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[Yooper]

I didn't think we had a thread on this....forgive me if we do! 

We have come across some neat books on tape/CD for the children.  I thought I'd see if there are any others out there that you could recommend.  We use them from time to time for our ~4 yr. old, especially, during school.

A few favorites:

Sign of the Beaver (Elizabeth George Spear)
Wagon Wheels [Barbara Brenner (Author), Don Bolognese (Illustrator)]
Stone Fox (John Gardiner)
Madeline's Rescue (the second side is a fun little lesson in French w/ songs)
Hill of Fire

and of course,

Frog & Toad (especially, "Shivers"--about the Old, Dark Frog  )

[CountyCork]

Hi Yooper - good thread!

We absolutely LOVE Hank the Cowdog on CD from the library.  My boys, dh and I all laugh out loud because the guy is so good.
Disclaimer - there might be a couple with "spooky" stuff and we have not heard them, so can't say which ones.
We also love Wind in the Willows, Robin Hood, all the Beatrix Potter, Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, etc.
We also like some of the Usborne books on CD - right now my little girls are listening to "The Complete Farmyard Tales" and following in the book.
I think we've listened to most you've mentioned.
Everyone, get on your library website if you can and request some good, classic books on tape for your kids.  Especially the older ones.  What a great quiet time activity, car ride helper, bedtime noise.  It's great.
Thanks again, Yooper, for starting this.  I'm anxious to hear other ideas.
Gotta go get school started - late again!

[littlemama24]

We get a lot of books on tape at the library.  We just got one called Pecos Bill but it was read by Robin Williams and it was so funny.  The boys loved it.  We have also gotten "My Side of the Mountain" and that inspired the boys to try to live outside for a few hours  .  Let's see, we have the radio show "The Sugar Creek Gang" all on tape which are all from the original books and we all love those.  The kids really pick up on the colloquialisms too and that is fun.

[Lovin'myHoneyinVT]

They aren't really books, but the Adventure's in Odessy radio show is a great series for when traveling.  My boys listened to them for a half hour before bed each night and they always have wonderful Christian lessons.  Has anyone else heard of these?  They are on the radio at 7:30 each week night.
Lovin'

here's the website
http://www.whitsend.org/

[mauimom]

We just finished listening to the BFG (Big, Friendly, Giant).  With so many weird words in it, it is so much easier and funnier to listen to on CD.  I wouldn't recommend this for little ones though, could be scary.
mauimom

[cjanderin]

My kids love all the Winnie the Pooh stories, Uncle Remus stories and Beatrix Potter stories on CD.  I always try to buy/borrow the unabridged versions, not the simplified/Disney-fied versions.  We have some Roald Dahl as well but most of his stories are more for the 7-11yr old age group.
We also have the New Testament on CD (well 16 CD's!!) and my oldest girl (5yrs) really likes it.  They are allowed to listen to a CD when they go to bed and she is always asking for a Bible one.  I'm hoping to get an OT set now.

[seeker]

I posted this on a couple of threads on 7XSunday, too. Some wonderful books are The Greatest Bible Stories Ever Told series. There are 10 books in the series. Each book comes with a CD with all the stories on it. (I have also seen this same set bound as one large book.)Before most of the stories and sometimes within the stories they quote scripture. After the stories are over, there are songs that go along with the stories. My children have memorized much scripture from these. We were given a couple of these books as gifts, and saw so much "fruit" from them that we bought the rest of the series at our Christian book store. These books have been one of the best children's purchases we've ever made.

[SagorFamily1611]

Pilgrim's progress  by Answers in Genesis is WONDERFUL! Plus they have really good curriculum to go with it.

Growing up my grandparents bought us LOTS of Your Story Hour, they are very similar to Adventures in Odessy but they are more about historical and Biblical stories or people.

[Yooper]

Thank you, thank you, everyone!  I need to get a notepad out and start submitting these to my interlibrary loan people! 

