In recent years, the popularity of audiobooks has skyrocketed among adult readers. they are especially popular with people who have little time to sit down and read, allowing book lovers to enjoy books while traveling, exercising, or multitasking. but what about the children? Sure, listening to audiobooks can be a good activity for car rides and vacation trips, but are there any real educational benefits for kids, or don’t audiobooks count as actual reading?
benefits of audiobooks for students
according to denise johnson, associate professor of reading education at william & Mary, audiobooks can provide a way for second language learners, students with learning disabilities, and those who have difficulty reading or who don’t read to “access literature and enjoy books.” But audiobooks can also provide additional educational benefits for all students, not just those who struggle with reading. johnson argues that audiobooks can be used to:
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- introduce students to books above their reading level
- model good interpretive reading
- teach critical listening
- highlight the humor in books
- introduce new genres that students might not otherwise consider
- introduce new vocabulary or difficult proper names or places
- avoid dialects or accents unknown, Old English, and old-fashioned literature styles
- provide a model of reading aloud
- provide a bridge to important topics of discussion for parents and children that they can listen to together on the go to sporting events, music lessons, or on vacation
- recapture “the essence and pleasures of listening to stories beautifully told by extraordinarily talented storytellers” (baskin & harris, 1995, p. 376)
Of course, audiobooks should be used as a complement and not as a total replacement for reading. But when used in conjunction with other media, including print books, e-books, and reading aloud in person with children, audiobooks can be another great way to instill a love of books and literature in children.
where to find free audiobooks for kids
While sites like audible are popular and offer thousands of titles for adults and children, the cost of buying books and membership fees can add up. Fortunately, there are thousands of free audiobooks available for readers of all ages if you know where to look. Here are six of the best sources, some offering books for all readers and others designed just for kids.
1. librivox
Like Project Gutenberg, our favorite source for free eBooks, librivox books are in the public domain and are read by volunteers. the books are available to stream online or download. Some of the books include a full cast, acting dramatizations, while others feature a single reader. The catalog includes a large collection of children’s books, both fiction and nonfiction, including several classics that are also on the K12 Recommended Reading List for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Some of these include:
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A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, Anne of Green Gables, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Kidnapped, The Travels of Doctor Dolittle, Pride and Prejudice, and Frankenstein.
2. spotify
You or your kids can use this popular streaming service to listen to music, but did you know they also offer audiobooks? You’ll need a free (or paid) account to listen, but if you don’t mind listening to a few ads from time to time, you’ll be able to stream (but not download) audiobooks for free.
The best thing about the Spotify selection is the opportunity to listen to literature read by the authors themselves. The “Poetry: In Their Own Voices” collection includes poets such as Robert Frost, Edna St. Vincent Milay, E E Cummings, Dylan Thomas, Langston Hughes, and many others, reading their own work.
There are also books read by great actors, including sherlock holmes read by sir john gielguld, as well as classics by shakespeare, jane austen, and categories such as russian literature and literature by authors and children’s fairy tales.
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To find audiobooks on spotify, go to the browse menu in the spotify app, click on “genres and moods” and then scroll down to click on “word”.
3. loyal books
Another online database for free audiobook and ebook downloads, this site is easy to navigate and the books are available in a variety of different formats and languages. Head to the children’s genre for classics like The Wind in the Willows, A Little Princess, and The Wizard of Oz.
4. story
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Storynory, a British site, offers free streaming and downloadable stories for children, including classics by Dickens, Rudyard Kipling and Oscar Wilde, as well as myths, fairy tales and original stories. this site is a particularly good option for young children and elementary and middle school students.
5. online story
Sponsored by the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Storyline Online is not strictly an audiobook service. instead, the site features videos of actors reading popular picture books. For young children who may miss the visuals in an audiobook, this site offers some good options. Each book also includes a free companion activity guide to engage children in learning history both online and offline. Check out Betty White reading Dirty Harry, James Earl Jones reading To Be a Drummer, and Ernest Borgnine reading Rainbow Fish.
6. k12 read aloud the classics app
Available for iPad and Android devices, this K12 app offers beautifully illustrated stories, poems, and plays for children. the free version includes seven stories and poems, while the paid version offers 36 for just $2.99. The app includes a “read to me” feature that can be turned on or off, giving kids the option of listening to a story or reading it themselves.
Do you and your children enjoy listening to audiobooks? what are your favorites to listen to? tell us in the comments!
image credit: the preiser project / cc by 2.0
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