Reading books with your child is an incredibly powerful way of supporting your child’s learning. We’ve put together a list of stories that are available as audiobooks (one for each day of the week) that we think make for great listening. The lists are divided into stories appropriate for 3-5 year olds and stories more appropriate for children aged 6+.

We’ve also created some guidance for parents about reading together at home with young children.

For preschoolers (3-5 years)

Monday: Listen to Ore Oduba read A Busy Day for Birds by Lucy Cousins (4 mins) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPThRJA9cZ0&list=PLE5MZB5pedUMQRHw2etfKDkufdGKDiPsU&index=17

Tuesday: Listen to Open Very Carefully: A Book with Bite by Nicola O’Byrne and Nick Bromley (5 mins) at https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/have-some-fun/storybooks-and-games/open-very-carefully/ 

Wednesday: Listen to Dick Weir read Doctor’s Grundy’s Undies by Dawn McMillan (5 mins) at https://storytime.rnz.co.nz/book/doctor-grundys-undies

Thursday: Listen to David McKee (author) read Elmer (6 mins) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFrD18XLmlM&list=PLE5MZB5pedUMQRHw2etfKDkufdGKDiPsU&index=9

Friday: Listen to Tom Hardy read Odd Dog Out by Rob Biddulph (4 mins) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUayOnHldv0

For older children (6 years +)

Monday: Listen to Tim Kopra (an astronaut) read Endeavour’s Long Journey by John Danny Olivas (16 mins) from the International Space Station at https://storytimefromspace.com/stories/endeavours-long-journey/

Tuesday: Listen to Justine Theroux read Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter (11 mins) at https://www.storylineonline.net/books/garbage-barge/

Wednesday: Listen to Scarlett Johansson read Alice Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (2 hrs 44 mins) at https://stories.audible.com/pdp/B015D78L0U?ref=adbl_ent_anon_ds_pdp_pc_pg-1-cntr-0-2

Thursday: Listen to Chris Riddell (author) read Once upon a Wild Wood (12 mins) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMliDY9gt18&list=PLE5MZB5pedUMQRHw2etfKDkufdGKDiPsU&index=1

Friday: Listen to Apirana Taylor (author) and others read Beyond the Jellymite Clouds (13 mins) at https://storytime.rnz.co.nz/book/sky-stories-beyond-the-jellymite-clouds

By Dr Vicki Hargraves

PREPARED FOR THE EDUCATION HUB BY

Dr Vicki Hargraves

Vicki runs our early childhood webinar series and also is responsible for the creation of many of our early childhood research reviews. Vicki is a teacher, mother, writer, and researcher living in Marlborough. She recently completed her PhD using philosophy to explore creative approaches to understanding early childhood education. She is inspired by the wealth of educational research that is available and is passionate about making this available and useful for teachers.