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

[BornToFolk]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   7
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   Danger is Everywhere
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   During the day, in the living room. We were having a lazy day at home so DS kept putting the story on for a bit, listening for 20 mins for so, then going off to do something else, putting the story back on etc. It definitely cut down on requests for TV or tablet!
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   CD player (first time it's been used in ages)
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   When we first received the CDs DS was a bit underwhelmed. He thought they were DVDs and was a bit disappointed that you are just supposed to listen! However, within 2 mins he was hooked and laughing along. He really liked the silliness of this one, though personally I found it a little irritating...
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   Yes, definitely. I think I'll probably check some out of the library to find ones that DS would enjoy. I'm hopeful that I might be able to persuade him to put one on in his room on weekend mornings to give me a bit longer in bed...

[hannonle]

Non-Tester

I find it really difficult to listen to audio books as my attention just wanders and I can't multitask and take in the plot at the same time. I've only ever tried audio books twice and both times were failures as I ended up wanting something to do. It's hard to sit still and just listen to something for me.

Having said that, an audio book would be good for me if it had the right narrator. Someone whose voice can grab you. Maybe a book with different accents or characters to it and because of that, I think a children's book would work much better than an adult one. I'm sure someone like David Walliams would be able to get my (and any children's) attention for more than ten seconds and actually hold my interest.

[phillie1]

Non-tester. Harry Potter series - fab for long car journeys, as they last forever

[feefeegabor]

I love the first Harry Potter book (actually, the whole series) read by Stephen Fry. He puts so much emotion into it, it brings the stories a whole new dimension for me.

[Ikea1234]

Non Tester

We actually loved a version of The Twits, read by Rik Mayall. His voice really brought it to life and made us laugh a lot!

[Liquorice13]

Non Tester

We listened to Matilda with our 6 year old daughter, she got bored after about 5 minutes because there were no pictures!

[alexiscasey123]

1. My son is 7
   

1. We got Dennie the Menace
   

1. He put it on first thing in the morning as soon as it arrived in the post!
   

1. Listened to on the stereo in his bedroom
   

1. Initially he listened to it for about 20 seconds, then turned it off as he said it didn't sound like Dennis the Menace! After talking to him about the voice, he listened again that night at bedtime, and has listened to it at every bedtime since. He now loves it, and if he's still awake when it finished as he listens at bedtime, he'll play it again immediately
   

1. My son loves books and audio books. He has Mr Gum and Roald Dahl mainly, and now that he has heard this is likely to get any others in the series as he is a ,assign Beano fan.

[CuffsAndCollar]

Non-tester

We have the Roald Dahl set and love them, especially Matilda and The BFG. Classics read by great narrators ( Kate Winslet / David Walliams ).

[shoebedo434]

my favourite audiobook is Harry Potter. Stephen Fry does such a wonderful job with the narration and it is just as compelling audio as written

[jayz268]

Harry Potter, all of them because they're so classic and entertaining

[Itshouldntmatter]

1. How old is the child who took part? 6, but my 4 year old was also listening
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose? The Twits
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook? In the car, on continuous loop during the day, for three days. The result - 5 complete runs of the story!
   
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? My children loved it. Hence the reason why we had to listen to it four times in two days. We were using it to pass the time in our hire car as we did a bit of touring on our holiday. The car was only rented for four days. The first day was a short journey, so we saved it for the longer one. My four year old son often gets bored of other audio tapes, but he LOVED this. It was suitably disgusting for him, and suitably amusing for my daughter. My six year old daughter was chortling in the back the first time she heard it, the second time, the third time and basically every time. My four year old son loved that the monkey name was the same as in The Enormous Crocodile. They were quite disgusted by idea of eating worms. The three adults who were obliged to listen to it 5 times in three days thought it was pretty good too. The narrator was great, although Mrs Twit seemed rather louder than the narrated bits and the other character voices.
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   Yes - I liked the quality, and I am very sure that we could pass some other long journeys with some equally good quality stories. We will have to get more because otherwise we will have to listen to the Twits on continuous loop for the next month.

