Franklin and Susie Cota as they consume and discuss media made for teens, while also recalling and regaling with stories from their own teenage pasts.

They cover movies, tv shows, books and more. If it’s made for people who are feeling far too many emotions and have no idea why, these two are all about it. Too old to be teens, too funny not to listen to.

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Part-Time Genius

Will and Mango have lots of questions. Will we ever live without sleep? How do rats keep outsmarting humans? Where are the sunniest tax havens to hide your money? Join these Part-Time Geniuses as they dive into ridiculous topics… and discover some pretty smart stuff along the way.

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

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History Podcasts for Teens

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Join Holly and Tracy Wilson as they school you in Stuff You Missed in History Class. Get caught up from these history buffs as they explore the most fascinating events in the world.

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Throughline

The past is never past. Every headline has a history. Every week in Throughline, presenters Ramtin Arablouei and Rund Abdelfatah go back in time to understand the present. These are stories you can feel and sounds you can see from the moments that shaped our world.

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Irish History Podcast

Have you ever been puzzled by history? Did people really only live to 40? Maybe you’ve been puzzled how people survived before email, phones, cars or even proper roads? The Irish History Podcast, presented and produced by Cathal Brennan and John Dorney, brings you on a journey through Ireland’s fascinating past. This podcast is not just dates, but an enthralling account of Ireland’s history, looking at daily life through the ages.

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

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More Podcasts for Teens

Radiolab

Radiolab is a radio show and podcast weaving stories and science into sound and music-rich documentaries. From Space to Octomoms to Poop Train, there are plenty of topics to dive into!

There is also have a kid-friendly feed for younger listeners.

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

What’s Good Games

Join Andrea Rene, Brittney Brombacher and Kristine Steimer in What’s Good Games as they analyze the week’s video game news, give hands-on impressions of upcoming titles, discuss your questions, and have a little bit of “off-topic” conversation.

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Stuff You Should Know

If you’ve ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered in Stuff You Should Know!

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

99% Invisible

Design is everywhere in our lives, perhaps most importantly in the places where we’ve just stopped noticing. 99% Invisible is about all the thought that goes into the things we don’t think about — the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world. With over 400 million downloads, it is incredibly popular – not surprising when there’s so much to explore!

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

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The post 15 of the Best Podcasts for Teens (That You’ll Enjoy Too!) appeared first on MyKidsTime.

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Some of these story times are at set times, while others can be accessed any time online or through one of your devices.

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Enjoy Story Time Online With Your Child

Elevenses With The World of David Walliams

When and Where: Weekdays at 11am (GMT) on The World of David Walliams

During school closures, meet some of favourite children’s author David Walliams’ most eccentric and hilarious characters with a daily story.

Each story takes about 20 minutes and is only available for one day.

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Adams Cloud Story Time

When and Where: Every week, check the Adam’s Cloud Facebook page for the next story time session.

Author Benji Bennett’s hope is to spread a little love, hugs & kisses through Adams Cloud books for children and parents, especially at this unusual and sometimes scary time. Benji offers some babysitting and reading skills before bedtime.

Benji says “To all the mums and dads with young kids, I really hope I can share some magic and get the kids to sleep with my bedtime story, so you might get 5 minutes to share a cup of tea.”

Read Along With Michelle Obama

When and Where: Mondays at 12 pm (ET) on the PBS Kids Facebook Page or Penguin Random House or on YouTube.

As part of the PBS Kids Read-Alongs on Facebook and YouTube, Michelle Obama will read some of her favourite children’s books.

The read-alongs will be available for viewing any time afterwards.

Stay At Home Storytime With Oliver Jeffers

When and Where: Weekdays at 6pm (GMT) / 2pm (EST) / 11am (PST) live on Oliver’s instagram or on his website.

Oliver Jeffers is the acclaimed author of children’s books like Lost and Found, The Incredible Book-Eating Boy, How to Catch a Star, and lots more.

His stunningly illustrated children’s books have won a huge array of awards, including the The New York Times Best Illustrated Books, Smarties Award, Irish Book of the Year, The Red House Book Award, British Book Design Award, and The Blue Peter Book of the Year.

Oliver says, “I will be reading one of my books every weekday, and talking about some of the things that went into making it. We are all at home, but none of us are alone. Let’s be bored together.”

Safe In My Nest By Meredith Vigh

When and Where: Available any time on YouTube

Mum and children’s author, Meredith Vigh, along with illustrators Suzanne Dore, Fethi Yilmaz, Robert Pearce, Natelle Quek, Dawn Treacher and Lynne Hood, have made this lovely free picture book for children struggling with lockdown and anxiety due to Covid-19.

