Now that I am a busy young adult, audio media like audiobooks and podcasts have become an essential part of my daily and weekly routines. Whether it was with my family, with my class, or on my own, these aural experiences with words and stories gifted me with a playground for the imagination unfettered by technical limitations.

My most impactful early literacy experiences were not interactions with printed text, but listening to verbal narratives in the form of bedtime stories, library read-alouds, and radio dramas. Like many kids who had the privilege of being around books all the time, I was a bookworm before I could actually read. As audiobooks continue gaining popularity, some educators and parents of young readers may be tempted to dismiss them as “cheating” or “unrigorous.” But research suggests that audiobooks can aid in the development of some key literacy skills, especially in students who dislike reading, have trouble sitting still, or have ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning disabilities.

Best way to listen to audiobooks