National Literacy Trust

Reading for enjoyment and sharing stories is an important part of literacy. It can affect a child’s success at school, mental wellbeing, empathy development, language skills, and so much more. We've partnered with the National Literacy Trust for several years, engaging people with the power of audio. Now, we're excited to share carefully selected audiobook picks from the charity, designed to encouarge children and young people to interact with stories, inspire them to find books that capture their imaginations and interests, and to give them stories they can share as a family. Discover more about the charity below and listen to clips of some of the recently recommended titles.

See literacytrust.org.uk to learn more about the National Literacy Trust and how you can support them.

Learn more about research initatives

The National Literacy Trust is a charity that empowers children, young people, and adults with the literacy skills they need to succeed. They focus on all aspects of literacy: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Literacy skills are an essential part of everyday life, and without them it can be hard to make our way in the world. They work directly with children and families in their communities, with schools and nurseries, hospitals and foodbanks, young offenders’ institutions and prisons, to lead literacy programmes that raise literacy skills and change lives. To have the most impact, they focus their work in 20 places around the UK facing the biggest literacy and poverty challenges.

In 2022, the charity published a report exploring how children and young people's listening habits have developed post-lockdown. They asked three key questions: whether they enjoy listening, how frequently they listen, and what formats they listen to. Take a look below to explore some of the key callouts.

Listening to audiobooks can help children who don’t enjoy reading connect with stories. A third of children who don’t enjoy reading, did enjoy listening to audio. Source: Best, E., Children and young people’s listening in 2022, London: National Literacy Trust.

Nearly 1 in 2 (46%) children and young people listen to audio at least once a week

Many children and young people who listen to audio say it helps them use their imagination and understand a story more

National Literacy Trust picks

Discover the best family listens to experience together, including a curated 'listen and learn' selection of fun, inspiring and educational audiobooks.

Listen Up!

'We recommend Listen Up! for everyone who loves learning about our world and beyond. Rocket (the main character) finds out about space, plastic pollution and peaceful protest in this trilogy of exciting adventures with a sprinkling of fun facts.'

Blue Planet II

'Our planet's oceans are brought to life with characterful narration and sound effects. Discover the secret life of crabs, fish, sea otters, walruses and many more creatures of the deep and shallow waters of planet Earth.'

The Cosmic Diary of Our Incredible Universe

'A diary style journey through the history of the universe. Written by real life astronaut, Tim Peake, we recommend this audiobook to answer some of the biggest questions in the universe.'

Rise Up

'Incredible stories of young people who have changed the world, including Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg. Gripping narration and inspiring subject matter, with empowering and practical tips, such as advice for public speaking.'