There is no doubt that taking four young kids on a road trip is daunting. Just packing the car is quite the puzzle. You have to fit all the pieces in just the right way. The portable crib for the baby, strollers, diapers, sleeping bags, pillows, clothes, food... The picture of my kids packed into the car above was when we were just going on a short camping trip!
Last summer, we traveled over 3500 miles on two road trips, one of which was a trip to Yellowstone that included three days of driving all day through the park. What saved us with all of that traveling were the audiobooks we listened to. In fact, my kids loved listening to audiobooks so much, we continued checking out more and more audiobooks from the library when we got home. It's amazing how much time little trips around town take (especially in Southern California with all of our traffic!). We go through 1-2 audiobooks a week just listening in the car. It would take far too long to list every book we have listened to and loved, but I polled my kids and here are some of their favorites. I have two boys, ages 6 and 5, a 3-year-old girl, and a baby girl. My boys especially like humorous stories, stories with talking animals, mysteries, or adventurous stories. My daughter loves books that feature young girls or magic. We take turns picking out books to listen to, so our audiobook list covers a range of reading and interest levels. My kids have often been pleasantly surprised to find that they love a book that they didn't think would interest them at first. So here are 25 of our favorites we have listened to so far...
The Phantom Tollbooth CD
This book is one of those with layers of meaning. The kids will enjoy it as a simple fantasy. Parents will find themselves listening along and laughing at all of the wordplay.
Winnie-the-Pooh (A.A. Milne's Pooh Classics)
This classic is one of the first books I read aloud to my children and it is one that they have requested to re-read again. It is another that is surprisingly entertaining to both adults and children.
A Bear Called Paddington
After finishing all of the Winnie the Pooh books, my kids wanted more, so we turned to Paddington--another silly little bear who is always getting into trouble.
Little House On The Prairie
(Series)These were also some of the first audiobooks we listened to. Though they might not seem like the first choice for young boys, all of my kids loved these books because they are fascinated with cowboys and the time of early American settlements. The books on CD even had violinists play some of the songs that Pa played which helped bring the story to life.
Mr. Popper's Penguins
This a short, charming classic children's book. What's not to love about entertaining penguins?
Mary Poppins
These books are a bit different from the Disney movie--but they are classic children's books full of magic and fun.
The Moffats
The ordinary adventures of this family in the early 1900s still captured enough of the essence of childhood that my children could relate with and enjoy the book.
Half Magic
When children discover a magical coin that grants them half of each thing they wish for, they have adventures and trouble.
The Roald Dahl Audio Collection: Includes Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James &;; the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Enormous Crocodile &; The Magic Finger
We have listened to almost all of Roald Dahl's children's books. Humorous, magical, and often downright strange--the books definitely appeal to my young boys' interests.
Three Tales of My Father's Dragon
This was one of those books that was short and enjoyable enough that my kids have listened to it more than once. My kids both listened to and read the chapter book versions of these delightful stories.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
This story has adventure, mystery, and talking animals--a good combination for my boys.
Princess Academy
The whole family loved this book. It is one of my favorites, and even my boys who were initially turned off by the word "princess" found themselves caught up in the magic of "quarry speech."
The Wind in the Willows
My mischievous boys for some reason love hearing about protagonists who get into trouble--and Mr. Toad is very good at getting into trouble! And the kids stretched their vocabulary a bit along the way as we listened to this classic book.
The Chronicles of Narnia (Series)
These books were my absolute favorite growing up, so I was pleased that my kids enjoyed them as well. We listened to all seven books and were sad when we finished the series. Though there are some dark moments in this series, we love that good always triumphs in the end!
Anne of Green Gables
This was another one of my all-time favorites that I "forced" upon my kids. I told them that if they didn't like the book after the first 10 minutes we could turn it off. But they loved hearing about Anne and her big imagination.
Stuart Little , Charlotte's Web by White , and Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
All three books we listened to by E.B. White were charming. The humor is subtle and the writing is clever. There is a reason these books have stood the test of time.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle , Ramona Quimby, Age 8 CD
(series)Another set of books from childhood that I shared with my kids were those by Beverly Cleary. My boys enjoyed the Mouse and the Motorcycle series as well as several of the Ramona books.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
(Jim Dale)This classic book is another with layers of meaning that make it enjoyable for both kids and adults. Jim Dale's fantastic narrating make it accessible and entertaining for kids of all ages.
The Fairy-tale Detectives
This is a modern twist on classic fairy-tales that my kids had fun with. They have only listened to the first book in the series so far, but they were begging for more when we finished this.
