Puffin Audiobooks: feedback for Laugh out Loud titles…find out what MNers think PLUS non testers - chance to win £75! NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

This thread is for the 125 Mumsnetters and their DCs who listened to a Laugh out Loud audiobook from Puffin. Testers could choose from one of the following audiobook titles:

1. Wimpy Kid, Dog Days by Jeff Kinney read by Ramon de Ocampo (age 7+)
   
2. The Twits by Roald Dahl ready by Richard Ayoade (age 5+)
   
3. Danger is Everywhere by David O?Doherty ready by David O'Doherty (7+)
   
4. Dennis the Menace by Steven Butler read by Steven Butler (age 6+)
   
5. The Dinosaur That Pooped the Planet by Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter - read by authors (age 5+)
   To listen a clip from each of these audiobooks click here
   
   Puffin say "We are absolutely delighted to have so many eager ears listening to our marvellous audiobooks this summer and taking part in our Audiobook Club
   We believe that audiobooks are a brilliant way for families to share the laughter, thrill and excitement of a good story. Whether you listened just before bedtime or on those long and winding ‘are-we-nearly-there-yet’ car journeys.
   All we ask is that you use the discussion threads to let us know what both you and your little ones, thought of the experience."
   
   Non testers: Share on this thread what your favourite audiobook is and why and you will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £75 voucher for either iTunes or Amazon so you can buy audiobooks!
   
   Testers: Puffin would love to know what you and your children thought by answering these questions:
   
   
6. How old is the child who took part?
   
7. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   
8. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   
9. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   
10. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
    
11. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
    We'd also like you to add a review of the audiobook on MN (using the links sent to you on the email).
    
    All testers who add feedback and post a review will be entered into a prize draw where two MNers will each win a £75 voucher from either iTunes or Amazon so you can buy audiobooks!
    
    Thanks and good luck!
    
    MNHQ
    Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[Moodykat]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   DS1 is 6. DS2 is 4
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   Going Solo Roald Dahl
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   We listened to the first part playing it in the kitchen whilst we were tidying and playing in the garden (doors open and turned up loud - no neighbours!) and then DS1 has listened to it in bed.
   
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   CD Player
   
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   He always has an audiobook after we read together so having it was not new to us - but he has said that he likes this one in particular as it is much more grown up than the ones he normally listens to.
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   Definitely - I think they are a brilliant idea. I am fully intending to take this one on a long journey with us in a couple of weeks as I think that would be a great time to listen too.
   
   As always, thank you Mumsnet!

[lorsa]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   DS who is almost 5.
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   Dennis the Menace
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   We started listening to it in the living room in the afternoon then in his bedroom at bedtime as he wanted to finish it.
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   CD on my laptop.
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   He thought it was "brilliant, funny and rude". He really enjoyed the rude elements! He went to bed early the next evening so he could listen to it again!
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   Definitely. We've already listened to a number of Dahl books. They are fab for a long journey too!
   
   Thanks for letting us take part.

[superoz]

1. 7 year old dd.
   
2. The Twits.
   
3. We listened to it in the afternoon in the lounge.
   
4. We played it on a CD player stereo system.
   
5. DD loved this book and found it very funny. She would sit in front of the stereo speakers and listen intently to the story, giving it her full attention. In particular she really liked the way the story is told and would talk along with it.
   
6. I would definitely consider buying audiobooks now, this is our first experience and would come in really useful for going on journeys because although dd absolutely loves to read, it makes her sick in the car when she does.

[Lizsmum]

1. 9 year old girl
   
2. Wimpy Kid Dog Days
   
3. In the morning on a loooooong car journey
   

4.On the car CD player

1. She had read the book some time ago so wasn't excited to be offered this BUT seemed to be very focused on listening and wanted it to be put on again after we'd stopped at Service Stations etc. She can read in the car without feeling sick so also broke up the story with some time reading other things, playing on ipad etc. She says she'll listen to it as a bedtime story too.
   
2. We usually borrow from the local library as the CDs are a bit expensive to buy.

[WeeMadArthur]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   
   5.
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   
   The Twits, by Roald Dahl
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   
   I played it on a trip to the seaside , between 10 and 11. I intended to play it on the way back too, but he slept all the way.
   
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   
   Car CD player
   
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   
   DS loved it, I could see his eyes were as big as saucers, I think he enjoyed it because the narrator is a lot better at reading them than I am!
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   
   Yes, in fact I've already bought the rest of the Roald Dahl collection

[liam12]

Frist off all thank you for pickin me and my son to test theaudio book :) my son is 6 , wee got to listen to the dinosaur that pooed a planet i like to read to my son everynite im single parent so i though maybe few nites a week i could put on the audio book he listened to ir on a portable cd player at bedtime frist off all the story was brilliant when the dino pooed the sounds made it so real all the back round sounds my son laughed the voices tellin stroy was great to and he was so cosy under blanket listening to it. Wee have listened to it 3 times now lol so its a big hit in our house i will be buying more for son i mite even get a break while he listening to them :)

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   
   7 but my 9 yr old was in the car as well
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   
   Danger is everywhere
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   
   Late morning driving to London
   
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   
   Car CD
   
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   
   Loved it, really engaged and every now and again piped up with a comment which let me know they were listening
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   
   We are already onto the second famous Five book, they have taken to listening to them at night.

[mumcha]

I'm still waiting on mine to arrive . Got an email asking for feedback , but not arrived yet . Hopefully tomorrow

[Fleur78]

1. my son age 8 and daughter age 5
   
2. Wimpy Kid Dog Days
   
3. On a wet Friday afternoon in the living room
   
4. listened through the DVD player
   
5. my son really enjoyed it laughed out loud at serval points, he especially enjoyed the sarcasm.
   
