Books where nothing really happens

[Wishiwascrafty]

Does anyone have recommendations for audiobooks (audible) for an 8 year old boy who’s scared of his own shadow?
He dislikes any amount of suspense. Ideally I need something where characters just amble through life without even the mildest peril, but longer than a picture book.
He’s liked Winnie the Pooh. The magic bookshop. Counter intuitively the Harry potters but I think that’s because I’ve read them to him first.

Mine loves some of the Enid blyton like island of adventure. They seem young for 8yo but he also hates peril and doesn't tolerate HP!

Astrid Lindgren stories about children. Not the fantasy ones.
Stories by Anne Cath Vestly.
Brumble Hedge

Would he like The Bolds? They just amble through normal life in Teddington, although they are hyenas.

Janet & Allan Ahlberg's Happy Families?

They're maybe a bit dated now, and culturally very American IIRC, but what about Judy Blume's Fudge books? They're about a 9 year old boy with an annoying toddler little brother.

The Tom Gates series by Liz Pichen is quite good for that.
Not a lot happens - just the every day adventures of a 10 year old boy.
(not sure how the audible would be though - as Tom likes to doodle and the doodles are part of the book)

Just William, read by Martin Jarvis! I loved them as a child!

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Just-Williams-Greatest-Hits-Audiobook/B004EVMD2O?ipRedirectOverride=true&overrideBaseCountry=true&bp_o=true

13 Storey Treehouse
Tom Gates
Dick King Smith - The Sheep Pig, all sorts of other tame stories

They're great! Do be warned that 'Superfudge' very much exposes Santa though.

Paddington?

The sheep pig has a bit where dogs come and worry the sheep, the farmer thinks Babe did it and is ready to shoot him - maybe not suitable?

Enid Blytons Wishing Chair and magic faraway tree are gentle adventures.

Ooh good catch.

I have a similarly anxious 8 year old. Paddington is a good comfort listen. The Moomin stories have some peril but are somehow written in a very comforting way and are funny. My family and other animals is also great and really funny/gentle there’s some adult content that fortunately went over his head.

For non-scary ones I wouldn't go for EB Adventure series. I'd say they were her most scary series. I remember the point where they're being chased by enemies (terrorists) with guns and Bill says "Don't worry, they won't hurt children..." and you realise that firstly he's saying he will get hurt and secondly, it's probably a vain hope of his, because they'll use the children to get Bill to do what they want.
Older books if you choose carefully may suit him well.

For Enid Blyton ones I'd go for:
The Secret Island (children run away and live on an island)
Wishing Chair/Faraway Tree
Some of the short stories

Noel Streatfield has lots of non-scary stories, although more girlie, as in the main character is almost always a girl. Try Curtain Up (Theatre Shoes), Party Frock (Party Shoes), White Boots (Skating Shoes) or Tennis Shoes maybe.

The Swish of the Curtain by Pamela Brown is another that is not scary at all.

What I found with my dd who was similarly "nothing scary" was often the best way to work it was to read the first chapter or two together and once she was into the story, she was fine.

Edited to say: Sorry, I see you wanted audio books. I doubt these would be in audio, sorry!

I would find 20th century school stories 'The Fourth Form at St Fenton's" (made up but you get the idea) are often that sort of story. I still like to read them now. There are various retro comics, annuals and old books of the like you could probably find online or in second hand bookshops. Perhaps you could look through shelves together and try a page or so?

Swallows and amazons are generally really gentle, kids pottering about the lakes or Norfolk broads sailing, and the worst thing is a usually a disapproving great aunt or a rival gang of kids They’re quite far into the series but you might want to avoid two of the later books if he is anxious: we didn’t mean to go to sea as that’s got some peril (clue in the title…!) and hard avoid for Peter Duck , that was horrific in places.

Enid Blyton!

Elizabeth Enright's Melendy series. No idea if they're available as sudiobooks, though.

Slightly random but if it's for before bed - there's a podcast called nothing much happens which is a short story

Another vote for Just William. Lovely stories.

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark is also brilliant as it's so comforting and gently written.

Just William are good, as others have said. Also really rate swallows and amazons - the audio books are well read and I was v pleased to find how little they have dated, in that they’re very clear and well written, don’t need much “translating” for modern kids ears.

What about just so stories? They’re interesting language, which he might like if he likes Winnie the Pooh, quite sing song in places.

Thank you all so much! I wasn’t expecting so many replies.
We loved red the swallows and Amazons movies (once he’d hidden behind me for the action bits) so we’ll give that a go. And I’ll try just William. I’ve never read any of them.

@Wishiwascrafty
Was that the recent S&A movie or the older ones?
The books aren't much like the recent one, which was far too sensational and totally changed the characters.

If it's the 70s version then that's very like the book, and you could also get the "Swallows and Amazons - forever" (Based on "Coot Club" and "The Big Six") which is excellent.

He might also enjoy Jennings if he likes Just William. In some ways they're dated, but my ds found them funny.

Both of them! They’re both lovely in their own ways.