LoveReading4Kids Top 10 Audiobooks for Children - September 2026

Grimwood: Party Animals: The Times Children's Book of the Week

"Return to the forest where anything can happen. An unmissable new book in Nadia Shireen's bestselling and wildly funny illustrated comedy adventure series, Grimwood! 'Our finest children's author' - Richard Osman  Perfect for readers age 7+, and fans of Dog Man, Roald Dahl, David Walliams, Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good, Bunny vs Monkey and anyone who likes to laugh. Sharon the Party Crow has lost her mojo! Three parties in one day have proved too much for Grimwood's favourite raving resident, and now it's up to Ted, Nancy, Willow, and the rest of the gang to help Sharon get her groove back. Teamwork, friendship and, most importantly, dance skills, will all be put to the test as the gang try to get the party started again!   Fully illustrated throughout and full of heart, laughs and surprises, this is the must-read fourth title in the bestselling and fantastically anarchic Grimwood series. PRAISE FOR GRIMWOOD: 'Grimwood is where I want to be. A carnival of crazed confused comical critters that is more real than real life. Lots of things make me laugh but Grimwood makes me laugh out loudest.' – Frank Cottrell-Boyce 'Wind in the Willows (with added wind) for a new, wilder generation' – The Times 'Ted and Nancy are my favourite funny foxes EVER.' – Liz Pichon, author of Tom Gates 'I CACKLED ALOUD on practically every page. Comic gold, tinged with such tenderness.' – Kiran Millwood Hargrave   'Gloriously anarchic, properly funny and highly illustrated with dynamic black-and-white art, this is a quirky delight for children – and their parents, too.'  – The Bookseller 'Dark, original and laugh-out-loud funny' – The Times 'This book made my face hurt! Relentlessly funny.' – Rob Biddulph 'Like Watership Down, but funny. You'll laugh hysterically on every page.' – Caitlin Moran 'Fantastic.' – Lauren Laverne 'Pure genius!' – Louie Stowell 'Made us laugh out loud.' – Jim Smith, author of Barry Loser 'You're in for a treat!' – Selom Sunu, illustrator of Look Both Ways 'Utterly HILARIOUS' – Sophy Henn, author-illustrator of Pizazz   'Every page of the book zings with invention and joie de vivre' – The Financial Times  "

Nadia Shireen (Author), Adam Buxton (Narrator)

Audiobook

Peace at Last

"Celebrate 45 years of Jill Murphy's bestselling classic Peace at Last with this special anniversary audio edition, brought to life by Anna Maxwell Martin. An all-time favourite bedtime story, Peace at Last has delighted generations, and is cherished by tired parents and carers, all too familiar with the plight of poor Mr Bear. Enjoy sharing this enduring classic with loved ones. With a snoring Mrs Bear, an excitable Baby Bear and a house full of tapping and dripping and ticking, peace is hard to come by - will Mr Bear ever get a decent night's sleep? The familiar noises and repetition make this much-loved picture book the perfect story to listen to together."

Jill Murphy (Author), Anna Maxwell Martin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Elizabeth’s Legacy

"One cryptic note. Two missing parents. Zero ordinary answers, and a magical world he never expected. Ben Greenwood’s life turned upside down the day his parents vanished—leaving behind nothing but questions. But when a mysterious letter arrives out of the blue, it changes everything. The letter points Ben toward a strange organisation he’s never heard of: the Royal Institute of Magic. Suddenly, he’s thrown into a realm where spells are bought and sold, magical creatures roam the streets, and danger lurks around every corner. To uncover the truth, Ben must dig into an ancient family secret—and face a dark force the Institute has been fighting for centuries. But if he fails, he will lose any chance of putting his world back together. Victor Kloss’s Elizabeth’s Legacy is the first book in the Royal Institute of Magic series—a thrilling adventure for young readers who love fantastical stories, spellbinding worlds, and unforgettable heroes. Can Ben discover the truth before it’s too late?"

