My husband has struggled with the learning disorder, dyslexia since he was a kid. One of the things that he found has helped him the most was listening to books on tape. (I guess they aren't on "tape" anymore are they? but we still call them that *wink*)...
He has always loved listening to books this way, and has been doing this for years, and has now introduced it to our family. He usually listens to books to and from his way to work each day. His favorite genres are historical books, both fiction and non-fiction. The list of books he has read this way is a mile long- Including the entire Bible and LDS Standard works.
When the kids were little and we would go on a road trip, we'd always make sure to bring a book for us to listen to along the way. The kids, who were too young at the time to follow a book, would usually just watch a movie or sleep (or as was the case when they were babies, scream *wink*).
Recently though- we have reached the point where the whole family LOVES to listen to books when we drive. Many times it's on long drives, but sometimes we will put them on as we drive around town running errands. It makes a nice break from music/dvd's. Plus, I can not tell you how much MORE QUICKLY a long drive goes by when you've got a great book to listen too!
In the past couple of years we have read:
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All of the Percy Jackson books- A favorite of my 15 yr old daughter who LOVES Greek Mythology- and my 9 yr old son who just loves anything Percy Jackson related since he and Percy both struggle with dyslexia..
The new Rick Riordan book- the Red Pyramid- When I was a kid I wanted to be an archaeologist and used to dream of going to Egypt one day to see the pyramids... The closest I got was in college- I got to work with a professor who was cataloging DNA from the Egyptian mummies (to make a family tree), it was pretty cool work- I really enjoyed this book (and there is another one out due soon)....
For our upcoming Spring Break Trip we have planned to read the Peter and the Starcatchers series, it's also narrated by Jim Dale, so I've got high hopes... I'll let you know how it goes..
Okay- here is where I need a little help from you guys...
What else can we ALL read? (I have 2 almost 10yr olds and a 15 yr old.. so nothing "racy") We are running out of books a little too quickly and I need some good suggestions (preferably series) that my whole family will love.
Any suggestions???
*also- if you are wondering where we got all of the audiobooks, we have an audible.com account- If you get a membership you can download books each month at a very reasonable price, then listen to them on your ipod/iphone... I highly recommend it! (just a shout out- not a paid endorsement).
35 people said...:
How about The Hunger Games - it is a trilogy set and I found it in the Young Adult section of my library!!!
Wow... My Dad has dyslexia as well, every vacation we took each sumer would consist of at least a ten to twelve hour drive. He always brought along several books on tape. We all loved them! We were exposed to some amazing literature this way. Your post brought back many great memories. Thanks.
How about Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series? Or perhaps the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke?
We love audio books too! When my kids were smaller, we listened to every single Magic Treehouse book available multiple times. I had two of the only preschoolers around who could tell you about Mt. Vesuvius, the Revolutionary War and ancient China!
My kids are younger than yours, so I don't have any suggestions, but I'll definitely be looking into the ones you suggested. They're itching for me to read them both the Harry Potter series and Percy Jackson. Books on tape (yes, we still call them that too even though my kids don't know what a tape is) may be the way to go.
Have you tried the Redwall series? There are a total of 21 books I think. I have listened to 16 from my local library, where I can download them to my computer or player for free. The fun part of this series is they are read by a cast of people including the author Brian Jacques! He is from Scotland so his accent and some of the words they use make listening different than most books. They would be age apropriate for the kids, and I am 52 and enjoyed them too.
My father, son, myself and other members of my family have a mild form of dyslexia (typing is an issue, lol). We also have other visual perceptual disorders, but work our way through it. I know I'm a slower reader than most adults, but it just gives me more time to form the story into pictures in my head. My husband is a wonderful reader and sometimes reads novels out loud while I drive on our long journeys, like this Christmas with my son and his fiance.
how about the chronicles of narnia? I have to admit I absolutely love love jim dale so I downloaded from audible most of the books he reads like around the world in 80 days, christmas carol, peter pan, and etc.
My mom used to read The boxcar children, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys to my sisters and I. I especially love the Junie B. Jones set but she has a bit of an attitude. What I like most about Junie is that everything she goes through (it starts in preschool and continues through her elementary years) most young children will experience as well. It's almost a way for them to learn that certain milestones are not scary , like starting school, meeting new friends, etc.
My husband just went to the store and picked out a few new books for bedtime stories. We read almost anything to our toddlers. I started with Edgar Allen Poe and now we are on to Goosebumps. Really, anything you pick would be great!
Any of the books by Terry Pratchett. One of the best (the first one we listened to was 'Wintersmith'.) Our 15 year old grandson introduced us to them and we all listen over and over again. Humorous and worth listening to.
I agree with the "Narnia" series, those were my favorite as a child and now. The "Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, also great. And maybe the "A Wrinkle in Time" series, although I think it's the last one that is a bit strange and may not be suitable depending on your tastes.
My husband has dyslexia too and loves listening to books on tape as well! He gets migraines when he reads. He loves the Odd Thomas series (I think by Dean Koontz), but I don't think they are kid-friendly.
how about the 39 clues series?? i just finished reading those with my 9 year old...they are packed full of adventure and history, very national treasure-esque
We loved the Redwall books too - although we read those. We listened to the Golden Compass trilogy and loved them - those are read by the author and he does a wonderful job.