[Mrs. B]

My kids enjoy the E Nesbit stories.
Are you familiar with www.librivox.org    
They offer free books read online by volunteers; the only "catch" is that all of the books are in the public domain (older books).
There are also free downloads on iTunes under the iTunesU
To access:
- Open iTunes and go to the iTunes Store
- Click on iTunes U on the left sidebar (orange "new" label beside it)
- On the lower left sidebar is a list entitled, Universities.
- Find and click University of South Florida near to bottom left sidebar
- Click on the icon labeled College of Education on the bottom left.
- In the center bar, click on Lit2Go:Audio Files for k12
- It automatically opens the Spanish language resources. Click the grade
above. It is worthwhile to look through the list of available titles in
every grade level.

[Lovin'myHoneyinVT]

Thanks Mrs.B!

I love to read books but it usually occurs at the exclusion of all else.  With books on my iTunes I can work and "read".  The first one I will listen to is the House of Seven Gables by Hawthorne.  I have never read it but often heard the title.  Thanks again!

[TheBearsWife]

They aren't really books, but the Adventure's in Odessy radio show is a great series for when traveling.  My boys listened to them for a half hour before bed each night and they always have wonderful Christian lessons.  Has anyone else heard of these?  They are on the radio at 7:30 each week night.
Lovin'

here's the website
http://www.whitsend.org/

My children were just given some of these Odyssey tapes and are thoroughly enjoying them. They work great for our quiet times in the afternoons. The ones we were given have some history intertwined in the stories as well.

[ShabbyChic]

I have to second the Adventures in Odyssey recommendation.  I listened to them growing up (my favorite episode had a "WodFamChocSod" a.k.a. world famous chocolate soda theme...).  Although I was told by a friend who is our church librarian that the adventures in odyssey DVD movies (made more recently) are more advanced, a little scary and not for younger kids.  The original audio tapes were not this way at all, and I was disappointed to hear that about the movies.  You can get the audio tapes (or CDs) fairly cheap at CBD.

[Yooper]

A lovely Christmas book about a girl in Sweden (by Beverly Lewis) is called "Annika's Secret Wish".  Our edition from the the library came w/ a CD--narrating the book w/ extra dialogue and songs.  Precious! 

The Swedish Christmas traditions are similar to the Finns, so I think we may adopt some...especially the almond hidden in the rice pudding!  We did this last week as part of our study of Norway...

I see that Treasures of the Snow is on audio, too.  We have to read it first though.  We've enjoyed 2 other of Patricia St. John's stories..."The Rainbow Garden" and "The Secret at Pheasant Cottage".

[herbalmom]

I have to second the Adventures in Odyssey recommendation.  I listened to them growing up (my favorite episode had a "WodFamChocSod" a.k.a. world famous chocolate soda theme...).  Although I was told by a friend who is our church librarian that the adventures in odyssey DVD movies (made more recently) are more advanced, a little scary and not for younger kids.  The original audio tapes were not this way at all, and I was disappointed to hear that about the movies.  You can get the audio tapes (or CDs) fairly cheap at CBD.

Some Odyssey stories are for younger kids & some are for older ones. Esp as the main characters get older, they do deal with things that older children would deal with. IE, drugs, a friend thinking about abortion, dating, etc. Some episodes could scare little kids but the episodes that could frighten young children alway have a warning at the beginning for children only to listen if their parents are with them. HTH Blessings ~herbalmom

[Pennie]

A lovely Christmas book about a girl in Sweden (by Beverly Lewis) is called "Annika's Secret Wish".  Our edition from the the library came w/ a CD--narrating the book w/ extra dialogue and songs.  Precious! 

The Swedish Christmas traditions are similar to the Finns, so I think we may adopt some...especially the almond hidden in the rice pudding!  We did this last week as part of our study of Norway...

I see that Treasures of the Snow is on audio, too.  We have to read it first though.  We've enjoyed 2 other of Patricia St. John's stories..."The Rainbow Garden" and "The Secret at Pheasant Cottage".

