Matilda: The 10 Best Audiobooks of Classic Children's Literature

With Matilda the Musical finally in theaters, there's never been a better time to explore one of the best ways kids can enjoy classic literature.

With the musical Matilda opening earlier this month to positive reviews from parents, it's proof that even today, classic children's literature continues to find new life in different mediums. While sitting through an entire movie can be a challenge for some parents with young children, there's one medium that's perfect for car rides or days spent inside the house.

Fortunately, when it comes to children's literature classics, audiobooks have something for every parent. From Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to the Winnie the Pooh stories, some of the best children's stories are lovingly told by talented narrators. These are the best.

Roald Dahl - Matilda (Narrated By Kate Winslet)

Available On Audible

For kids who haven't seen Matilda the Musical, or who have seen it and would love to hear more, there are tons of different versions of Roald Dahl's classic audiobook. One of the best comes from Kate Winslet, who brings the gifts that made her a Hollywood star to the story of a precocious child who discovers she has acquired special powers.

Not only is her voice a perfect fit for the story, but she manages to bring the fun out of it Wacky stories worth it. Roald Dahl's vivid and detailed descriptions, especially as he gleefully describes some of the less pleasant aspects of Miss Trunchbull and Wormwood, emphasize life.

A. A. Milne - The Collected Stories of Winnie-the-Pooh (Narrated By Stephen Fry, Judi Dench, And Others)

Available On Audible

While Disney has taken many of the classic stories from A. A. Milne's books, there are still plenty of Winnie the Pooh stories to read in this audiobook, no less than 4 1/2 hours long. This full cast is a great choice for kids who get restless listening to just one reader tell a story.

The cast is one of the best things about this audiobook, including narration by Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench and the familiar voice of Stephen Fry as Winnie the Pooh himself. Fun, charming, and nostalgic, this audiobook is worth a read.

C.S. Lewis - The Chronicles of Narnia Complete Audio Collection (Narrated By Kenneth Branagh And Others)

Available On Audible

While "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is available in countless audiobooks online, this dramatization of C.S. Lewis' fantasy masterpiece has the advantage of including all of the chapters in the "Chronicles of Narnia" series for the price of a copy. all books. That means over 33 hours of content for kids and adults to enjoy.

what pleases The older audience, and even more, is a stronger cast than the film series, with Sir Kenneth Branagh leading perhaps the most decorated ensemble ever, which also includes Sir Derek Jacobi and Sir Patrick Stewart et al. The only downside is that the bedtime retelling can be a little too dramatic.

Dr. Seuss - How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Narrated By Walter Matthau)

Available On Audible

For a short and sweet Christmas story, it's hard to find a better audio adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. There have been plenty of movie adaptations of Bitter Green Grumble these days, but, at just 12 minutes, this version is certainly a bit more succinct than them.

One complaint many adults have about the audiobook is that Walter Matthau's narration simply doesn't match Boris Karloff's narration in the 1966 version, but it's unlikely to bother children . Matthau's voice is not only melodious but also versatile enough to make it a memorable retelling.

Roald Dahl - The BFG (Narrated By David Walliams)

Available On Audible

Matilda is far from the only Roald Dahl story retold in lovely audiobooks, one of the most popular being The BFG. Narrated by British actor David Williams, who used his background in comedy to bring The story is also considered one of the writer's best due to the unique wit with which Dahl writes it.

Imaginative, heartwarming, and full of whimsical nonsense, and no one does it better than Dahl, BFG is likely to win over kids of any age. At four and a half hours, it might be a bit longer than Steven Spielberg's big-budget adaptation, but it's worth it.

E. B. White - Charlotte's Web (Narrated By E.B. White And George Plimpton)

Available On Audible

While Charlotte's Web is known for exploring themes that may not be appropriate for younger children, it is still a classic story of friendship and sacrifice, and it would be a shame if children missed it. This version, recorded before the author's death in 1970, may have unique appeal to fans of the book and White himself.

While children may not appreciate the historical aspects as much, White's narration is still enough to bring the story to life, and it is impossible not to be captivated by the relationship between Wilbur and Charlotte.

Dr. Seuss - The Cat in the Hat and Other Dr. Seuss Favorites (Narrated By Kelsey Grammer And Others)

Available On Audible

Dr. Seuss has written countless delightful short stories, but entertaining them for a few minutes doesn't seem worth it time. Luckily, the series brings together a number of his iconic stories in one place, including The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who, and The Lorax.

Great stories need great narrators, and this audiobook didn't disappoint Kelsey Grammer, John Cleese, John Lithgow, Billy Crystal, Dustin Hoffman, Ty Disappointed by the likes of De Danson, who all contributed their unique talents to Seuss' surreal story. Kids might not like every story, but there's something here for everyone.

Maurice Sendak - Where the Wild Things Are (Narrated By Peter Schickele)

Available On Audible

For younger children, this adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are tells a great story in a unique way, unlike the usual long, dry narrative audiobooks. Maurice Sendak's stories captivate young children as always, and Peter Schickler's dramatic reads do a good job of capturing the protagonist's wild side and wild things. ^At only 5 minutes long, kids will hardly get bored until they're done, which may be a problem with other longer audiobooks. Accompanied by Sendak's iconic illustrations, there's no better alternative to live reading than this audiobook.

If There Was a Roald Dahl Classic As unmissable as Matilda, then it has to be the iconic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It tells the story of a boy's bizarre adventures in a wacky chocolate factory, it's completely timeless, and it's available in several different audiobook versions.

Roald Dahl - Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (Narrated By Douglas Hodge)

Available On Audible

The abridged version narrated by Roald Dahl himself is also worth checking out, but the Douglas Hodge version is the most popular for a reason. Hodge may not be that well-known outside of the UK, but he brings a unique set of voices to distinguish all the eccentric characters in the book.

While Peter Jackson's The Hobbit may not be suitable for children under the age of 10, thankfully this fantasy novel is quite different from the adaptation and is aimed at a much younger audience than Lord of the Rings . This book is a classic fantasy novel about a small human-like creature who goes on an adventure to fight a fearsome dragon.

J. R. R. Tolkien - The Hobbit (Narrated By Andy Serkis)

Available On Audible

If Andy Serkis' love for Tolkien's work wasn't already expressed enough through his portrayal of Gollum in the films, it certainly did when he read The Hobbit, in which he carefully to bilbo The unique voices of Baggins, Gandalf, Thorin and the other dwarves are delightful.

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