Tips

Here are some tips for choosing audio books for children, suggested by Shannon Maughan, audio book expert at Publishers Weekly, and Sharon Grover, youth services librarian in Arlington, Va.

Choose age-appropriate titles, so that kids don't get bored or frustrated in understanding the book.

Consider the narrator's accent and reading style. For example, many younger children have trouble understanding a pronounced British accent (Jim Dale's "softened'' British accent in the "Harry Potter'' books is an exception).

Select books that your children would enjoy. It's supposed to be fun.

Plot-driven narratives or those with highly-developed characters work best for audio books. Nonfiction doesn't always work well because the narrative often is not the strong point. Biographies, however, are an exception.

Suggested listening

Here's a list of some particularly good audio books for kids, drawn from interviews with various experts:

The "Harry Potter'' books by J.K. Rowling, read by Jim Dale.

The "Narnia'' books by C.S. Lewis, read by top British actors including Kenneth Branagh, Lynn Redgrave, etc.

The "His Dark Materials'' triology ("The Golden Compass,'' etc.) by Philip Pullman, done with a full cast.

"A Series of Unfortunate Events,'' by Lemony Snicket, read by Tim Curry.

The "Ramona'' books by Beverly Cleary, read by Stockard Channing.

Books by Garth Nix, including "Sabriel,'' read by Tim Curry.

"Wee Free Men'' and "A Hatful of Sky'' by Terry Pratchett, read by Stephen Briggs.

The "Sally Lockart'' trilogy by Philip Pullman, read by Anton Lesser.

"Raven's Gate'' by Anthony Horo- witz, read by Simon Prebble.

The "Geronimo Stilton'' series, read by Edward Herrmann.