Meredith’s son had been very unsettled about the situation and wasn’t sleeping well, which is where the inspiration for the story came from. As Meredith doesn’t draw herself she recruited help from some of her illustrator friends, asking several people to contribute so as to be able to put the project together quickly. Lastly, with a little bribery involved, she asked her children to narrate it.

The result is a beautiful, gentle, rhyming picture book that all involved hope will help to reassure anxious little ones and enable them to understand this unprecedented situation a bit better.

Shakespeare With Sir Patrick Stewart

 

View this post on Instagram

 

It has led me to undertake what follows. When I was a child in the 1940s, my mother would cut up slices of fruit for me (there wasn’t much) and as she put it in front of me she would say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” How about, “A sonnet a day keeps the doctor away”? So…here we go: Sonnet 1.

A post shared by Patrick Stewart (@sirpatstew) on Mar 22, 2020 at 4:28pm PDT

When and Where: You can watch daily (or catch up on previous sonnets) on Sir Patrick’s Instagram.

Indulge in some literary genius with a daily Shakespeare sonnet – and better still, have it read aloud by none other than the legendary Sir Patrick Stewart!

Story Time with #SaveWithStories

When and Where: Daily on Instagram and Facebook

In partnership with Save the Children and No Kid Hungry, Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams, have launched #SaveWithStories. They, along with a whole host of other celebrities including David Tennant, Sheryl Sandberg and Jeff Goldblum, are offering stories to provide fun and education to kids and parents stuck at home. You can make a donation to the campaign online here.

Storyline Online

When: Any time on the Storyline Online website

With stories read by high-profile celebrities, the award-winning children’s literacy website Storyline Online is bound to be popular with kids.

Readers include Oprah Winfrey, Kristen Bell, Kevin Costner, Chris O’Dowd, Viola Davis, Chris Pine, James Earl Jones, Betty White and many more.

Vooks.com

When: Any time on your devices

Vooks.com is a kid-safe, ad-free streaming library of read-aloud animated storybooks. You can stream stories on all your favourite devices: TV, iOS, Android, Computer, and more. There is one month free, then a monthly subscription.

Audible

When: Any time on your devices

You will find a huge collection of Audible stories, including titles across six different languages, on the world’s largest collection of online audiobooks.

Stories include folk and fairy tales from around the world; childhood favourites like Winnie the Pooh and Beatrix Potter; as well as literary classic such as The Jungle Book, Jane Eyre, Moby Dick, and Wuthering Heights.

All stories are free at the moment to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet.

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Storynory

When and Where: Anytime on the website

Storynory offers free audio stories with most stories on the website aimed at an age group around 7 to 11 years. They do have nursery stories and rhymes for preschool, and some more sophisticated stories as well.

They aim to choose stories that showcase imagination, good writing, and also with great narrations.

LibriVox

When and Where: Anytime on the website. You can also download the free LibriVox app for iOS and Android.

LibriVox is a free service that offers audiobooks from the public domain, read by volunteers. Books are available to stream online or download.

Some of the books include an entire cast, acting out dramatisations, while others feature a single read. You’ll find classic kids books like The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Amazon Storytime

When and Where: Any time through Alexa-enabled devices

Amazon Storytime is a free Alexa skill for kids ages 5-12 with a collection of more than 100 short stories featuring lively full-cast recordings.

Kids can choose from story categories including bedtime, silly, family, friends, and more. Or spin the magic story wheel for a surprise set of stories.

And Disney has partnered with Amazon to offer Disney Stories as well (including some free ones).

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The post Where To Watch Kids Story Time Online With Your Child appeared first on MyKidsTime.

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Disney and Amazon have announced that you can now get Disney Stories through your Alexa-enabled devices in your house.

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Alexa Disney Stories Have Arrived!

There are 54 different stories available, plenty to keep your kids going for a while.

If your child has a favourite Disney or Pixar movie, then they’ll enjoy these stories being read out loud, along with music and sound effects they might recognise from the films.

There are currently four stories free for all Amazon Alexa users:

• Monsters, Inc.: Boo on the Loose
• Pop Star Minnie
• The Lion King: A Day Without Pumbaa
• Disney Princess: Cinderella’s Best Ever Creations.

Looking For More?

Download our FREE Disney word search and find favourite Disney characters, from villains and side-kicks to princesses and heroes.

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How to Play Disney Stories

To access the new function all you have to do is say “Alexa, open Disney stories”.

For a limited time, you can buy an additional 50 stories for $1 (normally $10) including titles such as Moana, Coco, Beauty and the Beast, and Toy Story. All the stories are available through Freetime Unlimited subscriptions.

Because kids cannot access the Alexa Skill without a parent or guardian’s permission, parents can access through their Amazon Prime account on a computer or smart phone and by clicking the enable button on the Disney Stories page.

Once you’ve activated that, all of your Alexa-enabled devices will be able to tell a Disney story.

