Weary parents, it is possible to have a car ride without the tapping of tablets, the hum of the screens, or the incessant whining. Having a low-screentime household and family doesn’t mean that car rides have to be miserable, or that you have to give up. Through the years, we have discovered the joy of Audible for families.
These gems act like movies in some ways. The characters are engaging, voiced and performed by some amazing talent. And, yet. they engage the imagination and the mind in many more ways than a screen does.
We’re not saying you absolutely can’t pull out that screen for a movie when the going gets tough. But instead of using it the whole time, instead of it being a default in the car, try out these books that the entire car can enjoy.
For we found that everyone has enjoyed the following six audiobooks, not just the littlest. They engaged all of our minds and launched some interesting family conversations.
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Here are 6 Great Audible Books for Families:
1. Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Roald Dahl writes some wild books, and this is one of them. We started with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, of course, but this ended up being a fun one for my husband and me. Because we all remember Charlie flying away in the elevator, but what happens afterward? Turns out there are aliens involved.
2. Sideways Stories from Wayside School
Louis Sachar himself reads this funny story about zany characters at a mixed-up school. Sachar’s voice is the perfect blend of irony and comedy that it adds to the entire experience.
3. 
The Collected Stories of Winnie-the-Pooh
Having children has made me fall in love with Winnie the Pooh again. These original stories are absolute gems. Adults can appreciate the nuanced humor and divine cuteness, while kids enjoy the story of these loving animals and their friend, Christopher Robin. The full cast version here is loaded with star power. Piglet’s voice requires some getting used to, but overall a delightful listen
I remember this old movie from my childhood and didn’t take to it as a kid. But the actual book is fantastic! And this reading by Christina Moore is so well done.
You may recall how much we have loved the antics of the crazy Poppers and their adorable penguins in the past, and this audio version does it justice. (Jim Carrey is NOT involved.)
I thought I knew this story, but it turns out I missed a lot. It was engaging. The accent in this audio recording is perfect and Paddington was a fun bear to follow!
Other Audible books we’ve tried without much success:
We tried The Mary Poppins Series
 but the narrator’s voice was hard to follow and lulled us to sleep.
Our oldest (8 years old) loved The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
 but our 5-year-old had no interest.
Conversely, our 5-year-old couldn’t get enough Stink (we have always loved those books) but our 8-year-old has grown out of them.
We also tried the Beezus and Ramona
, but frankly, Stockard Channing’s character voices rubbed us the wrong way.
Which just goes to show that when it comes to Audible, there are a lot of personal preferences involved. But an audiobook is certainly worth trying! Road trips can now be a wonderful opportunity to expose children (and yourself) to stories and classics while simultaneously making the time go faster.