Accessing Audio books for DS

[timefornewme2023]

Probably a really dim question but how can I access audiobooks for my DS (10) without an audible subscription?
His teacher has recommended it as we cannot get him reading regularly.

Any ideas ?

Just trying to avoid another subscription right now if possible!

We borrow audio books on cd from the local library and copy them onto the laptop. We then put them on their mp3 players.
Naughty I know, but we didn't want another subscription.

If you join the local library they often have a free app for audiobooks books

Agree local library is good. Often of you look at the library’s on council you can get more info.

Also bbc sounds children’s section.

Borrowbox is an app from our local library and has so many free books, lots of content for kids, there should be something similar at your library.

Our library uses Libby. If you've got a library card, just have a look online to see what system your library uses and you can register.

I think this depends on what you want to do with them.

DS listens to stories over and over again - returning (and risking being unable to borrow them again when he wants them) isn’t an option for us. So we use Audible during the 3.99 sales and buy them permanently with credits / when there’s an offer.

But you could use Tonies. The books are a comparative cost to Audible (though there is a smaller choice). Another option is YouTube - a lot of voice actors read stories for free for their resumes.

Borrowbox via our local library; my daughter (8) has her own library card linked to the app on her kindle fire. We tend to browse for books together as I don't think there is a way of restricting access to older books. There is a fairly good choice of popular books.

My DS (same age, dyslexia diagnosis but loves reading so not the same as your DS) enjoys reading along with the audiobook, it takes the strain off words he doesn't fluently know as he struggles to read using phonics.

To try this, I agree, try your local library app plus getting the actual book out in paper copy. Won't work for sure an abridged version on audio though.

Also, charity shops or eBay for CD audiobooks then library for paper copy. Our library has CD audiobooks to rent but it works out quite expensive if you want it for more than 2 weeks.

Check out your local library. I can access Libby or BorrowBox. You might have to wait a bit to access the ones you want

Thanks all this is brilliant I had no idea the library might be the answer so am going to tie it in with the summer reading challenge and see if we can crack him!

Much appreciate all the ideas.

@timefornewme2023 I've just seen on our library challenge sheet that one of the characters this year prefers audiobooks so that might inspire your ds ☺️

YouTube also has lots of audiobooks.

Thanks for that info!
We have made good progress - been to library , signed up for the challenge and DS has taken out 7 books.

Also managed to sign him and myself up for BorrowBox which looks great but obviously there are long waits for some of the newer books.

Now can you all just please wish me luck in getting him to actually READ something !!

Good luck. A tip to getting him to read is to see you read or listening to books too.

Also just because he’s 10 doesn’t mean he’s too old to be read to. 15 mins of bonding time.

That's great @timefornewme2023.

In case helpful, here are some other tips that worked for my DS

• take the pressure off what he is reading, if he wants to read the same Treehouse book for the 12th time then don't comment
• make some quiet bedroom/reading time every day and everyone in the house reads
• books that are series are good as he feels safe with the next one
• read to him every night, you can choose decent novels like Narnia that he might not choose himself

If you want recommendations on what he might like for any of the above do say, if it's dragons then I've got about eleventy billion suggestions 😁

@UniversalTruth
Thanks for all the tips - I am really determined to crack this.

We are now embarking on a sponsored read fundraising for school and I have said I will double his money !!

What I need is momentum we haven't found any fiction topic he is eager to hear more of since we abandoned Famous Five ( when it became too predictable)
Am open to any recommendations for exciting pacy books to entice him.
Not sure Dragons have much appeal sadly

Yoto player.

What is he interested in? My nephew didn’t like fiction books at all but read building magazines and “how to “ manuals lots of non-fiction. Worked for him.

My DD at similar age likes reading murder mystery books on her own. But at bedtime we are reading together “Time travelling with my hamster” by Ross Welford, we are both enjoying it.

Thank you I am reading all your messages and noting recommendations.
I am going onto Amazon to look at the number of pages as it's vital we find some quick success I think!

His interests are football, Minecraft (declining!), Music and he is a very active child who would be outside all day with friends if possible.
He picks up books on all of the above but often the writing is poor which I think doesn't help.
Not once has he picked up a book to read by himself just for pleasure it's always been us pushing it.

He has zero interest in fantasy and prefers non fiction.
He did enjoy famous five for a while and recently we read Space Band together.

He also enjoyed Wonder as recent class reader.

Keep the ideas coming. Am really valuing the support !

I am liking the look of this but I may need a shorter book first

Why can't he read non-fiction?

DD was an excellent reader skill wise but disliked actually reading fiction, winners were things like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Captain Underpants, anything by David Baddiel, Artemis Fowl and the Percy Jackson series.

Shes a teen now and enjoyed Sherlock and Roald Dahls short stories and is slowly getting through Skullduggery but she has ASD she enjoyed reading more when I read to her and has a love for language as a tool and listening to Shakespeare and musical theatre but actually reading a novel not so much, she just doesn't enjoy long stories and devours non-fiction instead.

The library - see if they have the borroxbox app which has audio books

Have you looked if there are any podcasts? I know there are lots of adult ones where they read a chapter per episode/show, so there must be some kids ones