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Original poster

Audio books

16 replies

miamiibiza · 19/03/2023 20:04

Looking for advice please.

My DS(7) can sometimes struggle to fall asleep. I want to try audio books for him.

Do I go for a Tonie box?

Or an Alexa, with Audible?

Or some other way?

Thank you

OP posts:
sanityisamyth · 19/03/2023 20:06

DS(9) has had an Alexa for several years and loves his audiobooks. He's got all the Harry Potter books and a lot of David Walliams.

Original poster
miamiibiza · 19/03/2023 20:07

sanityisamyth · 19/03/2023 20:06

DS(9) has had an Alexa for several years and loves his audiobooks. He's got all the Harry Potter books and a lot of David Walliams.

Did you use Audible with the Alexa to listen? Or do I just ask Alexa to read a story?

OP posts:
LiveLaughLoaf · 19/03/2023 20:07

If you have a library card you can access Libby and BorrowBox. They act as a normal library. You can borrow, listen and reserve audiobooks. They have children’s ones and a sleep timer on both. Worth trying for free before you invest in something else :)

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Original poster
miamiibiza · 19/03/2023 20:07

LiveLaughLoaf · 19/03/2023 20:07

If you have a library card you can access Libby and BorrowBox. They act as a normal library. You can borrow, listen and reserve audiobooks. They have children’s ones and a sleep timer on both. Worth trying for free before you invest in something else :)

Thank you.
What do you play these on?

OP posts:
flowerbob · 19/03/2023 20:08

I have an audible subscription and we play through Alexa. It's great for us as it can play in both my DD & DS room at the same time.

Ridingfree · 19/03/2023 20:09

DD6 has a kids Alexa in her room and a yoto player which she listens to every night over the Alexa for stories. Better (in my opinion than a Toni's especially for older kids) highly Reccomnend

ZuckerwatterMaus · 19/03/2023 20:09

Ds7 uses Audible . He has just finished Matilda . The sales and Plus catalogue supplement the monthly credit .

lookingforacleanerscotland · 19/03/2023 20:09

Borrowbox on an iPad!!

alspwnbv · 19/03/2023 20:10

My kids have Yoto players and use them every night to go to sleep to.

Covidiokilledtheradiostar · 19/03/2023 20:10

I think a Toni box would be a bit young for you DS. We use one for our ds2 and DD who are 3&4.

ds1 (11) has an Alexa that’s linked to my audible account he listens to harry potter, Percy Jackson’s etc

LiveLaughLoaf · 19/03/2023 20:12

On a phone or iPad. They’re both apps from the AppStore

Augend23 · 19/03/2023 20:13

Borrowbox definitely worth seeing if it suits you, as it's free.

I'd probably go with an Alexa or a Google Nest Mini if you need something to play it through but I don't know how well they'll cooperate with Borrowbox - you might have to cast from your phone rather than use voice commands.

JackHackettsMac · 19/03/2023 20:19

We used BorrowBox linked to the local library membership and listened to lots of children's books including Just William, Enid Blyton books and Harry Potter via my phone.

I'd lie on top of DS's bed and he'd be snuggled under the covers and we'd listen to about 40mins before I'd tuck him in. It was a lovely bonding time and later we'd discuss the various books we listened to together. I'm pretty rubbish at making up bedtime stories so it was a bonus for me as I was struggling to think of new characters and plots. 😂

DS is a teenager now and still listens to an audiobook in bed on his iPad for at least 30 mins before bedtime. He gets to choose his own books and I sometimes buy him one on audible if they're on special offer and I think he'd like it.

RedRobyn2021 · 19/03/2023 20:24

You know you can get free audiobooks at the library

sanityisamyth · 19/03/2023 20:32

@miamiibiza audible account

Greengrassgone · 19/03/2023 20:33

Libby ( was Overdrive) and Borrowbox - both free with my library card.

You download the apps and log in via your library- your local library will have instructions on how to do this.

The most popular books have long waits but if you queue things up you will always have something to listen too. I've been working my way through Taylor Jenkins Reid this year.

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