by Anastasia Tuckness
Driving around with children of varying ages, whether for a carpool or a family vacation, can be a big challenge! If Car Bingo or the License Plate Game aren’t doing the trick, try an audiobook. Finding a book that bridges all the kiddos in your car may be easier than you think—they can listen to and comprehend audiobooks that are significantly above their reading level, and a tween may be more apt to listen to (and secretly enjoy) a book they wouldn’t normally pick up because it seemed “too baby-ish.”
Adventure and humor are generally crowd favorites, and the more you listen, the more you’ll find your group’s sweet spot (and favorite narrators)! Gather several to make sure you have a winner for your crowd. Here are some of my personal favorites.
“Miracles on Maple Hill” by Virginia Sorensen is the 1957 Newbery Medal winner; the audio version features an engaging full cast that covers a year in the life of Marly and her family. They move deep into the Pennsylvania countryside, hoping a year of living on the land will heal her veteran father. They find joy in meadow flowers, eccentric neighbors, and of course, maple syrup. Marly’s rivalries with her brother Joe, and their occasional misadventures with animals, spice things up throughout!
As shorter, faster-paced novels, the “Magic Tree House” books by Mary Pope Osborne never disappoint. They follow siblings Jack and Annie on adventures all over different times and place and are well-written enough to keep everyone’s attention. Similarly, Beverly Cleary’s many books depict mid-century hometown life; “Henry Huggins,” featuring his dog Ribsy’s humorous hijinks, is a great place to start.
If your listeners enjoy a little more snark and sass, try “The Terrible Two” trilogy (Mac Barnett), where Miles, newly arrived in Yawnee Valley, pulls great pranks amidst ever-present cows and a rival mystery prankster. “The Willoughbys” (Lois Lowry) wittily skewers every classic children’s book trope you can imagine.
My absolute favorites are school stories, such as Andrew Clements’ stand-alone titles featuring kids in 5th grade facing and overcoming various issues, and the “Upside-Down Magic” series (Sarah Mlynowski), where Nory and her classmates face bullies, difficult families, awkward friendships—and magic that just refuses to be predictable.
Each of these titles is available with your Ames Public Library account: as audio CDs from the Library or as downloadable or streaming audio files from Hoopla or OverDrive/Libby. Any technical or book selection questions? Stop in or email us to get the tools for more carpool confidence!
