Audio Books

I've mentioned before my ten year old sons constant use of audio books. He has a little CD player beside his bed and piles of discs scattered all over the place. They seem to be a little more hard wearing than DVD's as most of them still work fine, when one careless day out of its box seems to spell the end for our movies.

I know its a bit old fashioned to listen this way, there's probably podcasts or audible books or what have you that are way better, but this works for us. He sticks in the disc and presses play without once asking me if the internet is working or muttering about touch screens and batteries.Also, I think I can guarantee that if there was an Ipad beside his bed, the last thing he'd do with it would be listen to stories. Happily too, so far it isn't difficult to source the books we want in this format. Hopefully soon instead of becoming more scarce, they'll just get cheaper.

Pictured above are D'Aulaires Greek Myths, mentioned in this post. As I said, Sidney Poitier, Matthew Broderick and Kathleen Turner narrate. Its excellent. Then there's the Roald Dahls, which need no introduction. My favourite is next, Charlottes Web read by the author. So beautiful. The Beatrix Potter Stories are all read by established actors and some rhymes are set to music. This set contain her whole body of work and while it doesn't seem cheap, it really is for what you get. We have been listening to these for the past eight years. The How To Train Your Dragons are read by David Tennant and are very funny. He does a great job and this one has been heard a dozen times. As has The Cricket in Times Square, - a sweet, old fashioned story. And last is The Phantom Tollbooth, I  haven't heard it yet, but I know it was enjoyed. And its read by David Hyde Pierce, which can only be a good thing.

All of these are listenable to by everyone, both adult and child, (and some of the Beatrix Potters are great for toddlers) so are ideal for long journeys.

D'Aulaires' Book Of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire

I got this for one of my middle boys the Christmas before last. Having just come across the D'Aulaires books, I was blown away by how lovely they were and convinced myself that only a bad parent could resist buying this one. Even as I wrapped it I felt there was a good chance it might not wow him and labeled it From Mum and Dad lest it be considered not Santa worthy. But no, my nine year old was very happy with it. To be fair, he has always been into monsters and stories of the mythical variety, but it was an unexpected pleasure to see him poring over this day after day. It made up for the many times I despaired at the sight of him glued  to my laptop watching multiple episodes of Fairly Odd Parents and similar crap on YouTube.

I got his brother the audio version and can safely say all my kids must, if even just by osmosis, know the book off by heart. Read by Matthew Broderick, Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman and Kathleen Turner it has been the soundtrack of their bedroom for the past year. And, to make things even better, my friend Michelle of My Book Affair pointed out that a detailed knowledge of the classics will help throughout secondary school, particularly in Leaving Certificate English. I don't have a teenager yet but have a pretty good feeling that getting this knowledge in before then then is a good idea.

Published in 1962, I've heard this book called the gold standard of Greek Myths. And its a stunningly beautiful book.  On the days I have served weetabix for dinner and know tomorrows lunch bags will be bulked out with fig rolls, I comfort myself that if this book has been looked at, at least their little artistic souls are well fed.