Oh, we have Annikas secret wish!! My FIL bought it several yrs ago.  My husband family are all swedish and German.  That is actually where we got out Annikas name(she's almost 2) It means grace!

I read Treasures in the Snow when I was young too!! Love that book.  

[herbalmom]

My two hyper boys recommend the following: (all UNabridged)

Mark Twain, (esp Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn) any of the Henty books, Where the Red Fern Grows, Swiss Family Robinson, Death Watch (for Jr high & up- it is read in public schools & comes in a set with the book- we allowed ours to listen to it but some parents may decide that they don't want their child reading it so look at the book 1st) The Seasons of the Heart Series by Janette Oke, (!st book is Once Upon A Summer) Old Yeller, Incredible Journey, & The Toothpaste Millionaire.

My DD recommends anything by Janette Oke. She also enjoyed most of the same books the boys did.

There's more but that's what we can think of right now. I will post more later when we think of them. Blessings ~herbalmom

[westernskys]

I am wanting to start having my kids listen to stories during quiet time, since some are getting too old for naps...but I cant afford many of the new sets off the internet, and our library doesnt have many. Does anyone know of a source for used/discounted tape or cd sets? Thanks!

[petrimama]

sometimes www.christianbook.com has great sales on good audio tapes/CDs and e-bay is always a good bet.  I have also found good books at yard sales for $1 or so.  ~L

[cjanderin]

I am wanting to start having my kids listen to stories during quiet time, since some are getting too old for naps...but I cant afford many of the new sets off the internet, and our library doesnt have many. Does anyone know of a source for used/discounted tape or cd sets? Thanks!

You could also record yourself reading a story.  Read to the kids but record at the same time.  Small disturbances and voices in the background won't "ruin" the recording - you are recording it for them and it will be all the more special.  Of course that depends on the disturbance, I guess, (you probably don't want a massive argument right in the middle that will replay over and over!). 
Bible stories are a good start.  And just go to your library and get out some classic books (Beatrix Potter, Winnie the Pooh) and read those aloud.  Don't abridge the stories - the difficult language and longer sentences are all part of listening to the story ... and hearing it over and over again means those words begin to be understood.
Don't forget birthdays and Christmas etc.  Ask people for particular audio stories.  Always works in our household 

[homeschooling madre]

I've gotten some good ones - even Adventures in Odyssey cassettes and CD's from www.paperbackswap.com.  Contrary to the name, you can swap paperbacks, hardbacks, plus books/stories/teachings on CD's & cassettes.  They have some Vision Forum items on there too!

[westernskys]

You could also record yourself reading a story.  Read to the kids but record at the same time.  Small disturbances and voices in the background won't "ruin" the recording - you are recording it for them and it will be all the more special.  Of course that depends on the disturbance, I guess, (you probably don't want a massive argument right in the middle that will replay over and over!). 
Bible stories are a good start.  And just go to your library and get out some classic books (Beatrix Potter, Winnie the Pooh) and read those aloud.  Don't abridge the stories - the difficult language and longer sentences are all part of listening to the story ... and hearing it over and over again means those words begin to be understood.
Don't forget birthdays and Christmas etc.  Ask people for particular audio stories.  Always works in our household 

Thanks! these are some good ideas! I may just record myself..."they say" kids respond best to their mothers voice, so why not?!?! 

