What Audio Books Can You Recommend for Kids and Young Adults?

From discussions in my first audio blog of the year and other places in the community, I thought that it might be nice if those of us who listen to audio with our kids (or just for ourselves LOL) to recommend or warn each other about them. So I'll start.

• The Ramona Books by Beverly Cleary We've listened to 3 so far, all read by Stockard Channing and she does a good job. I laugh more often and harder than the kids do and I got all misty-eyed, too, when I'm sure that they didn't. The things that Ramona thinks are sometimes just so funny. A good example of "there's something for the grown-ups to enjoy, too". (pre-school to ??10??, best probably for 6-8 y.o. although teens should be ok with it if they're stuck in the car with siblings LOL)
• The Ralph Mouse Books by Beverly Cleary The reader does a fine job and the kids enjoy it. I don't as much as I do the Ramona Books but it's good listening for driving around. (pre-school to ??10??, best probably for 6-8 y.o.)
• Pretty Much Anything We've Listened to by Beverly Cleary We've listened to Dear Mr. Henshaw (which won a Newbery Award or Honor) and Socks and can't remember what else -- I know a few more. (elementary school: some books are for older elementary students -- you might need to discuss with the librarian first )
• The "Best" Series by Barbara Robinson I actually haven't read or listened to any of these but dh has been reading The Best School Year Ever to the kids and they have been laughing and laughing and dh is really enjoying it. Our library has them all in audio, so I've requested what I think is the first one. If any of you can get hold of it sooner and "yea" or "nay" it, then chime in. I'm assuming that they hired a good reader. :) (not sure, early elementary to 6th grade?)
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis We got this at audible.com and so own it. It was "bundled" -- it was bundled before we joined, then not when we joined and bundled again a few weeks later so those of you who belong to audible and want to buy it should make sure you get the best deal possible. Our library owns several copies, too, but my oldest was so into them that we were borrowing them over and over and I figured, hey, they're classics, might as well own them. (wow, guess you need to know the books and the kids: I tho't mine would be too young)
• Newbery Award Books I haven't listened to any, yet, but our library had all the ones available in audio on display back a few months ago. There are a lot that are available. Sadly, Madeleine L'Engle read her Wrinkle In Time and related books and the snippet that I listened to I didn't enjoy. Guess I should bite the bullet and borrow it since it's free, anyway: maybe I'll like it if I give it 5 full minutes. (age appropriateness varies widely, I think -- probably best to listen or read or ask the librarian first then judge for your own kids)
• Various books by E.B. White We've listened to Charlotte's Web, which Mr. White reads himself (as he does several of his other books). I don't like his voice but the kids don't mind and the critics love b/c it makes the book seem "real" -- his books are set where he's lived and so is his accent LOL. (elementary school)
• The Lioness Rampant Quartet by Tamora Pierce These are 4 books that begin with Alanna: The First Adventure. These are probably for teens (maybe tweens) at the youngest. She has three lovers during the course of the series and ends up with the second one. I actually liked the way the affairs were handled. You don't see anything other than a kiss or two but there is no doubt that they are lovers: she moves her stuff into their rooms, refers to them as lovers. That's just a heads up for you b/c I know that some of you won't want your kids reading that yet. There are also battle scenes (she's a girl who poses as a boy in order to become a knight -- at the end of the 2nd book, once she is a knight, she let's everyone know). The final battle is pretty bloody and violent and there are lots of deaths that I didn't want to happen. I recommend this for people who are ready for it but if you're a parent you might want to listen or read them first and decide for yourself.

Okay, that's a start. Who wants to add to the list?

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