Puffin Audiobooks: feedback for Magic & Adventure titles…find out what MNers think PLUS non testers - chance to win £75! NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

This thread is for the 125 Mumsnetters and their DCs who listened to a Magic & Adventure audiobook. Testers could choose one of the following audiobook titles:

1. The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy read by Gemma Arterton (age 5+)
   
2. Going Solo by Roald Dahl ready by Dan Stevens (age 7+)
   
3. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll read by Sheridan Smith (6+)
   
4. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham - BBC dramatization version (age 6+)
   
5. George's Secret Key to the Universe by Lucy & Stephen Hawking ready by James Goode (age 7+)
   
   To listen a clip from each of these audiobooks click here
   
   Puffin say "We are absolutely delighted to have so many eager ears listening to our marvellous audiobooks this summer and taking part in our Audiobook Club
   We believe that audiobooks are a brilliant way for families to share the laughter, thrill and excitement of a good story. Whether you listened just before bedtime or on those long and winding 'are-we-nearly-there-yet' car journeys.
   All we ask is that you use the discussion threads to let us know what both you and your little ones, thought of the experience."
   
   Non testers: Share on this thread what your favourite audiobook is and why and you will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £75 voucher for either iTunes or Amazon so you can buy audiobooks!
   
   Testers: Puffin would love to know what you and your children thought by answering these questions:
   
   
6. How old is the child who took part?
   
7. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   
8. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   
9. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   
10. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
    
11. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
    
    We'd also like you to add a review of the audiobook on MN (using the links sent to you on email)
    
    All testers who add feedback and post a review will be entered into a prize draw where two MNers will each win a £75 voucher from either iTunes or Amazon so you can buy audiobooks!
    
    Thanks and good luck!
    
    MNHQ
    Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[CheeseandGherkins]

My ds2 was a tester but I haven't received any email with a link to add a review (I came across this thread by chance).

1. How old is the child who took part?
   He is 8 years old.
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   He chose George's secret key to the universe.
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   He listened to it in the evening in the den.
   
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   He used my ipad to listen to it on.
   
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   He loved this book and was completely engrossed by it. He was fascinated by all the talk of black holes and science. He really enjoyed it and even asked if there was a part 3! He was most disappointed when I told him that the two parts were all there was.
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   I'm definitely going to buy him some audio books now as he enjoyed it so much. Thanks so much for this trial as it has opened up a new world for us!

[TheChocolateDidIt]

Non-Tester: Our favourite audio book is the Enormous Crocodile. It is read by Stephen Fry and he really brings each character to life. We also like the BOOM! at the end .

[Guyropes]

Surprise in the post this morning! I have a date with my girls, in our pyjamas to listen to the first part of going solo. I'm looking forward to sharing this time with them, as they hAve a very new baby brother, so a relaxing activity we can all enjoy is very welcome .

[Lariflete]

1) How old is the child who took part?
DD is 4

2) Which audiobook did your DC choose?
She chose The Worst Witch because I told her I had liked it when I was a little girl.

3) What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
We listened to it before bed, in bed snuggled up.

4) On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
On my laptop.

5) What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
DD loved it - she felt like she was being a grownup putting the cd in and listening to it on a laptop!

6) Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
We definitely will. It was really lovely listening to it with DD as it is usually me reading the story!

[MovingStress]

As a child, I loved my Just William books on casstette. Must get hold of some on more modern media for my children to enjoy!

My DD (age 4) currently enjoys listening to Sneeay Bear - and joining in with all the sound effects.

[MovingStress]

Non Tester

As a child, I loved my Just William books on casstette. Must get hold of some on more modern media for my children to enjoy!

My DD (age 4) currently enjoys listening to Sneezy Bear - and joining in with all the sound effects.

[TheyGotTheMustardOut]

non-tester

My children have yet to listen to an audiobook, we're still into picture books mostly.

I like my David Sedaris audiobooks, they keep me laughing whist driving (& everyone else is asleep!)

[katyk81]

Thank you so much for the audio book of Going Solo- we are off on a 14 hour journey shortly so will be saving it for that with the intention of all listening to it in the car together. We will be sure to report back soon.
Many Thanks

[LetsBeAvenue]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   My daughter is 7.
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   She chose Alice in Wonderland.
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   Sunday afternoon in the sitting room.
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   On a cd player.
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   Her overriding thought was that she would prefer to read a book than listen to one, although she did say she liked it and I think we would definitely get use out of audiobooks on car journeys as she can't get distracted by anything else. My two sons also sat and listened (age 5 & 3) so it did seem to keep their attention for a certain amount of time.
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   Yes, for car journeys and rainy days at home.

[lyndseyh78]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   
   My 8yr old daughter
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   The Worst Witch
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   She listened to it in bed on her tablet
   
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   Tablet
   
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   She really enjoyed it and has asked if i can buy her some so she can listen to them at night time
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   
   Yes we will

[boptanana]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   My 4 year old dd
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   The Worst Witch
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   In the car
   
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   CD player
   
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   She loved it and asked to put it on each time we want out. We weren't going on a long journey which I think would enhance the experience even more as it did feel a bit disjointed.
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   
   Yes we will she loved it!