Victor Kloss (Author), Stewart Crank (Narrator)

Audiobook

From the World of Percy Jackson: The Court of the Dead (The Nico Di Angelo Adventures)

"Brought to you by Puffin. A BRAND-NEW ADVENTURE FROM THE WORLD OF PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS From #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan and award-winning author Mark Oshiro comes a new adventure featuring two of the most popular characters from the world of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. It’s been three months since demigod boyfriends Nico di Angelo and Will Solace returned from Tartarus, and there hasn’t been a single quest for them in all that time. So, when Nico’s half sister Hazel asks them to come to Camp Jupiter to help with an ‘issue’, Nico shadow-jumps at the chance to do something. What Hazel didn’t tell the boys is that she’s providing a haven for a group of monsters who’ve escaped the Underworld! Apparently, during Nico and Will’s trip to the Underworld, they showed the monsters that they don’t have to be evil – that the monsters have options. But then the monsters start disappearing from the camp and it’s clear a dark force is at work – and Nico, Will and Hazel are shocked to find that they’re connected to it . . . Listeners love The Court of The Dead: 'Really enjoyed it' 'I simply loved it!' 'Brilliantly brilliant' © Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Mark Oshiro, Rick Riordan (Author), A.J. Beckles, Mieko Gavia (Narrator)

Audiobook

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief: The international, award-winning hit, and the biggest fantasy adventure series since Harry Potter

"HEROES AND UNICORNS AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE. The first book in the award-winning, international hit fantasy adventure series for children age 9+, and fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Fireborn.  WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023! 'The most popular children's fantasy hero since Harry Potter' – The Daily Telegraph Thirteen-year-old Skandar Smith has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider. To be one of the lucky few selected to hatch a unicorn. To bond with it for life; to train together and race for glory; to be a hero.   But just as Skandar's dream is about to come true, things start to take a more dangerous turn than he could ever have imagined. A dark and twisted enemy has stolen the Island's most powerful unicorn – and as the threat grows ever closer, Skandar discovers a secret that could blow apart his world forever . . .   Get ready for unlikely HEROES, elemental MAGIC, sky battles, ancient secrets, nail-biting races and FEROCIOUS UNICORNS, in this EPIC ADVENTURE series that will have your heart soaring. THE EPIC ADVENTURE CONTINUES . . .PRE-ORDER SKANDAR AND THE CHAOS TRIALS, THE UNMISSABLE BRAND NEW BOOK IN THE SERIES, NOW! Praise for Skandar and the Unicorn Thief:  'Steadman has a vast imagination, her world-building is a joy, the battle scenes are thrilling and her characters charm.' – The Times Children's Book of the Week 'Pacy, enthralling and epic, a gripping read.' – Louie Stowell, author of Loki and Otherland  'A dazzling feat of imagination. I loved every breathless moment of it!' – Cat Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper's Island and co-author of Twin Crowns 'The best book I've ever read.' – Patrick, age 10 'My book of the year. Not since Harry Potter have I felt this excited about a series. Readers are sure to be clamouring for the next book. You'll never look at unicorns the same way again, nor will you want to!' – Dominique Valente, author of the Starfell series   'Never have unicorns been so ferocious, fearsome and thrilling! A fantastically gripping read!' – Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Amelia Fang and Rainbow Grey   'A magnificent book. I raced through it – at turns enthralled, delighted, amazed. It's everything I could have wanted and more. No doubt this book is going to fly.' – Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear   'Skandar and the Unicorn Thief brims with wild adventure, fierce sky battles, elemental magic, ferocious unicorns and a terrifying enemy. Steadman's cinematic writing draws you in from the very first page, creating a hugely compelling, unforgettable read. Endlessly thrilling, unputdownable and utterly unmissable.' – Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn   'A. F. Steadman has created a stunning new world that feels both familiar and fresh, with a cast of characters that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.' –T?lá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun 'Perfect for those who have consumed the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy and are looking for their next fictional feast.' – The Sunday Times"

A.F. Steadman (Author), David Dawson (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Spick and the Span