6. would definitely listen to more audiobooks in the future
   
   Thank you for choosing me perfect way to spend a wet afternoon we all really enjoyed it.

[Catsgowoof]

Non-tester, I don't have one. I remember listening to them when I was a kid- the Flossie Teacake series in particular, but the one's I've tried with my DD seem really sow and with silly voices/sound effects. I do like them in theory though and would try more.

[CharlotteSimmons]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   7 (DS) but DDs (9 and 4) also listened
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   Danger is Everywhere (which is now impossible to say without doing an impression of the author!)
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   We listened in the car at various points in the day. We are on holiday so on journeys to and from days out
   
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   Car CD player
   
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   Loved it. They really like listening to audio books in the car, particularly on long journeys. You can always tell when we are listening to a good story as they are waiting by the car in record time whenever we are ready to go anywhere.
   They like stories but reading in the car makes them feel rubbish and I run out of steam making up stories. Good audio books have us all listening in. I have been known to turn the story off when am having to concentrate on parking to stop getting distracted by the exciting bit in the story!
   They liked this book because it was funny, and because it had a lot of phrases we repeated to each other throughout the holiday. It has a special language, which is delivered in acronyms which we loved learning, as well as shouting 'Danger is Everywhere' in the most benign situations we can find.
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   Yes, definitely. We love them. We do get them from the library, but the DC really like to listen to their favourites more than once and we only ever do that with the ones we own. They can't wait to listen to Danger is Everywhere again!

[Anononooo]

Non tester. My favourite audio book is any version of Joyce's Ulysses. It is always read with fabulous lilting Irish accents that really enjoy the language.

[Fridayschild]

Non tester

We love audio books in the car! We have gone from Thomas the tank engine and the cat in the hat through to His Dark Materials and now Artemis Fowl. Ds1 is 12.

I use audio books to introduce Dc to children's classics which are not quite pacy or modern enough for them to read in paper form. They can listen on their own on iPods but actually we like all enjoying the same book together.

[Fillybuster]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   
   Dd2 is 5. But dd1 (7) has also been listening separately.
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   
   The Twits
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   
   Both Dds listened to the book on the plane on the way to our summer holiday.
   
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   
   Dd2 listened on her Hudl, dd1 on an MP3 player.
   
   
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   
   This was dd2s (official triallist) first ever audiobook. It totally blew her away: she sat absolutely stock still for over an hour, and listened to the entire story beginning to end without a break. She loved everything about it (I got a blow by blow reselling immediately after which took up most of the remainder of the journey!) but overall it was the pleasure of being able to listen to a really good story, aimed at her age group but not one she can read to herself, without being dependent on mummy or daddy to read it to her.
   
   Dd2 (not part of trial) is a very strong independent reader: this has also been her first audiobook. Interestingly, she's been eking it out a bit (only half way through) but tells me that she likes how relaxing it can be to listen to a really good story without having to actually read it.
   
   
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   
   Absolutely. dd2 turns out to be a voracious audiobook 'reader': we have already downloaded a load of children's classic fairy tales for her and I have plans to purchase a bunch of CDs when we get home.
   
   Thanks so much for selecting us for this trial - it has totally exceeded expectations!

[inspiron42]

The Faraway Tree, as it is a land far different than our own.

[createbeauty]

My favourite audiobook was A Short History of Nearly Everything.

[MsInterpret]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   5.5 as well as her little sis, nearly 3.
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   The Dinosaur that Pooped the Planet
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   Initially in the afternoon in the spare room where their toys and games are.
   They have relistened in the same place lots too.
   
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   CD player
   
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   They loved it! Thought it was v funny and retold the story to me with many giggles. I have put it into the car for rotation too!
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience? Yes - I would think of Puffin to buy or download.
   
   Thanks for letting us listen!

[Marg2k8]

My children used to love listening to various Enid Blyton story books. The folk of the faraway tree was probably favourite.

[Schumann]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   7years
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   The Twits, Roald Dahl
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   Bedtime, in bed
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   CD player
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   DS loved it, hesaid it was so funny and he liked the voices. Overall - awesome!
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   Yes definitely, they're great for the car and as a treat at bedtime

[LuckyBluie]

We love Dr Seuss audio books they are a great thing for the family to listen to whilst travelling

[Moggerhammer]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   
   I have 3 children, one who is home educated, but also shared this audio book with A class of year 2 children , mainly 7 yr olds last month
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   
   The Twits, by Roald Dahl
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   
   11:30am, just befor lunch
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   
   Computer
   
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   
   v engaged. They could really picture characters from audio story.
   
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   
   Yes, audiobooks are fantastic! Imaginations really start to flow.

[leannemoore]

Dairy of a wimpy kid dog days .
I wanted to listen to it with my 12 year old as he loves these books and I wanted to share this with him .

[chrin]

My grandson's favourite book is DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: OLD SCHOOL. He loves the Horrid Henry books and is always excited when a new one comes out.

I think he feels he can identify with the character and it does keep him occupied for a while on long car journeys

[hdh747]

I love Harry Potter as read by Stephen Fry. It's a great book for both children and adults to enjoy and I think he reads it really well.

[Sarahb8990]

1. 7year old son
   
2. The dinosaur that pooped the planet.
   
3. Listened to it in the car in the morning on the way to a foot match.
   
4. My cars CD player.
   
5. He was hooked. He absolutely loved it and was laughing throughout most of it.
   
6. Yes I'd definitely buy more audio books. They are great especially for in car entertainment.