[petrimama]

I recorded myself reading several max Lucado stories for my young children 4 Christmases ago when I couldn't afford more than a couple of dollars on gifts and they were a huge hit!  (Still are.)  Best of all, I got to put a special greeting and closing lesson on the tapes too.  Great suggestion!  ~L

[NickRedeemed]

We have probably listened to close to 100 audio books in the last year.  We listen to them all the time, as any errands are pretty much a road trip.  It would depend on your children's age I suppose, but we have always stuck to unabridged literature, such as Swiss Family, and have a whole lot of reading lists we have collected over the years, for good books to read, not just "twaddle".  So many titles are swimming in my head right now, but really, what makes the book is the narrator.  I forget at the moment who the author was for Trumpet of the Swan, but for the recording we got (always from the library) the author narrated it and boy was he boring.  We enjoyed it, but he is a writer, not an actor  .  ANYTHING BY JIM WEISS IS A GEM!!!  He is GREAT!  So ANYTHING by him is worth listening to!  We have listened to many by him!  A book we just finished listening to, The Door in the Wall, the narrator had a very thick British accent and just talked way too fast.  The kids are never disappointed - they followed the story, but the guy totally lost me!  Many times, we also get a sound recording of a book they just finished reading, or one we have read aloud.   That is always fun.  I cannot tell you how many books on audio we have gotten, that we have first READ.  We are huge readers.  My 9 yo is reading Merry Poppins now and we will probably find that on audio afterward, at least someday.  They just really love hearing things over again.  I need to try out that librivox site.  I have heard of it. Usually we just scour the shelves at the library, but most of them, to us, are just not worth listening to.  So we always have our reading lists either with us or in our minds.  So I recognize titles.  ANY great book is worth listening to, and in most cases, they do have great narrators.  Robert McCloskey books have the same narrator, at least the ones we got, some old man, forgot the name sorry, but books like Homer Price.  His voice totally fits with the stories.  Happy reading/listening!

[cjanderin]

Some of these freebies include audio files.  There is one of Pinocchio available at the moment.  Although I'm listening to it as I type and I'm not really that keen on it.   
Some of their others might be better...

You can download all of these on their respective days
> at our site: www.HomeschoolFreebieOfTheDay.com

[cjanderin]

Listened a little more and decided not to play it to the kids. 
Another reminder to always check something out before giving it to your kids to listen to/read to/watch etc.  Even when it's something that your sure will be fine!   

[NickRedeemed]

Listened a little more and decided not to play it to the kids. 
Another reminder to always check something out before giving it to your kids to listen to/read to/watch etc.  Even when it's something that your sure will be fine!   

I agree.  I did not like Peter Pan at all.  The kids and I listened to it together and I thought it must get better, but it never did.  It is the most anti-parent book.  I was surprised.  I really did hate it.  It was all about escaping from parental control and Peter Pan was admired because how lucky he was that he didn't HAVE parents.  If I missed something, someone tell me, b/c I was waiting for some good news and it never came.  We liked Pinocchio but I think I remember some parts I didn't like, but it was a while ago, so I can't remember exactly.  We never get unfamiliar books to listen to.  Only those on recommended lists we have, or classics, or half the time books we have already read.  But still they are not all great.  We stopped Redwall shortly into it (way too gory) and also another that I can't think of.  It's on the tip of my tongue, and it's a classic, but the boy could basically "know" things and we just didn't like that.  Oh, don't listen to The Secret Garden unless you know where to skip over the sceance (spelling?) part.  I skipped over that part while reading the book to them years ago.   Good book, but not that part.   In some contexts these things are appropriate, but I am not going to read a dialogue of them conjuring spirits like it's a good thing.  So the best thing is, listen with them.  We always do - in the van.   

[seekingtruth]

I have just discovered a free source for audio books. It is www.librivox.org   They are recordings of old books (no longer under copywright) and am excited about using them for school/ quiet time.  It helps if you have an mp3 player to put them on. I have one and a boom box with a line in cable to listen to them.  You can also listen on your computer or put them on disc if your cd player can play them.

Tammy

[rejoicing]

ginger pye
the wheel on the school
charley skeedadle-older boys
and I second...or is that third? the Odessy series and Your story hour!

[amy3js]

and I second...or is that third? the Odessy series

My sister and I still listen to Odyssey and now I love that I can play them for dd and we can both enjoy them. So I second (or fourth?) Odyssey.

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