Currently, the Disney Stories are only available in the US, but hopefully they will be available worldwide soon!

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Has your child listened to any of the Alexa Disney Stories? Leave a comment below and let us know – we’d love to hear from you!

The post Woo Hoo! Alexa Disney Stories Have Arrived And Some Are Free! appeared first on MyKidsTime.

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Podcasts are perfect for road trips, winding down at bedtime or for some chilled-out family time at home. From science to history and music to mystery, our list of top podcasts for kids has something for everyone!

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Podcasts for Kids to Enjoy

#1. David Walliams’ Marvellous Musical Podcast

Mozart may have written wonderful music, but did you know he also loved a good fart joke? Or that Beethoven was so scruffy he was once arrested for being a tramp?

Best-selling children’s author and TV personality David Walliams presents the Classic FM Marvellous Musical Podcast for kids, bringing to life the stories of the great composers.

Each of the 10 episodes introduce children to composers like Mozart, Ethel Smyth, Liszt and Clara Schumann but will also cover topics including ballet, the history of the piano and some of the world’s strangest instruments (including a vegetable orchestra!).

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#2. Wow in the World

Wow in the World is a great podcast for curious kids to learn about the world around them. The NPR podcast answers questions about space, science and technology, and is full of fascinating facts that both kids and adults will find interesting.

Hosts Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas host the weekly series and answer the who, what, where, why and how that kids will find hilarious and entertaining. This is definitely one of the most informative podcasts for kids we found!

#3. Sesame Street Podcast

Have a little fun with your favourite Sesame Street characters in tales of friendship, sharing and patience.

With plenty of fun and energetic songs thrown in that little ones will love, this podcast is especially perfect for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

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#4. The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian

This entertaining science fiction podcast series for kids is told in manageable 15-20 minute instalments, and revolves around an 8-year-old boy called Finn Caspian aboard The Famous Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station.

Finn and his group of friends explore unchartered planets, help the occasional alien, and solve plenty of mysteries along the way.

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#5. Eleanor Amplified

In Eleanor Amplified, intrepid reporter Eleanor solves mysteries, outwits villains and always goes after The Big Story.

From secret underground laboratories to dangerous jungle islands, Eleanor travels the world in search of her story and delivers a great message for kids in pursuit of truth.

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#6. Story Pirates

The Story Pirates are a group of comedians, actors, musicians and improv artists who turn stories written by kids into comedy genius. More often than not it dissolves into hilarious chaos, but your kids will love it.

With episodes like “Pluto and the Pop Rocks”, “Fieldtrip to Oppositeland”, “The Girl Who Turned Into Spaghetti”, and “Eat a Spider Day”, it is laugh-out-loud funny.

#7. Short and Curly

The Short and Curly podcast for kids is really designed for older kids and tweens, and merges a mix of ethics and humour in episodes ranging from “Why can’t children vote?” to “Is it ever ok to lie?”.

The 20-episode series talks to kids about their opinions, delving into some tough topics in an approachable way.

#8. Tumble

Exploring stories of scientific discovery, this entertaining science podcast will be enjoyed by the whole family. Hosted by Lindsay Patterson (science journalist) and Marshall Escamilla (teacher), the Tumble series bring science to life.

With episodes like “The Science of Poop”, “The Tower of the Vomiting Robot”, and “The Mystery of the Exploding Star” there is something for all interests and ages.

#9. Saturday Morning Theatre

Created to recapture the magic of classic old-time radio broadcasts, Saturday Morning Theatre presents The Mysterious Mysteries of Toby Taylor series.

Comprising short adventure stories for kids, from superheroes to westerns, each episode delivers lots of family fun. With a huge catalogue of episodes to choose from, you definitely won’t be stuck for something to enjoy.

#10. Rebel Girls

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: The Podcast is a fairy tale podcast about the extraordinary women who inspire us. Episodes include the stories of Temple Grandin, Frida Kahlo, Harriet Tubman, Ada Lovelace, Greta Thunberg, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and lots more.

The show is based on Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, the global best-selling book series inspiring millions of girls and women around the world to dream bigger, aim higher, and fight harder.

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Do you have any recommendations for podcasts for kids? Leave a comment below and let us know – we’d love to hear from you!

The post 10 Hugely Entertaining and Educational Podcasts for Kids appeared first on MyKidsTime.

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Reading to your child is a great way to inspire their enthusiasm for reading, and in the same way, audio books allow your child to enjoy great stories while also developing their language skills. The manner in which characters, accents, voices and humour are introduced and used as tools in audio books makes listening even more fun.

For children who struggle to read due to comprehension, concentration or literacy ability, it’s still important to be able to enjoy a great tale. Battling over each word while trying to read your way through a book can take the enjoyment out of the story. In contrast, sitting back to enjoy it is much more pleasurable. Audio books are also a great way for children to enjoy stories that would otherwise be above their reading level, and opens up a wealth of new vocabulary.