[BakingWithToddlerand4YO]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   
   5 (the 2 YO listened too)
   
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   
   The Twits
   
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   
   Early afternoon in the car on the way to our holiday.
   
   
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?
   
   Giggled away at the "naughty tricks" and at the disgusting description of Mr Twit's beard. Loved Richard Ayoade's version of Mrs Twit's voice.
   
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   
   Yes. Car was peaceful - apart from giggles - when listening to the audiobook. Afterwards we all had a really lovely talk about our favourite parts and the things we found the funniest.

[redredread]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   
   Five year old, and slightly less interested four year old
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   The Twits
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   Mid morning, on a long car journey
   
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   Through the car radio, via my iPhone
   
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   Really positive - lots of laughter, concentration, anticipation and enjoyment
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   Definitely - well worth getting these. At the moment, I'd be most likely to buy them before long journeys, as I don't think the DC would listen in such a concentrated way at home.

[cather]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   Age 9
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   Danger is Everywhere by David O?Doherty ready by David O'Doherty (7+)
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   About 8pm in the playroom
   
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   On his Dad's computer
   
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   He thought it was funny and really enjoyed listening to it. He liked being able to listen to a story whilst he was playing.
   
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   I already buy audiobooks as they are great to listen to in the car and at home. I used to love listening to Jackanory when I was a child and hearing the different voices that the narrator used for the characters really brought the story to life. I think my love of audio books stems back to then, if I like a particular narrator I will buy other audio books read by them because I know they will really bring the story to life.

[JennyKearney]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   5 years, but the whole family listened (inc. a 3 year old)
   
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?
   We listened in the car, about 10am
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   In car hifi
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   My 5 year old really enjoyed it. We have a few shorter stories but this was the first time we have listened to something longer. My son liked the different voices and didn't believe it was told by just one person. The story is brilliant so it kept him entertained for a god long time.
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   Would definitely try both children with more audio books, will probably try and purchase more Roald Dahl stories first.
   We'd also like you to add a review of the audiobook on MN (using the links sent to you on the email). Done. Thanks for the opportunity!

[nushcar]

Puffin would love to know what you and your children thought by answering these questions:

1) How old is the child who took part?

4.5 (and my almost 3 yr old listened in as well)

2) Which audiobook did your DC choose?

The Twits by Roald Dahl (I think I chose really due to nostaligia)

3) What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?

About 10am during weekend on long drive in car

4) On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?

Car CD player, which is getting on a bit and kept stopping, however, due to useful split into very short chapters, was easy enough to re-start at chapter beginning if sound cut out or we went through tunnel.

5) What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?

This is still a relatively long story for a 4 year old, yet my daughter seemed engrossed. Even my 2 year old seemed strangely quiet. I thought this was because he was about to nap, but he did not, he too remained intent the whole way through.

My daughter was keen to hear story as got upset if she couldn't hear due to noisy traffic and found the language very rude and therefore funny (repetition of 'you twit!' 'you old hag!' and 'bare bottom' being what seemingly caught her attention most of all.

I think it required a little explanation to check my kids were following story due to their age at times and they are at an age when are very impressionable when it comes to 'rude' words, however, I was amazed at how they got the story, even if not understanding every word and the humour - I think mostly down to language and it being engagingly read with humorous accents.

6) Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?

YES. Anything to vary from nursery rhyme CD and my husband and I enjoyed hearing the story again, especially with Richard Ayoade reading and his comic accents.

[conway]

1. 9 year old boy
   2)Dennis The Menace
   3)In the car and sometimes in the evening or in the afternoon when tired
   4)CD player in car or on CD player
   
2. It was really funny. Enjoyed listening to his menacing ways
   
3. Definitely

[Pigeonpea]

The Twits!
We love audio CD's
We love Roald Dahl
This is great. my little one was a little spooked when Mr Twit started to talk, but soon realised that the booming voice was part of the story. Thoroughly enjoyable for all of us and now a favourite for long car journeys
We have listened to it at home on the lounge CD and in the car - having a CD means it can travel with us
We would definitely look into getting more audio CD's and putting them on Birthday and Christmas wish lists

[ZetaPu]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   10yrs and 7yrs
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   Danger is everywhere
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   Before bed 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?
   They enjoyed relaxing in bed listening to the story and stayed up very late for a couple of nights as they wanted to keep listening to it. They found it hilarious and laughed a lot.
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   Yes.