[SaintEyning]

1. how old is the child who took part? 6
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose? Dennis the Menace
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook? In the car on the way to and from the childminder's so 8am and 5.30pm
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook? Car CD player
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it? He loves DTM cartoons and comics so this got a huge grin, lots and lots of laughs at the rude words (the bumface song in particular) and questions about why things were being done or said.
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience? Yes, it's a great way to get him into books as we go over the physical book at bedtime (I mostly have audiobooks of things we own)

[Theimpossiblegirl]

Non-tester

Anything by Roald Dahl. His stories are amazing and the perfect choice for car journeys because they are timeless and appeal to all ages.

[MamaMummyMum]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   
   My daughter is 9 years old.
   
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   
   The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham - BBC dramatization version (age 6+)
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   
   She listened to it mid afternoon in her bedroom.
   
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   
   A regular CD player.
   
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   
   A review from my 9 year old daughter - The wind in the willows was a very exciting tale. There were a few changes to the story ,for example; a talking horse. One change I was not so excited about was Mole and Rat had not met! My favourite moment was when Toad called the Clerk a big nose! That definitely hilarious! The person reading the story showed the characters feelings really well. This classic tale was a delight to listen to. I loved this story!
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   
   I would definitely be interested in buying more, it was the longest my daughter has been quiet in a long time!!

[DrSausagedog]

Non tester here.

My DD age 4 loves her Julia Donaldson collection on audio. The Gruffalo in particular. The reader reads them out in more extreme and amusing voices than I manage at story time!

[WowOoo]

Non tester: The only audio book that gets played here is George's Marvellous Medicine. The different voices are great.

[RatOnnaStick]

Non-tester: The children's favourite audiobook right now is Paddington (which I find very very dull to listen to).

My favourite audiobook is What the Ladybird Heard read by Alexander Armstrong mainly for the song. I can never unhear The Cow Said MOO And The Hen Said CLUCK, HISS Said The Goose And QUACK Said The Duck...

All performed in Deep Loud Theatre Voice...

[Pixi2]

I'm a tester! We all loved it.

1. child in question was 6years old yesterday. His little sister is 4yrs.
   
   
2. He chose George's secret key to the universe.
   
   
3. We used it to break up long journeys over the last few days to theme parks/water parks etc and the return journey home.
   
   
4. We used the built in CD player in the car.
   
   
5. Both children loved it. Especially Ds as he is space mad.
   
   
6. We would definitely get more audio books. It stopped them asking the 'are we nearly there yet' questions which drive DH nuts. He's a fan too now. We will probably get them for car journeys and keep reading together at home.

[chairmeoh]

The last time I listened to an audio book was years ago when I had to do loads of driving for work. I loved the calmness of books such as Miss Marple or any Bronte novels which were easy to follow while focussing on driving yet gripping at the same time.

[fuzzpig]

Thanks for new thread - will be back when we've listened to our audiobook! Looking forward to it :)

[Maiyakat]

Non-tester: DD loves Cat in the Hat and What the Ladybird Heard (another fan of Alexander Armstrong's narration here!)

[AGnu]

We love The Borrowers - it's good to put on in the car for long journeys & holds DS1's (3yo) attention for the duration. Anything that keeps him from asking endless questions about random things we pass is utterly priceless!

[StillNoFuckingEyeDeer]

We sometimes listen to audiobooks in the car. DD1 is 4 and loves the Fireman Sam stories and Paddington. She's not keen on the Julia Donaldson stories, which is just as well because, while I love the books, I can't stand the audio books.

[Curlyfrizzball]

My daughter is a tester. Here are my answers.

1. My DD is 5.
   
   
2. We listened to "The Worst Witch", which is a book I loved as a child.
   
   
3. We usually listen to audiobooks in the car, but listened to this one at home late afternoon, on my laptop. We listened in 3 sections - about 20 minutes each day for 3 consecutive days.
   
   
4. Laptop.
   
   
5. She loved it. My DD loves books and constantly wants you to read her a story, or make one up. I wasn't sure if she would be able to follow a long book like this, in sections, without pictures, but she did. She did better with it in sections (though I think she would have been fine for the whole lot in one go in the car, as there would be fewer distractions). I reminded her of what happened in the last section before we put it on again, and once I started, she could remember too and add to what I was saying.
   
   
6. When this trial came up, we had just decided to get some audiobooks anyway, as permanently telling or making up stories is rather tiring and that's all DD wants to do in the car on long journeys!! We will definitely get some more.
   
   Thanks for letting us take part in the trial.

[Sagethyme]

1) How old is the child who took part?
5 years & 3 and a half

2) Which audiobook did your DC choose?
The Worst Witch by Jill Murphey

3) What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
First time we listened to the CD was in the car on a long journey, we have since used it as a helpful sleeping aid in the evening!

4) On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
Car CD player and portable CD player.

5) What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
Well it kept them quiet on our long journey, which was brilliant! In fact when we arrived at our destination i had to wait for story to finish before switching off the engine. At night they seem to find it comforting to listen to the audio book, and its certainly helped them get off to sleep and stopped endless trips downstairs!

6) Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
Yes absolutely!

I should also add I really enjoyed listening to the story too. It is very well read and the narrator has a very easy to listen to voice....very relaxing when sitting in festering traffic.