The time when audio books for kids really come into their own, however, is on long car journeys or on holidays, when they are ideal for keeping the peace! In our case, having something to concentrate on helped distract my daughter from feeling car-sick. They are also incredibly convenient – pop in a CD or plug in your device, and you can continue the story at any time. So, what could you be listening to?

Top Picks for Babies and Toddlers

If you can bear any more snorting hilarity, there are plenty of Peppa Pig stories available on audio book so the cheekiest little pig can spend even more time with you! If you need something a little less maddening, opt for the ever-popular Mr Men series, Shirley Hughes’ timeless Alfie series, familiar nursery rhymes, or some classic Ladybird Tales.

Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson’s library of books are just as popular to listen to as they are to read, and the lyrical rhyming lends itself perfectly to audio books. We particularly love Zog and Room on the Broom, but of course The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child will always be firm favourites. Keep an eye out for some Gruffalo sing-along CDs too which are highly entertaining but be warned, they’re incredibly catchy!

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Popular Fairy Tale Stories for Kids

The quirky and eccentric Aesop’s Fables offer many classic tales such as The Hare and the Tortoise and The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs. In the audio book recording, read by the inimitable Richard Briers, Jane Horrocks, Richard E. Grant and others, 40 tales have been adapted for young children.

For an imaginative take on the traditional fairy tale, have a listen to The Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, read by leading British actors, including Dame Judi Dench, Jeremy Irons, Joanna Lumley and Derek Jacobi – definitely one the whole family will enjoy.

Classic Audio Books for Kids

While the classic stories survive for a reason, in many cases the language can be a bit of a daunting read for young children. In contrast, audio books bring the words to life, and your child can sit back and enjoy some literary greats.

Top classic picks include:

• The Wind in the Willows
• Anything by Rudyard Kipling (particularly The Jungle Book and Just So Stories)
• Beatrix Potter’s animal tales
• The bumbling and loveable Winnie the Pooh
• Alice in Wonderland
• Anne of Green Gables
• The Railway Children
• Ballet Shoes and many more.

Revisit Your Childhood Through Audio Books

Introduce your child to your own childhood favourites! Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl top most bestselling literary lists, and the audio books of their work are no exception. Both authors created magical, memorable characters which have been hugely popular from generation to generation.

Similarly, E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web is a timeless story that all ages will enjoy, while the calamitous Worst Witch series and the hugely entertaining Dr Seuss are great for whiling away a car trip. My daughter loves listening to Pippi Longstocking and CS Lewis’ Narnia books, just like I did at her age, and we’ve just bought The Secret Garden and The Little Prince to enjoy on an upcoming trip.

Educational Audio Books for Kids

Full of foul facts and hilarious nonsense, the Horrible Histories series is incredibly popular and there are numerous audio book options. From Vicious Vikings and Rotten Romans to Terrible Tudors and Vile Victorians, these bestselling audio books offer plenty of laugh-out-loud fun with an educational twist.

Does your child fancy learning a new language? Choose a language course from the highly reputable Collins series for lessons in French, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Portuguese and more. Taught through a mix of songs, rhymes, jokes and repetition, your child will learn the basics in a fun, interesting way.

Meditation and Bedtime Audio Books for Kids

Something calming is perfect before bed or for times when a little chilling out is needed.

Children’s yoga teacher Christiane Kerr’s Enchanted Meditations for Kids draws on her Montessori teaching background to create a series of calming meditations. Each audio book is a compilation of story meditations with gentle music designed to promote better sleep, build self-esteem, encourage visualisation and relax your child.

For older kids and teenagers who can be easily consumed by anxiety, Rays of Calm is a great audio book, full of relaxation techniques and visualisations to help deal with stress.

Bestselling Audio Books for Kids

Your child will love to hear their favourite stories read aloud, and this can actually inspire them to read or re-read the books. Bestselling authors such as Jacqueline Wilson, David Walliams and Michael Morpurgo have a wide variety of tall tales to enjoy, and these are definitely ones you won’t mind listening to either.

JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books are utterly engrossing for the whole family, while more recent favourites such as Daisy Meadow’s Rainbow Magic fairies or the comical Diary of a Wimpy Kid antics ensure there is something for all preferences.

Audio Books for Older Children

If your older child or teen is looking to become engrossed in a great story, there is a wealth of audio books to choose from.

Particularly riveting trilogies worth looking at include Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials, The Hunger Games and the still-popular Twilight books. Terry Pratchett’s prolific books are sure to excite, while Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl, Anthony Horowitz and Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant books are also incredibly popular.

The post Listen Up! We Love These Top Audio Books for Kids appeared first on MyKidsTime.