Encyclopedia Brown Mysteries
My boys enjoy trying to solve mysteries alongside Encyclopedia Brown. The many, short episodes make this audiobook good for shorter drives around town.
The Story of Dr. Doolittle
It's hard to believe it has been nearly 100 years since this cute children's book was written. My kids loved hearing about Dr. DoLittle and his adventures.
Indian in the Cupboard
Who hasn't dreamed at some point of toys coming to life? Omri finds out things aren't quite simple when a magic cupboard brings his plastic toy Indian to life.
Tinkerbell Chapter Books (Disney Fairies Collection #5: Tink, North of Neverland; Beck Beyond the Sea)
These books were a random series we pulled off of the shelf to appease my 3-year-old daughter who felt that she never got a turn to choose the audiobook (which was true). Surprisingly, even my boys enjoyed the stories--and the stories do have positive messages.
The Light Princess
This is an old classic about a girl who is cursed by a fairy to be "light." This means she is literally lightweight--she would float off like a balloon if she weren't tied down. And she is also light-minded--she laughs at everything.
Pippi Longstocking
This is another old classic that has stood the test of time. Pippi is a funny, mischievous, entertaining little girl that will get your kids laughing.
One challenge with an audiobook is that you can't edit out language or other content as easily as you can when you read the book aloud. Some of the books above do have occasional profanity. I usually try to check out the website www.commonsensemedia.com to determine if the content is appropriate for my children before checking out a new book. Other times if a situation comes up in a book that is contrary to what I have taught my children, we discuss it and take it as a learning opportunity--that's a benefit of listening to books together which is harder to do when children read on their own. But the wonderful thing about audiobooks is that my children have been exposed to great stories which would otherwise be outside their reading or interest levels. I'm excited to try out even more books as my kids get older. We haven't even started the Harry Potter series, which are some of my favorites. I would love to hear more recommendations in the comments if you have any favorite audiobooks/read-alouds!
by Patricia Polacco
by Brian Wildsmith
by Lori Walburg
by Angela Elwell Hunt/Tim Jonke.
by Jan Brett
by Irving Berlin/Lisa McCue
by Jen Cullerton Johnson and Sonia Lynn Sadler--This is the true story of 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Wangari Maathi. It is really suited for older children (The description says 7 and up) because it has a lot of text, but my 3-year-old and 5-year-old surprised me by sitting through it all. They were very captivated by the vibrant illustrations.
by Claire Rudolf Murphy and Stacey Schuett--My kids enjoyed this story about the fight for women's rights. It is told from the first-person point of view of a young girl so perhaps that helps children connect with the story more.
by Shana Corey and Chesley McLaren--This is a lighthearted introduction to the women's rights movement in the U.S. It is a short and easy read, so even though it lacks the depth of some books, it still brings up some issues women used to face and is a great choice for young children.
by Barbara Cooney--Miss Rumphius has a grandfather that encouraged her to make the world more beautiful. So, in a small and simple way she makes the world a better place. I love this book because it shows that we don't always have to do great, dramatic things to make an impact.
by Patty Lovell and David Catrow--This is a charming fictional book that is perfect for preschoolers. When Molly Lou Melon faces a boy at a new school who teases her, she stands up to him and shows the other children that her differences can actually be assets.
Elephant and Piggie Books by Mo Willems and fell in love with them. There are about twenty books in that series including 
at the library and my son liked them because he loves horses and cowboys. These are still fairly simple beginning readers but they arranged in short "chapters" that have episodes about the adventures of a cowgirl and her horse.
--These also have very short "chapters" but they are still fairly easy readers. If you have little boys then you might have to check out these books. My boys think they are quite funny, and I'm just happy that we found something that my oldest wants to read on his own.
and 
by Antoinette Portis--A small rabbit in this book turns a cardboard box into all sorts of things--a race car, a mountain, and more. Since my kids always love creating with empty cardboard boxes themselves, they could really connect with the theme of this book.
by Charles G. Shaw--In this book, the narrator looks at all sorts of clouds and imagines the different things that they look like. After reading this book you will definitely want to go outside and lie on the grass to look at clouds yourself.
by Joan Walsch Anglund--This is one of my son's all-time favorites because he can relate so much with the cute little boy who is the main character. The main character is pretending to be a cowboy. The illustrations are fun because the real-life things are drawn in black and the things he imagines are drawn in red.
by Chris Barton and Tom Lichtenheld--This was one of those books we randomly picked up from the library and really ended up loving. If your boys are like mine who are very competitive and always coming up with all sorts of crazy adventures with their toys, they will appreciate this book. Two kids are playing with a shark and train and imagining all sorts of contests for their toys and which toy might "win" in each situation.
