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Children's books

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Original poster

urgent audiobooks recommendations please!

34 replies

mrsmayitstimetogo · 11/08/2017 21:49

We're off on holiday early next week, involving far too much driving... DCs (10, 8, 5) aren't very happy travellers, and audiobooks make a massive difference to us all.
Please send me recommendations! They need to be engaging stories, ideally funny, and with a fairly quick plot, in order to work for the youngest. But not so simple/short that the older ones get bored. Worst Witch has been good for us; also Roald Dahl. What else should we go for??

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AndNowItIsSeven · 13/08/2017 22:15

If you have prime it comes next day.

Original poster
mrsmayitstimetogo · 13/08/2017 22:11

damn i wish I'd seen the connect your phone thingie earlier! too late for this trip. Grrrr! looks EXACTLY what we need.

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AtSea1979 · 12/08/2017 23:14

We've just got back from hols and discovered the wonders of audiobooks, how did I not know this before? The DC took lots of different ones but their absolute favourite was "Twisted Tales". Absolutely hillarious.

AndNowItIsSeven · 12/08/2017 23:13

You connect it to the headphone socket of your device set your radio to a free channel and it plays your phone/tablet audio through the radio channel.

AndNowItIsSeven · 12/08/2017 23:12

Op if you car has a radio you can connect your smart phone or tablet just get this
FM Transmitter, Doosl® 3.5mm FM Transmitter Radio Adapter Hands-free Calling Wireless Radio Car Kit, Compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod, Samsung Galaxy, HTC, MP3, MP4 and Most Devices with 3.5mm Audio Jack www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0196B0YAO/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_api_3Z3Jzb27NKVVY?tag=mumsnetforum-21
FM Transmitter, Doosl® 3.5mm FM Transmitter Radio Adapter Hands-free Calling Wireless Radio Car Kit, Compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod, Samsung Galaxy, HTC, MP3, MP4 and Most Devices with 3.5mm Audio Jack www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0196B0YAO/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_api_3Z3Jzb27NKVVY?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Hiddeninplainsight · 12/08/2017 23:05

cheminotte I tend to do it on subscription, although they do have pretty good sales. So I think it is possible to stay a member for a few months, catch a good sale, stock up and then cancel. I'm just haven't gotten organised to cancel! Some books are cheaper than others, but we couldn't live without audio books because they pass the time very well on our (not infrequent) long car journeys. And sometimes on all our short ones if the kids are very engaged with the book!

MiladyThesaurus · 12/08/2017 08:49

We use audible and have never had any issues with it. I use the app on my phone.

DS2 is listening to one of the power of 5 books at the moment (we're waiting for DH to finish 'checking' the entire house so we can leave to visit the PILs - he's been 10 minutes already and is still inside. OCD is a nightmare, for him and us).

MiladyThesaurus · 12/08/2017 08:46

The how to train your dragon books. You'll probably enjoy them too.

curiouscatgotkilled · 12/08/2017 08:40

Mine love Marge in charge. Isla Fisher has a gentle voice and it makes them fall asleep, Hurrah!!

cheminotte · 12/08/2017 08:39

Hidden - do you just get the monthly 'free' books from audible or do you buy extra ones as well? DS got an MP3 player for his birthday and I joined Audible for the free month trial and got Billionaire boy but buying books directly seems expensive. Is there a cheaper way to do it?
We bought HP2 from Amazon on CD for a recent long car journey and it was great, DS listened to the last 2 CDs the afternoon we got home. I thought I'd be able to get the audio download for free but apparently Amazon only do this for music CDs not books.

Hiddeninplainsight · 12/08/2017 01:27

We use Audible and it is great. We have been through all the Harry Potters (fantastic), all the Percy Jacksons (mixed opinions on the narrators for those, but you get used to them). Mine didn't like How to train your Dragon. My DCs loved the twits audio at 4 and 6. My DD was utterly freaked by Awful Auntie by Walliams though (at 5). She hates him as a result. But she hated the fact that the parents die. She was having issues with the concept of death and I hadn't realised it was quite so blunt in the story!

Original poster
mrsmayitstimetogo · 11/08/2017 22:55

local library used to be really good for this sort of thing but there was nothing this week. just detective fiction! I'm going to try the other branch tomorrow. drew a blank at local oxfam too...

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VittysCardigan · 11/08/2017 22:43

Try your local library too!

Original poster
mrsmayitstimetogo · 11/08/2017 22:37

oh, fab, thank you. Why couldn't I find it?? No time for USA delivery this time, sadly.

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Mum4MrA · 11/08/2017 22:36

wordery has HP& philosopher's stone on CD in stock

CinderellasBroom · 11/08/2017 22:29

I think I got HP1 on CD from Abe Books, and they do have one in stock (in the USA, but free shipping):
www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=22430340422&searchurl=kn%3DCD%26tn%3DHarry%2BPotter%2Bphilosopher%2527s%2Bstone%26sortby%3D17%26n%3D200000169

Original poster
mrsmayitstimetogo · 11/08/2017 22:23

I can't find HP1! Only on Audible, which is no good for us - needs to be on CD for our car (can't connect other devices... ) Grrr. I did wonder about joining Audible, but it has such atrocious online reviews.

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Original poster
mrsmayitstimetogo · 11/08/2017 22:22

ooh, GREAT ideas, thank you! I wouldn't have thought of Dick King Smith in particular. It's surprisingly difficult to find recommendations for audio books online, and the quality of the reading makes SUCH a difference.

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BlueGoats · 11/08/2017 22:15

Dick King-Smith: The Sheep-Pig, Harry's Mad, or The Fox Busters

InflagranteDelicto · 11/08/2017 22:12

Actually, now have a duplicate of Gangsta Granny if you're interested... Only played once! When mum bought this big pack it also had GG in it, so got two sets of discs, only played it once.

CinderellasBroom · 11/08/2017 22:11

How To Train Your Dragon (and sequels) are brilliant and keep us all happy. The first Harry Potter is also OK for a 5yo, imo. Swallows and Amazons (while a personal favourite) was too slow-moving and wordy for my 5yo (and DH).

InflagranteDelicto · 11/08/2017 22:11

We listened to a David Walliams one as we travelled on holiday. We have Matilda lined up to go home. It's much easier if you have a disc changer in the car! Got a set each of Dahl and Walliams, thanks to my mum. Really recommend them.

Bin85 · 11/08/2017 22:08

Railway Children
Swallows and Amazons
Ballet Shoes

gassylady · 11/08/2017 22:07

Would definitely recommend the how to train your dragon ones. David Tennant does all the voices and is sooo funny