The Narnia books by C. S. Lewis
- These classic fantasy adventure stories are even better performed by award winning English actors such as Kenneth Branaugh, Lynn Redgrave, Derek Jacobi and Jeremy Northam.
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
- Read by Rob Inglis who is amazing and even sets the songs to music and sings them
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Because of Winn Dixie
The Tale of Despereaux
Roald Dahl books are great too, but some of them can be a little dark.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Mathilda
Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman (and anything by Ms. Cushman)
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
- Hilarious and crazy this will appeal to the entire family
The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander
- The Book of Three (the first book in the series) is not read as well as the next four books, but they are still all well worth listening too.
Hatchet by Gary Paulson (survival/adventure)
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (historical fiction/Revolutionary War)
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare (historical fiction/colonial America)
Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool (historical fiction/Kansas)
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
- This is an oldie, but a goodie especially if you are at all interested in life in the Middle Ages (as I was as a young person). The language might be challenging to read, but listening to this story makes it really come to life.
Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Gray Vining
- Another older book (and another Newbury winner), another Medieval tale.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
and of course the first three Harry Potter books!
For a slightly older crowd:
The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud (fantasy)
The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt (realistic, 1968/1969 historical fiction)
Harry Potter books 4-7