--My kids like the unique look and feel of this book, and I absolutely love the message of this book--If you make a "mistake" just be creative and turn it into a "beautiful oops." It is a book that is perfect for a child or adult of any age. (This is on both this list and my list of 
--Most people know the movie version of this story, but the original book is definitely worth picking up. A pancake lands on a child's head and that sparks Grandpa's imagination. He spins a delightful tall tale about food falling from the sky.
--If your child loves drawing as mine does, he will appreciate this classic book that shows just how far you can go with one simple crayon and your imagination.
by Gene Zion and Margaret Bloy Graham--Harry doesn't want a bath, so he runs away and has a little adventure. My dog-lover likes this adorable book.
by Deborah Diesen and Daniel X. Hanna--My kids love the rhythm and the funny "blu-blu-blu" sounds that the fish makes in this book about a frowning fish who thinks he has to spread his "dreary-wearies" until he finally meets someone who helps him changes his mind.
by Julia Jarman and Lynne Chapman--An entire school class gets eaten by an anaconda, but finally the last child props a stick in the snake's mouth to allow everyone to escape. It might scare younger kids, but the story was told in such a humorous way that my boys just laughed and begged to read it again and again.
--My kids think it is so funny that the goat in this story is supposed to eat garbage and that he gets in trouble for eating fruits and vegetables.
by Bernard Most--A rooster is sick and tries to get the cow to wake up the animals instead, and it leads to a hilarious series of a different funny attempts on the words "cock-a-doodle-doo." My boys love all the silly words in this book.
by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague--There are many bedtime stories out there that show the classic struggle between a parent and child at bedtime. But it is more entertaining because it features tiny little human moms and dads and huge dinosaur "children." And in the end the right way to go to bed is shown.
by Dayle Ann Dodds and Kyrsten Brooker--Another "going to bed" story--this time featuring a stubborn prince who won't go to bed. The whole castle tries to please him in increasingly more elaborate ways but in the end all he wanted was a goodnight kiss.
by Emily Pearson and Fumi Kosaka--We love this story about how one simple act of kindness sets off a chain reaction of good deeds around the world.
by Ludwig Bemelmans--We love the spunky heroine in this classic book.
by Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz--Every child has his bad days and this is about one kid who has just one of those days. This book seems like a downer, but it is one I like to talk about with my kids afterwards (about how Alexander could have had a better attitude, how he blamed people for things that really weren't their fault, and how we sometimes all do that but we should try to be responsible for our own feelings). My boys think Alexander is funny but they can also relate with him at times.
are just three of the books we love by Kevin Henkes--Although these are animals, not people--but they face life-like situations that kids might deal with. They are all strong and fun characters who overcome those childhood challenges.
by Maurice Sendak--This classic book was a perfect fit for my two "wild" little boys. (And we also like the Little Bear books by Sendak).
by Mary Ann Hoberman--This book explores all types of houses--even things you wouldn't normally consider a "house." It is creative and fun and my boys are always finding all sorts of things hidden in the illustrations that they like.
by Holly Hobbie--A sweet story about friendship that alternates between Toot traveling the world and Puddle at home.
by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd--This was on my list of 
by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault and Lois Ehlert--
and 
by Ellen Stoll Walsh--Learn about how colors can mix in the first book and practice counting when these lively mice outwit a snake in the second.
by Denise Fleming--This book is high on the favorites list for my middle child because he loves construction. But it is great for any child because it shows a cute little mouse putting together all of the letters of the alphabet with tools that match the sound of each letter.
by Keith Baker--This alphabet book features adorable little peas doing all sorts of activities.
and 
--I love art history, and so I love reading these books by the Metropolitan Museum of Art that show some famous works of art while at the same time reinforcing letters and numbers.
by Joan Holub and Tom Lichtenheld--Even if your kids aren't quite ready to understand all the math facts about the number zero, they still will get a kick out of this book that gives the number "Zero" quite the personality. I was surprised at how much my 3- and 4-year-old wanted to read this over and over again when we checked it out from the library.
by Pam Abrams, Bruce Wolf and Laurie Goldrich Wolf--this book might fit better on my list of books for toddlers because it is so simple. But I was surprised at how much my sweet-toothed older boys absolutely loved this book. They have chosen to check it from the library several times.
by Doris Fisher, Dani Sneed and Karen Lee--A great book for kids who are learning about odd and even numbers. Even if they aren't ready to learn about odds and evens (some of it was above my 3-year-old's head) they will still get a kick out of the wacky illustrations in this story.
