Audio is one of our favorite tools, especially for our kids with dyslexia. We use audiobooks every day, and we load audio onto simple MP3 players so the kids can listen on their own during quiet time, in the car, or on hard days.
These are the audio dramas, audiobooks and music we love, sorted by subject. Looking for podcasts? They have their own library.
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend resources I’ve personally used and trust. Full disclosures.
Katie’s Top Picks
The audio favorites I rate 5 out of 5. You’ll find them in the full list below too.
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Library last updated October 22, 2026
Each pick is marked Faith-based (made from a Christian perspective) or Not faith-based.
Geography & World Cultures
We’ve listened
Audio Memory Geography Songs
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary · Middle school
Not faith-based
Kathy Troxel’s Audio Memory songs use music to help kids memorize world geography.
Great for studying: countries, geography, memory songs
Shop Audio Memory (Audio Memory Geography Songs) (opens in a new tab)
Stories & Audio Dramas
On my listening list
Jonathan Park
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary · Middle school
Faith-based
Action-packed, faith-building audio adventures for kids and families.
Great for studying: audio adventure, creation, faith
Get it from Jonathan Park (Jonathan Park) (opens in a new tab)
On my listening list
Lamplighter Theatre
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary · Middle school
Faith-based
Dramatized audio adventures based on Lamplighter’s collection of character-building books.
Great for studying: audio drama, character, classic stories
Shop Lamplighter Theatre (Lamplighter Theatre) (opens in a new tab)
We’ve listened
Your Story Hour
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Faith-based
Family-friendly radio dramas based on the Bible, historical heroes and true-to-life adventures, teaching Biblical values since 1949.
Great for studying: Bible stories, radio drama, true stories
Visit Your Story Hour (Your Story Hour) (opens in a new tab)
Katie recommends
Adventures in Odyssey
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary · Middle school
Faith-based
The classic family audio drama from Focus on the Family. The episodes are sold as albums.
Great for studying: audio drama, character, faith
Katie’s notes
We are a big Adventures in Odyssey family: my husband and I grew up on it as homeschool kids. We have collected the CDs over the years and put them on our kids’ MP3 players for quiet time. The official podcast is behind-the-scenes interviews, not the episodes themselves.
Buy the albums on Amazon (Adventures in Odyssey) (opens in a new tab)Official site for Adventures in Odyssey (opens in a new tab)
Katie recommends
Life at the Pond
Suggested ages: Elementary
Faith-based
Biblically based truths applied to life lessons that build character.
Great for studying: biblical life lessons, character
Katie’s notes
A Christian podcast in the same vein as Paws & Tales: animals at the pond learn about God, being a good neighbor and obeying God’s Word. Geared to elementary and under, but all my kids enjoy it.
Listen on Apple Podcasts (Life at the Pond) (opens in a new tab)Official site for Life at the Pond (opens in a new tab)
Katie recommends
Jungle Jam and Friends: The Radio Show!
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Faith-based
Marvy Snuffleson, Gruffy Bear, the Cheetah Sisters and a whole jungle full of friends share stories, songs and laughter.
Great for studying: audio drama, character, humor
Listen on Apple Podcasts (Jungle Jam and Friends: The Radio Show!) (opens in a new tab)
Audiobooks & Read-Alouds
Katie recommends
The Wild Robot
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
A robot washes up on a wild island and learns to survive, and to live, among the animals. Read by Kate Atwater.
Great for studying: nature, read-aloud, survival
Katie recommends
My Father’s Dragon
Suggested ages: Elementary
Not faith-based
A Newbery Honor classic about a boy on a daring quest to rescue a baby dragon.
Great for studying: adventure, read-aloud
Listen on Apple Books (My Father’s Dragon) (opens in a new tab)
We’ve listened
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
Beverly Cleary’s story of Ralph, a young mouse whose world changes when a boy and his toy motorcycle check into the inn. Performed by B. D. Wong.
Great for studying: adventure, humor, read-aloud
Listen on Apple Books (The Mouse and the Motorcycle) (opens in a new tab)
We’ve listened
The Trumpet of the Swan
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
Louis, a trumpeter swan born without a voice, finds his own way to be heard. Read by the author, E. B. White.
Great for studying: animals, determination, read-aloud
Listen on Apple Books (The Trumpet of the Swan) (opens in a new tab)
Katie recommends
Charlotte’s Web
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
The classic story of Wilbur the pig and his friend Charlotte the spider, read by the author, E. B. White.
Great for studying: farm life, friendship, read-aloud
Listen on Apple Books (Charlotte’s Web) (opens in a new tab)
We’ve listened
A Bear Called Paddington
Suggested ages: Elementary
Not faith-based
Michael Bond’s 1958 classic about a polite, accident-prone bear from Peru who is taken in by the Brown family at Paddington Station. Read by Stephen Fry.
Great for studying: classic, humor, read-aloud
Read Parent Review of A Bear Called Paddington on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Listen on Apple Books (A Bear Called Paddington) (opens in a new tab)
Katie recommends
Homer Price
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
Robert McCloskey’s funny stories of Homer and his small town of Centerburg, from a doughnut machine that won’t stop to four robbers caught with help from a pet skunk.
Great for studying: humor, read-aloud, small-town life
We’ve listened
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
Five siblings have eleven days to win over their grumpy upstairs landlord before their family has to leave the Harlem brownstone they love. Read by Robin Miles.