[janx]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   7 ( and my 10 year old listened too)
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   Danger is Everywhere by David O'Doherty
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   late afternoon
   
4. On what device did your DC listen to the audiobook?
   Stereo
   
5. What was your child’s overall impression of the experience? What did they like about it?
   They both really liked it - my 7 year old just laughed hysterically the whole way through
   
6. Do you think you’d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   Defiantly - we listened to them on long journeys but it was equally enjoyable to listen together in the front room!

[MichelleMumsnet]

Hi everyone, if you're interested in finding out what Mumsnetters think about another one of Puffin's audiobook, Magic and Adventure, you can read the feedback here

[supermariossister]

ds and ss listened to the audio book which was denies the menace diary. they are ages 8 and 11. they began the story in the kitchen on the stereo then moved to the living room on pc. late evening time after tea, not necessarily to wind down it was on that loud you could hear it all over the house they thought it was really funny and laughed a lot, was definatly their humour! I would buy more of these certainly for winding down at night or an activity on a rainy day/day in it was great fun even I enjoyed it. thanks again

[chrissie66]

1. How old is the child who took part?
   
   My daughter is 6 years old
   
   
2. Which audiobook did your DC choose?
   
   She chose The Twits by Roald Dahl
   
   
3. What time of day and where did your child listen to the audiobook?
   
   She has listened to it over a few mornings during the Summer holiday
   
   
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?
   
   My daughter was really looking forward to listening to the audio book. As soon as we received it she asked me to play it for her. I was very impressed at how well she sat and listened to the story. She loved the disgusting tricks that Mr/Mrs Twit played on each other and she also loved the way in which the story was narrated. We also have the book and so she chose to follow the story and read along. All in all it was a great experience and I think we will be listening to it many more times!
   
   
6. Do you think you?d buy or look for more audiobooks in the future as a result of this experience?
   
   This was my daughters first experience of an audio book. It was a great success so I am sure we will keep a lookout for more.

[buckley1983]

Non-tester!
We love audiobooks.. we checked out the range at our local library for our last drive down to Cornwall.. a long 5 hours to fill! We chose a couple of Jacqueline Wilson's books - my favourite was 'The Cat Mummy' which was surprisingly dark (luckily little one was asleep for that one, but I enjoyed it!!) - his favourites are any of the Julia Donaldson ones - he has a boxset of 10, but particularly loves 'The Troll', 'The Snail & the Whale' & 'Room on the Broom' - what is great about these ones is that they are quite short books, but are fleshed out with different voices for the characters, short song pieces & sound effects. They each have a separate song on them too which my little one LOVES singing along too!
Audiobooks make a refreshing change from nursery rhyme CDs in my car!

[villanova]

1. The main child reviewer is 9, and his sister is 6
   
2. We chose Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, as DS is a massive WK fan, having ALL the books and already one audiobook read by the same person
   
3. The DC listened to the audiobook at bedtime, in their room, but it will also be transported to the car for our holiday
   
4. They listened to the audiobook on their clock radio (CD version)
   
5. Both the children really liked the book. Ramon's reading style is laconic and engaging, without being too gratingly American, and he sounds enough like a slightly grown up Greg to be convincing (plus it's the same narrator as our other WK audiobook, so it's good for continuity). For my son, the best bit is that it's all the book, with no bits missing. My DD, who hasn't read the books yet, was also kept entertained.
   
6. We already use a lot of audiobooks from the library, and will definitely get more in the future, plus definitely buy more, as we need to widen the bedtime choices. I think it's excellent for the DCs imaginations to listen to the words and 'see' the pictures in their heads.