--My kids haven't outgrown Eric Carle books. Even though they are very simple, they have a familiarity and charm that my boys love.
and 
--Not only do these books reinforce colors and numbers, they are also about being relaxed when things don't always turn out the way we expect. My kids think Pete the Cat is very cool.
by Marla Frazee--This is one of my three-year-old's favorite books. It is a cute and simple story about a girl riding on a roller coaster for her first time.
by Deb Lund--What happens when Dinosaurs decide they want to go for a train ride? Everything turns out to be a big mess. My kids love it!
by Lois Lenski--Another classic old book about trains. We follow Engineer Small through his day. (We also like other books by Lois Lenski about Pilot Small, Cowboy Small, and more.)
and other books by Patricia Hubbell--My kids have all enjoyed checking out Patricia Hubbell's transportation themed books. They are fun and easy to read and the illustrations are cute.
by Denise Dowling Mortensen and Melissa Iwai--This book features may different types of vehicles--including trucks, trains, planes, and cars.
--We like Richard Scarry's books because they aren't just vocabulary books--they have stories and funny little characters that keep my kids poring over the pages.
by Ann Jonas--This book is very cool because once you reach the end of the book (your "destination") you flip the book over and read it backwards and upside down to take the "return trip." (The reversible black and white illustrations are very cool!)
by Emma Garcia--This is random book my middle child pulled off the shelf at the library. He loves construction workers and machines, so he begged to read this book over and over.
by John Rocco--What happens when the power goes it in a big city? Maybe people actually stop for a minute to spend time with each other instead of with whatever else was distracting them.
by Lane Smith--In this book the boy's Grandpa's life history is shown through the bushes he has pruned and shaped. We were definitely captivated by this unusual storytelling and illustration.
by David Ezra Stein--My kids laughed so hard at this book about a chicken who never gets to hear the end of his bedtime stories because he always interrupts.
by William Steig--This is a somewhat sad book, but still one that my kids think is interesting--and it does have an important message about being careful what you wish for.
by Ezra Jack Keats--My kids don't know much about snow, being from southern California. But this book gives them a taste of the childhood joy in freshly fallen snow.
by Ian Falconer--Olivia may be a pig, but she acts just like a typical three-year-old child--full of energy and imagination.
by Philip C. Stead and Erin Stead--When the zookeeper gets sick, the animals cheer him up. It is a charming story.
by Tomie dePaola--We love the Strega Nona books. She is clever and her bumbling assistant Big Anthony makes us laugh.
by Nina Laden--This is a hilarious book based on acquaintance of the real-life artists Picasso and Matisse.
--by William Lach--This book is a 2 for 1--introducing kids to both classical music and art.
by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg--My kids love pulling out all the letters on each page of this book
and 
by Salina Yoon--This is a book and a toy in one. The front cover has a kaleidoscope wheel to turn and each page has vibrant illustrations that are fun to look at through the wheel.
by Istvan Banyai--These books start with a simple picture on one page and then "zoom out" on the next page to show you a different perspective. Each page continues to zoom out in surprising ways--you never know what you are really looking at.
by Jerry Pinkney is a Caldecott award winner. The gorgeous illustrations in this book tell the classic fable of the Lion & the Mouse.
Trainstop by Barbara Lehman--This shows what happens when a girls imagination wanders while she rides a train.
by David Wiesner--This is another very imaginative wordless picture book featuring flying frogs.
by Marcus Pfister--Ava watches her poppy grow but then sadly watches it die as well. But in the spring she sees a new sprout. It's a beautiful story about new life through the eyes of a child.
by Lisa Campbell Ernst--In this guessing game, each page shows a portion of something that is round like a ball and different people guess what it may be (In the end it is the world).
by Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee--A brother and sister interact with the world in many different ways in this poet award-winning book.
by the same author, but instead of ingredients, you are gathering materials for your kitchen tools.
--I like the old original Berenstain Bears book better than some of the newer books. But the newer books are good beginning readers. The Bernestain Bears books always have great messages and humor that both my kids and I enjoy.
and 
--The froggy books never fail to make my kids smile.
by Teruyuki Komiya and Toshimitsu Matsuhashi (other books in this series as well)--My kids love the large illustrations and the way the table of contents is set up like a map of the aquarium.
by Katie Daynes and Colin King--The lift-a-flaps in this book make it entertaining as well as educational.
, 
, and many of the holiday-themed books.
--My oldest son loves to draw so we have checked out drawing books like this from the library to go through together.