Great for studying: family, kindness, read-aloud
Content notes for parents
Mild language (“sucks,” “screwed up”), some potty humor, and a small crush between a 12-year-old girl and a neighborhood boy.
Read Parent Review of The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Listen on Apple Books (The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street) (opens in a new tab)
Katie recommends
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school
Not faith-based
The Newbery-winning true story of Nat Bowditch, a poor boy in Revolutionary-era Salem who taught himself navigation and changed how sailors find their way. Read by Jim Weiss.
Great for studying: navigation, read-aloud, true story
Content notes for parents
Several of Nat’s family members die over the course of the story.
Listen on Apple Books (Carry On, Mr. Bowditch) (opens in a new tab)
We’ve listened
Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule
Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school
Not faith-based
After the Civil War, twelve-year-old Pascal and his older brother set out to claim the land promised to freed families. A Scott O’Dell Award–winning story of Reconstruction, read by Andrea Johnson.
Great for studying: historical fiction, read-aloud, Reconstruction
Content notes for parents
Set right after slavery: racism, abuse and violence, including deaths.
Listen on Apple Books (Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule) (opens in a new tab)
We’ve listened
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Suggested ages: Middle school
Not faith-based
Mildred D. Taylor’s Newbery-winning novel about Cassie Logan and her family holding on to their land and their dignity in 1930s Mississippi. Read by Lynne Thigpen.
Great for studying: Great Depression, historical fiction, read-aloud
Content notes for parents
Racial slurs and racist violence: men are set on fire, a man is shot, a mob threatens the family, and there are vague references to rape. Children are whipped at school and at home.
Read Parent Review of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry on Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)Listen on Apple Books (Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry) (opens in a new tab)
Music, Arts & Creative Careers
On my listening list
Maestro Classics
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
Narrated stories set to classical music performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Great for studying: classical music, composers, stories
Shop Maestro Classics (Maestro Classics) (opens in a new tab)
Katie recommends
Wee Sing Children’s Songs and Fingerplays
Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary
Not faith-based
Classic children’s songs and fingerplays to sing and act out together.
Great for studying: action rhymes, children’s songs, fingerplays
Listen on Apple Music (Wee Sing Children’s Songs and Fingerplays) (opens in a new tab)
Katie recommends
Wee Sing America
Suggested ages: Elementary · Upper elementary
Not faith-based
A Wee Sing collection of songs from American history and tradition.
Great for studying: American songs, folk songs, patriotic songs
Listen on Apple Music (Wee Sing America) (opens in a new tab)
Bible, Theology & Church History
We’ve listened
Seeds Kids Worship (Seeds Family Worship)
Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary · Upper elementary
Faith-based
Scripture set to music to help kids learn God’s Word. Formerly called Seeds Family Worship.
Great for studying: Bible memory, Scripture songs, worship
Katie’s notes
We use the Seeds Family Worship CDs to help our kids memorize Scripture, and we put them on their MP3 players.
Listen on Apple Music (Seeds Kids Worship (Seeds Family Worship)) (opens in a new tab)
Katie recommends
Hide ’Em in Your Heart
Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary · Upper elementary
Faith-based
Steve Green sings Bible memory melodies for kids, with two volumes of Scripture songs.
Great for studying: Bible verses, Scripture memory, songs
Katie’s notes
We use these Steve Green CDs to help our kids memorize Scripture, and we put them on their MP3 players.
Listen on Apple Music (Hide ’Em in Your Heart) (opens in a new tab)
We’ve listened
Psalty the Singing Songbook
Suggested ages: Preschool · Elementary
Faith-based
Kids Praise! music with Psalty the singing songbook: fun, faith-filled songs for praising the Lord.
Great for studying: faith, praise songs, worship
Listen on Apple Music (Psalty the Singing Songbook) (opens in a new tab)
Biographies & Inspiring True Stories
Katie recommends
Christian Heroes: Then & Now
Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school
Faith-based
True stories of missionaries and other Christian heroes, written for young readers by Janet and Geoff Benge. The books are available as audiobooks.
Great for studying: biographies, Christian heroes, missionaries
Shop YWAM Publishing (Christian Heroes: Then & Now) (opens in a new tab)
We’ve listened
Heroes of History: Then & Now
Suggested ages: Upper elementary · Middle school
Faith-based
Biographies of famous figures from history, from George Washington to Laura Ingalls Wilder, written for young readers by Janet and Geoff Benge. Available as audiobooks.
Great for studying: American history, biographies, famous people
Shop YWAM Publishing (Heroes of History: Then & Now) (opens in a new tab)
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In this video I share how we use MP3 players in our homeschool and 10 things we put on them.
A quick note before you press play: While I have listened to many of these, I have not heard every episode or track, so I recommend listening along with your children. We use these as jumping-off points for further conversation, along with any other content that may pop up.
Looking for podcasts?
Our podcast library has more stories, audio dramas and learning on the go, with my ratings and a faith label on each one.
Where we get audiobooks
Audiobooks don’t have to be expensive. These are our favorite places to find them:
- Libby – free audiobooks and ebooks with your library card
- Everand – audiobooks and ebooks for one monthly price
- Audible – the biggest audiobook library
- YouTube – some classic stories and read-alouds are free to listen to (preview first)
More videos, shows & audio
Looking for YouTube channels and educational shows too? They’re all on our Videos, Shows & Audio page. The learning apps we use for practice and review are on our Learning Apps page. And the games we play for school and family game night are on our Educational Games page.