I second The Hunger Games! James Patterson has also written a series for young adults that I have heard is very good. The Narnia series is also great!
Jennifer :)
My family young and old (from 5 year old to grandpa) love the Chronicles of Narnia on "tape." Each book is read by someone different but they are excellent quality. A few voices are Kenneth Branaugh, Jeremy Northam, and Patrick Stewart.
The Eragon series is fun, and kid-friendly, especially if you like dragons/fantasy genre!
I loved inkheart. I think there are three books in the series.
I love the Roald Dahl series on tape :) the reader is so intriguing and they are wonderful for the whole family!
I loved The Hunger Games, but I think they might be a bit too much for your 10 year old...they are extremely violent. Narnia for sure. :)
Our family listened to the Narnia books on c.d and they were great! Spiderwick Chronicles are good too for the kids.
My son(13) and I love the Alex Rider Series by Anthony Horowitz. We have been reading them for the last few years. They are about a British spy kid who has to save the world.
By the way I know you through my sister Allison Roundy. And I have 9 year old twins as well. I have been following your blog for a while but today I feel brave to comment;)
The Septimus Heap series is another good one for the whole family.
We listened to the "Fablehaven" series by Brandon Mull. There are five books total and I think they would cover your age span well.
Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series is wonderful! Or the "Percy Jackson" series about greek heroes - "The Supernaturalist" (says my 10 year old son) is great.
At that age, I enjoyed the Lake Woebegone monologues - and most of them are family friendly....
Some of my favorite childhood memories are of road trips in the car with my family. We would often listen to books on tape - it is amazing how much more quickly the trip flies by! One of our favorite series (which now has many books in it) was "Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites" by Chris Heimerdinger. They are juvenile fiction - I think your kids are just the right age to enjoy them.
I teach 5th grade, so I understand what you are saying when you need a good book for EVERYBODY. I highly recommend: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay-(these are all three in a series), Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events (there are 13 books) all the kids at school LOVE these!, any Gary Paulsen book (Hatchet, Brian's Winter, Brian's Return, etc.) I will warn you these may have a few inappropriate words, but they are excellent, esp. if your son likes anything about hunting, Jerry Spinelli is a WONDERFUL author (Maniac McGee, Eggs, Smiles to Go, Crush). Personally I really recommend the book Rules by Cynthia Lord. It deals with a teenage girl, her autistic brother, and her "crush" who is in a wheelchair and cannot speak. Our kids at school REALLY LOVED this book!! I have also always loved the book the Giver by Lois Lowry. Hope this helps!!!
I'm a teacher and here are some my students in that age like: The Strange Case Of the Oragami Yoda, The Lemony Snicket Series (there are 13 of them) I'm reading right now and they are good. The Hunger Games have been really popular, A Dog's Purpose is good too! If you love to read/listen check out www.goodreads.com it's a fun site to review books with your friends/family!!
I teach 6th grade writing and science. I read out loud to my writing students everyday. They love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. I also read them Freak the Mighty. It's older but still relevant. Any of the Patrick Carman books are great. Right now I'm reading Thirteen Days to Midnight. It has a few swear words but nothing too "racy" and it's highly engaging for kids of all reading levels. His Skeleton Creek series is also excellent.
morganmadeit.net
Wow guys!! Thanks for all of the suggestions!! We have read the Narnia books and I agree they are all wonderful! My husband has read all of the Lord of the Rings books and the Hobbit too!
There are a lot of books that I'm anxious to read after hearing all of your suggestions!
I'll have to do a post with all of the the great book suggestions!
Keep em coming!
Melissa
Inkheart Trilogy is great.. so is the Left Behind series for kids (pre-teen).
I love anything by Shannon Hale. My favorites were Princess Academy and The Goose Girl. They are sweet stories that I enjoyed and can't wait until my girls are old enough to enjoy them as well. I also really enjoyed The Wide Awake Princess by E.D. Baker.
I too LOVE to listen to books on CD!!! I have listened to all of the Harry Potter books 4 or 5 times (7th one 2 times).
I taught 5th grade for 7 years and there were several books I liked on Tape. Shiloh series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor; Little House on the Praire books are also good. I really liked the Narnia books, too. Happy reading!
How about the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy series, or the other douglas adams fiction? Fun for all the family. Douglas Adam's Last chance to see is also brilliant if you can get hold of it, although it's non-fiction (My copy is read by the man himself). A good one if your kids are interested in conservation / endangered species.
I can't wait until my kids are old enough to enjoy some of these!
we listen to the chris heimerdinger series - my kids LOVE THEM!! i think there's 10 or 11 books now and they're all great. i grew up listening to them and it's so fun that my kids listen to them too.
We have liked the Anne of Green Gables series, Cheaper by the Dozen, and the BFG. We usually get our books on "tape" from the library.
The Inkheart series was great, love Cornelia Funke. Neil Gaiman has a couple of very interesting books. I have listened to Stardust, Neverwhere and Anansi Boys, all very good.
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