fdrinca Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Our librarian recommended Clementine for our audiobook-loving family, and it was a big hit because we all loved the performance, not necessarily the book. Some audiobooks are great because the books are interesting and the narration is good (Stockard Channing's narration of the Ramona books comes to mind), but I'm interested in finding more of these unexpectedly entertaining performances. Any suggestions? If I have to listen to David Pittu read another A to Z Mystery again, I might drive off the road! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 My kids have loved all the Beverly Cleary books. The Ribsy books are read by Neil Patrick Harris and Ralph S. Mouse books are read by BD Wong. Other series we have loved: Harry Potter Artemis Fowl Percy Jackson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 James and the Giant Peach - Jeremy Irons Matilda - Joely Richardson (I see there is also one read by Kate Winslet) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Definitely EB White reading Trumpet of the Swan or Charlotte's Web. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 The enchanted forest series which starts with deling with dragons. Thors wedding day The incredible journey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Fairest and Ella Enchanted (Latter for the story, first for the music) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 A Dog on His Own was a fun audiobook, I would not have enjoyed reading it at all. My kids are pretty young so I'm not sure older kids would like it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Socks, read by Neil Patrick Harris The Series of Unfortunate Events books that Are read by Tim Curry. Unfortunately, Lemony Snickett is not a good reader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyMommy Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Definitely EB White reading Trumpet of the Swan or Charlotte's Web. I am so glad you said that! I just grabbed that from the library for a road trip tomorrow :) I actually like Jim Weiss (DH tolerates him most of the time, but there are some things he won't listen to) and was pleased to discover he also narrates a lot of classic literature. One of our favorites is Betrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fetzer_mark Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Shiloh. by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (series) Little Britches, Father & I were ranchers. By Ralph Moody (series) Caddie Woodlawn. By Carol Ryrie ? Brinks Nick Of Time. & Time Pirates. By Ted Bell My side of the Mountain Old Yeller The Kingdom series By Chuck Black Little House on the Praire series These are some of our favorites that we listen to on road trips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kateingr Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 We're listening to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (read by Douglas Hodge) right now, and it's an incredible performance. Perfect accent, perfect voices, and just the right amount of sound effects in the background to keep things interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erica in OR Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 The Cricket in Times Square was excellent. They included the cricket "singing" and it was very effective. Agree with others that the Artemis Fowl narration was great (although they threw a new narrator in for a book or two in the middle of the series, which was irritating) and the Tim Curry narration of Lemony Snicket is great too. Erica in OR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is one of the best narrations ever. Not for young kids, though - too scary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsmm Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Peter and the Starcatchers series. Could be scary for younger kids though. Any of the Roald Dahl stories Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEGway Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 How to Train Your Dragon read by David Tenant (Dr. Who) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 A Door in the Wall - much better with accents Understood Betsy - a brilliant story but weird long sentences - amazing on audio Whales on Stilts - hysterical. Narrator is amazing. The focus on the Family Narnia series. Read the books first, but the dramatized audio is great for long car rides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEGway Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Rob Ingliss reading Tolkein is brilliant. Also, Peter Denis reading A. A. Milne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwiesman Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 We have enjoyed the Chronicles of Narnia from Focus on the Family Radio Theatre. Very dramatic! Very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 The Harry Potter audios are fabulous! Some others we've loved: Hank the Cowdog Hoot The Hobbitt Bunnicula Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
konglish Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I agree with Peter Dennis doing the Winnie the Pooh series. Awesome! I personally didn't care for B.D. Wong's version of The Mouse and the Motorcycle though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Socks, read by Neil Patrick Harris The Series of Unfortunate Events books that Are read by Tim Curry. Unfortunately, Lemony Snickett is not a good reader. I loved Tim Curry but he totally freaked my kids out. A little too authentically creepy. :) I loved Harry Potter with Jim Dale as the narrator. He's amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicheleinMN Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Thors wedding day Such a fun audio book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Katherine Kellgren is a fantastic narrator/reader. My girls and I really enjoyed her reading of book one of The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdrinca Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 Thanks for all of the great recommendations! Now to request some audiobooks from the library... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Skulduggery Pleasant is the best audiobook we've ever listened to. I tried to read the book and it was good but nowhere near as amazing as the audiobook. There are parts that are a little creepy and there's magic involved if your family is opposed to that. DD listened to it with us at seven and we thought it was appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incognito Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - wonderful content, beautifully done audiobook. The next book, Starry River of the Sky, is also very good. I preferred the narrator on the first book, but after a few chapters it picked up okay and we really enjoyed it too. Both books were worth listening to multiple times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Peter and the Starcatchers series. Could be scary for younger kids though. Any of the Roald Dahl stories Revolting Rhymes is an all time favorite here-my kids can recite many lines from it. It's retelling of well-known fairy tales, in rhyme, with some changes in the stories. Generally I *hate* altered retellings of fairy tales, but these are classic Dahl and we love them. Also, don't miss The Witches read by Lynn Redgrave. It is worth looking for her reading of it-soooo good. "I'm talking about...REAL witches.." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 I thought of a few more: Ginger Pte and Pinky Pye narrated by Kate Forbes. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane narrated by Judith Ivey. As someone else has already mentioned, the Clementine books are fantastic. My girls have listened to the Little House series over and over and over. My own favorites are probably the E.B. White books narrated by the author himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erica in OR Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Skulduggery Pleasant is the best audiobook we've ever listened to. I tried to read the book and it was good but nowhere near as amazing as the audiobook. There are parts that are a little creepy and there's magic involved if your family is opposed to that. DD listened to it with us at seven and we thought it was appropriate. Forgot that one! Totally agree, narrator is amazing! Erica in OR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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