Ailin makes unexpected decisions for her time period, including a life-changing move from her home all the way across the ocean to the U.S. It follows the story of Ailin, a daughter who resists having her feet bound, and who defies convention in other ways as well. This is set in China during the early 1900s. Ties that Bind, Ties that Break by Lensey Namioka It was a Pura Belpré award honoree, the author reads it, and it’s worth checking out. This is a semi-autobiographical story about a Cuban family that makes the difficult decision to send their boys from Havana to Miami. 90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis If some need more of a push, Bahni Turpin narrates. That right there should hook a variety of readers, including young teens. Viva is a 14-year-old detective hunting down hidden treasure in New Orleans. Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttonsby Ashli St. Adepitan has written several books, so check out his other titles if you like this one. He’s a very dynamic reader and hopefully will hook all kinds of listeners, including more reluctant readers who might like a sports-focused story. He also competed as a paralympian in basketball for years prior to his career as a TV personality. If you’re unfamiliar with him, Adepitan is a BBC presenter, actor, and sports commentator. Adepitan narrates the story and is really good at it (not always a given, in my not so humble opinion). Cyborg Cat and the Night Spider by Ade Adepitan At just under an hour, it is a good choice for those who may not want to commit to a longer read at the moment or anyone who wants to try their first audiobook. The Blue Umbrella by Ruskin BondĪ young girl named Binya comes across an umbrella that she must have. At only about two and a half hours, you can finish this one quickly. The story is about Miata Ramirez, her best friend Ana, and their campaigns for class officer positions. Off and Running by Gary Sotoįor something shorter, Soto’s book is an entertaining and light choice. Since these are all free audiobooks for kids, you can always move on and try other titles if this one doesn’t interest your listeners. If you have a reader or two who likes Ancient Egypt (usually a very popular topic), play some of this and see if it sucks them in. They can continue following Omakayas through three other books, so there is more to keep them going after this one. If your readers like this, keep in mind that it is the beginning of a series. Erdrich has won numerous awards for her writing and this is one of the few historical fiction choices I have come across. This book is about Omakayas, a young girl from the Ojibwa people, growing up in the mid-1800s. She is also a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and has been writing for years about Indian themes. Louise Erdrich is a well-known poet, novelist, and children’s book author. If you have a reader obsessed with Minecraft, then Morgan’s book may be a good choice. Quest for the Diamond Sword by Winter Morgan It also starts with a stuck chicken-in case magic and music aren’t enough to draw you in. This middle grade fantasy fuses music and magic. The Mystwick School of Musicraft, by Jessica Khoury More anthropomorphic animals and their entanglements with one another in this one. Loya wrote and narrates these stories for readers big and small. Tio Conejo (Uncle Rabbit) and Other Latin American Trickster Tales by Olga Loya This story of ShimChong and her father melds sorrowful and sweet elements. The Blind Man’s Daughter, A Korean Folktale You may also like this story in which two anthropomorphic cats fall in love and lead rather complicated inner lives. This fairytale was new to me I liked the fantastical elements in it. The Boy Who Liked to Draw Cats, A Japanese Folktale It also has an Oni (a kind of ogre in Japanese folklore) that may or may not want to eat our protagonist of advanced age. This one has a talking Jizo statue that speaks in exactly the way I would imagine it to. The Old Woman Who Lost her Dumpling, A Japanese Folktale It’s not quite as nostalgic for me as Momotaro the Peach Boy, but it is in the same vein. The end may surprise you if you’re expecting a “happily ever after,” although it does have one, in a certain way. This is the story of a talented boatman and his love interest. There is palace intrigue, the ocean makes a few important appearances, and of course there are princes. This book tells the story of how the delicious fruit came to Vietnam. The Watermelon Prince, A Vietnamese Folktale Experimenting with these free audiobooks for kids will hopefully lead you and your listeners to something enjoyable. It is also hard for me to predict what I will and won’t enjoy, and apparently I am not alone in that. I am whatever the opposite of reluctant is when it comes to audiobooks and even so, some just do not work for me. To me, this seems especially important if you are trying to hook more reluctant readers on audiobooks.
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