Next time you are picking out an audiobook for a long car ride, or for quiet time entertainment at home, try a nonfiction audiobook! Kids love facts and a skilled writer knows how to turn informational text into a suspenseful tale that captive readers.
We've choses a variety of topics for this list of nonfiction audiobooks that will amaze and entertain kids and their parents. Choose a topic your family is already interested in, or to expand your worldview and learn something new and fascinating!
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TIP: Need help getting into audiobooks? Amy has some great tips for learning how to love audiobooks.
History Smashers series by Kate Messner
I really can't choose which History Smashers titles to single out. I love them all and so will you. Choose whatever topic interests you most, from Ancient Egypt to the Titanic to Pandemics and prepare to have your preconceived notions busted while you learn the truth about what you thought you knew. There are 12 books as of this writing. Each book averages 2-3 hours.
Diamond Fever! by Steve Sheinkin
I highly recommend ANY of Sheinkin's wonderful nonfiction books for kids. Check out titles about military endeavors, the American Revolution, sports heroes and more. All of them, like this true crime tale about con artists and a diamond mine in the Wild West, are filled with fascinating facts and funny asides. The whole family will not only be highly entertained, they will learn about some forgotten figures and events. 3 hours 54 minutes.
MORE: Funny Audiobooks for Kids and Families
We Are Mighty written and narrated by Sharon McMahon
McMahon's book about "12 Ordinary Americans Who Did the Next Needed Thing" will instill optimism in families and show young people that they, too, can work towards a better future for all. Inspiring! 24 minutes. Families with teens will enjoy the original version of McMahon's book, which, while clocking in at over 10 hours can easily be broken down into shorter listening sections.
Guys Read: True Stories, edited by Jon Scieszka, narrated by various artists
Not just for "Guys" but for all kids and families who love adventure!! This collection of short stories is terrific for families who want to break up their audiobook listening into shorter sessions. Each true tale will keep you on the edge of your seat and will teach you about lesser known events like shipwrecks, harrowing escapes, and... wait for it... dentistry! 4 hours 56 minutes
MORE: Best Audiobooks for Road Trips
The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicolas Day narrated by Carlotta Brentan
Narrative nonfiction at its best! Everyone loves a good heist tale. And... when the heist is a real-life adventure told in the most engaging way possible, even better! The scandal, the chaos, the "I don't believe it!" moments! Even if your kids aren't normally nonfiction readers, this book will grab them from the very beginning. 4 hours 53 minutes
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat, narrated by Quincy Surasmith & Christina Soontornvat
If you're like me and the thought of swimming through a narrow opening into a cave triggers an intense and claustrophobic reaction, then you might find yourself occasionally closing your eyes in anxiety while listening to this audiobook. Soontornvat's meticulously researched book journeys through the 18 days of planning the complex rescue mission for the 12 boys trapped in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Northern Thailand. Utterly fascinating and nail-biting, even though we know the outcome!
MORE: A Year of Family Audiobooks
A World Without Summer by Nicolas Day
A world without summer sounds pretty catastrophic. And it was! Day's unique ability to craft a suspenseful story from a deep dive into past events will have your kids crying "NO!" when you have to press "stop" on the audio player. They will be fascinated (as will you!) to learn how Mount Tambora's gigantic eruption influenced world events in lands far distant from the volcano's located in Indonesia. 4 hours 54 minutes.
Fearless Firsts: Athletes Who Changed the Game by James Buckley, Jr. & Ellen Labrecque, narrated by James Buckley, Jr. & Jasmin Walker
The authors profile more than 50 athletes in this book, mixing it up between well known athletes and lesser known greats. What they all have in common, however, is that they broke barriers and overcame obstacles to climb to the top of their respective sports. Even I–someone who cares almost zero for professional sports–was intrigued and fascinated by the variety of stories. 2 hours 50 minutes.
MORE: Classic Children's Audiobooks the Whole Family Will Love
Spooked!: How a Radio Broadcast and The War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America by Gail Jarrow, narrated by Suzanne Toren
Listeners will be riveted to this story of how a 1930s radio broadcast convinced its audience that the United States was under attack by aliens. But even more than that, Jarrow dives deep into the media coverage of the radio "attack" and the book will spark a lively discussion about the parallels with "fake news" today. 3 hours 14 minutes. Gail Jarrow has several other excellent nonfiction books to choose from!
Unstoppable Us: How Humans Took Over the World (series) by Yuval Noah Harari, narrated by Rosa Howard
This is a terrific introduction for families who are interested in learning about the history of humankind. How did humans evolve to become the dominant force on Earth? Fascinating facts, thoughtful questions and analysis, and a little humor take listeners on a journey over thousands of years. If the book is a hit with your kids, there are two more in the series. 3 hours 51 minutes
The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation) by Daniel James Brown, narrated by Mark Bramhall
This tale of nine working class boys who made their way to compete in the 1936 Olympics gives young listeners the opportunity to learn about a moment in history in which teammates, with the support of community, worked hard to make their dreams come true. 5 hours 36 minutes
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