"Imaginative, magical, wildly funny, and with a truly unique world, The Spick and the Span is an extraordinary, exciting fantasy middle grade adventure – perfect for fans of Jessica Townsend's Nevermoor, Jonathan Stroud's Lockwood and Co, Diana Wynne Jones' Howl's Moving Castle, and Terry Pratchett's Discworld. Thanks to many generations of careless magicians, the city of Helm is overflowing with magic, which has made it a very dangerous place to live. Leave anything alone for too long and it will transform into something else: your house will turn to gingerbread, your teapot will start pouring pond water or – if you're really unlucky – your floor will turn to lava. The magicians liked to pretend it’s them who keep the worst magical hiccups in check, but the real heroes of the whole sorry situation are of a wholly different occupation: equally well known but decidedly less respected. The heroes of the city of Helm are the cleaners. Ward, an ambitious twelve-year-old cleaner, wants nothing more than to belong to the League of Cleaners, who will grant him the prestige and popularity he's been looking for all his life – if only he can pass three near-impossible tests. Struggling toward this goal with a team he doesn't trust, Ward's world is upended when his friend disappears and mysterious magic-eating monsters appear all over the city and start tearing holes in the fabric of reality. Suddenly his ambitions are the least of his problems… Hugely funny and exciting, and with an incredibly imaginative, original story, The Spick and the Span is the unmissable fantasy middle grade debut of 2025 – you'll never look at magic the same way again…"

Pil Van Martin (Author), Alex Wingfield (Narrator)

Audiobook

Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel)

"The phenomenal fifth book in the Hunger Games series! Acclaimed actor Jefferson White, who starred in Paramount Network's Yellowstone as Jimmy Hurdstrom, brings his talent to the worldwide best-selling Hunger Games series as narrator of the Sunrise on the Reaping audiobook! When you've been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for? As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena."

Suzanne Collins (Author), Jefferson White (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lila Mackay is very Misunderstood

"The No.1 bestselling author of the Why Mummy series is back with her very first book for young YA readers! "

Gill Sims (Author), Olivia Forrest (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Last Wish List: The most weepy road trip romance

"Dash & Lily meets P.S. I Love You in a life‑affirming rom‑com about seizing your chance and learning to love. Scream into the void Do something that scares you Fall in love . . . ? When Nadia's best friend Lizzy dies, she leaves her last wish list - 16 wild and random things to do to help her get over her grief. Every item on the list feels impossible without Lizzy, especially finding a way to meet their favourite megastar.Nadia's quest takes her to America where, grieving and alone, she meets Fran, a boy with a big heart and an empty home. Setting out on the road trip of a lifetime along Route 66, the two make an odd couple. But with fate having thrown them together can they help each other find what they're looking for? A beautiful, swooning debut following the road trip of a lifetime for fans of You've Reached Sam, Girl in Pieces and John Green, exploring friendship, grief, freedom, and the rush of first love. Praise for The Last Wish List: 'The Last Wish List is a beautiful, buoyant roadmap to the heart. I fell in love, cried my heart out, and swooned over Jacqueline Silvester's gorgeous prose, and afterward I felt ready to take on the world' Jennifer Niven, bestselling author of All the Bright Places   'Joyful, tender, and achingly romanic, this is a love letter to all the fearless, hopeful, starry-eyed teenage dreamers' Simon James Green, bestselling author of This Book is Gay   'A joyous, swoony road trip that tackles grief, healing and new hope' Wren James, award-winning author of Last Seen Online   'A genuine, compassionate, and deeply-felt exploration of grief and healing. Silvester writes with an open heart about the pain of loss and about the long, sun-drenched, and unexpected road we sometimes have to take to find our way back to hope.'  Cecilia Vinesse, author of Seven Days of You   'Heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure, a beautiful story of friendship, loss and healing.' Amy McCaw, author of Mina and the Undead"

Jacqueline Silvester (Author), Aliona Baranova (Narrator)

Audiobook