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.

Clarice Bean books

Clarice Bean series, the three Little Witches by Georgie Adams, Pea’s book of Best Friends. Another vote for Just William.

Try also E.Nesbit - The Treasure Seekers is very gentle.

The Family At One End Street - a very ordinary family having lovely adventures.

The Giggler Treatment by Roddy Doyle - very funny on audiobook.

I was going to say Swallows and Amazons. Or how about The Borrowers?

Jacqueline Wilson's versions of the magic faraway tree are the dullest books I have ever had the misfortune of reading my DC. They don't get up the bloody tree for about 9 chapters! Endless lengthy descriptions of rooms and table settings. Great for vocab but dire for excitement. There isn't even mild peril. Compared to Enid blytons faraway stories (where rick always fucks up, they get chased by some LSD imagined magical person and someone always ends up getting scolded for being a little shit) they are awful. So I suggest these for 'nothing happens' books.

Stig of the Dump is a good story with no real tension.

Eeek no! The Borrowers is traumatising! Being gassed in their own home with the rat catchers dog poised to destroy them if they try and escape?! I can't cope with that and I'm 35!

I've just been browsing podcasts and found this one that's age 3-10 and very not much going on

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/snuggle-kids-stories/id1714672018

Jennings by Anthony Buckeridge

Hi OP, This website will give you some excellent choices from more recently published children's fiction (most/many of which are available as audiobooks). You'll see by the blurbs what the storylines are like. There are many gentle reads/listens here: www.thereaderteacher.com/
I'll have a think about other possibilities (I work in this area!) All best to you.

Claude, the dog series
Brambley Hedge books

The Wombles (Elizabeth Beresford)

There’s a wonderful podcast called Nothing Much Happens, and I think she may have done a book as well. It’s gentle stories that you listen to at night to nod off. I’ve been a big fan for years.

The Children of Noisy Village is a lovely audiobook. Ds is 11 but still chooses to listen to it now and again as his comfort book at bedtime.

Lots of great suggestions.

But can I suggest an opposite approach as well with Captain Underpants, in which the world is put in deadly peril from demonic zombie robot toilet aliens every book, but in such an insanely ludicrous way that it might take the sting out of it for your DS. Worth a try.

Ramona Quimby series by Beverley Clearly. But if he prefers a male protagonist then she also has the Henry Huggins series, we have those on Yoto cards so definitely available in audio format.

Wonder, Harriet The Spy, The Boy Who Grew Dragons, Journey to the River Sea. Katherine Rundell books.

My son doesn't like anything scary but he loves non fiction, his favourite are the Ladybird Audio adventure series.