As the homeschooling mom of a houseful of kids with dyslexia, one thing that I cannot live without is access to lots of good quality audio books. Allowing kids with dyslexia to listen to books at their intellectual level (even though they cannot read them yet) is one of the first and best dyslexia accommodation we can offer our kids. I’ve been researching the best sources for audio books available.
Best Sources for Audio Books
Here’s an organized list of free and paid audiobook sources that are especially good for homeschooling parents of kids with dyslexia (or who struggle with reading). The list includes key features, cost/eligibility, and notes for how each might fit your unique homeschool needs.
Free or Low-Cost Sources
These are either entirely free (or very low cost) and often include features/accessibility tailored to print‐challenges like dyslexia.
| Service | What you get | Cost / Eligibility | Why it works for dyslexic learners / homeschoolers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookshare | Accessible e-books + audiobooks, with highlight/follow-along features. (Bookshare) | Students with print disabilities can access free in many cases; otherwise some fee. (Bookshare) | The “listen + follow along” / highlighting helps bridging print + audio which is excellent for dyslexic learners. |
| Learning Ally | Human-narrated audiobooks targeted to students with reading difficulties (print disabilities/dyslexia) (Learning Ally) | Requires qualification (proof of disability) but then focused for this group. (Learning Ally) | Because this library is built for struggling readers, it’s a strong choice for homeschoolers of dyslexic kids. |
| Public library digital apps (e.g., Libby / Hoopla via library card) | Borrow audiobooks (and e-books) for free via your library card. | Free with a library card (check local library) | A great budget-friendly option; gives access to many titles for “ear-reading” and listening practice. |
| Free public-domain/charity accessible services (e.g., Calibre Audio) | Free audiobooks for people with dyslexia or difficulties reading print. | Free (often requires sign-up) | Good for supplementing listening volume without cost, useful for “listening practice” in your homeschool. |
Tips for maximizing the free audio book sources
- Use library apps early: popular titles may have waitlists, so reserve ahead.
- Combine audio with print: when possible pair the audiobook with a print or e-text version so the learner can follow along. (A best practice for dyslexia.)
- Build listening habit: set aside “listening time” in your homeschool schedule (e.g., car ride, chores) so the child builds stamina with audio.
- Let interest lead: Choose titles the child wants to listen to (genre they enjoy) so motivation is high.
Paid / Subscription & Premium Audio Book Services
These audio book options involve payment (monthly, yearly, or per-book) but offer large libraries, premium features, or kids-friendly design.
| Service | What you get | Cost Estimate | Why it works for your context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audible | Huge selection of audiobooks (all ages, including children/young adult), buy or via subscription. (Audible.com) | ~US$14.95/month (varies) for full membership. (Audible.com) | Excellent library for older kids/teens homeschooling with dyslexia—great for “listening instead of reading print” but you’ll want to pair with follow-along print when possible. |
| Pinna | A subscription audio service for kids 3-12: audiobooks, podcasts, interactive audio, curated for children. (pinna.fm) | ~$5.99/month (annual billing) or ~$7.99/month billed monthly. (Pinna Audio) | Great for younger children in a homeschool setting: screen-free, audio-rich, supports listening skills which are important for kids with dyslexia. |
| Epic! (Kids’ reading platform) | 40,000+ children’s books + audiobooks + read-along features, aimed at children 12 & under. (Epic – Books for Kids) | ~$11.99/month or ~$79.99/year (approx $6.67/month) after trial. | Good for younger/middle-grade homeschooled kids: combining text + audio + read-along helps build decoding + comprehension. Especially useful for dyslexic learners. |
| Sherwood Kids | Unlimited access to 5,000+ audiobooks/podcasts for kids ages 3-14, designed to be low-stimulation & value-aligned. (sherwoodkids.com) | Yearly plan (check site for current pricing) | For parents who want curated, mindful audio content (less flashy, more story-focused) which can fit well if a child with dyslexia also has attention/ADHD issues and benefits from calmer audio experiences. |
Paid audio book service strategy tips
- Before committing, use free trial periods (most of these offer 7-day or 1-month trials) to test if your child engages.
- Even with paid subscription, pair audio with print/text when you can: tracking text + listening improves learning for dyslexic learners.
- Use subscriptions for variety and volume: being able to sample multiple titles reduces “resistance” (a common issue for struggling readers) and builds listening stamina.
- Budget for it: Because you’re homeschooling, choose 1-2 major subscriptions rather than many, and pair with the free services for balance.
Which ones are best for your homeschool needs
- For younger kids (elementary, early middle): Go for services that offer “listen + follow-along” and engage attention: Epic!, Pinna, library apps.
- For middle/high school level: Use Audible or Learning Ally so the child can access grade-level + higher-level text via audio.
- For low-budget access: Max out free library apps + Bookshare + Library audiobook borrowing; paid subscriptions become supplements.
- For attention/ADHD considerations: Choose audio services with minimal distractions (audio-only or low-stimulus) and consider shorter episodes or titles the child can pause/resume easily.
- Batch listening into routine: e.g., during chores, travel, read-aloud time, or independent “listening break” rather than expecting long sustained focus.
We’ve been enjoying Tales2Go and it’s about $10/mo. It has a good mix of classic lit we want to read a well as nonfiction and quality lit.
We’ve been using Tales2Go too. My son loves it! It’s nice that we can have it on five devices, so our whole family can enjoy the books. Although it’s geared toward students, some of the YA books are really good.
We have been using and love Scribd app. Has many audio and ebooks available to stream or download. Monthly subscription is about $10.
Bookshare is an awesome resource. It is free for K-12 students who have proof of a disability that affects reading. The books are read by a digitized voice using a computer program (free) or app for iOS or Android. The app or program highlights the word a as they are read and things like speed and voices can be customized. http://www.bookshare.org
I was going to share Bookshare as well. The voice was pretty robotic for a time, but for whatever reason, on Windows 10 the voice is much more human sounding. I do like audiobooks for the more popular books that we can find at the library, because the actors who read them actually act them out and they’re more entertaining for my kids to listen to, but with the lesser known books we have to read, Bookshare has never failed to have them available.
Also check out: http://www.myaudioschool.com. It is loaded with many audio books organized by historical tabs, like: the Ancients, Middle Ages, Renaissance, etc.
My 7 year old has been enjoying the Reading Rainbow audiobook annual subscription.
We use Myon.com a lot. It is free through our public library for homeschoolers and good for all ages of elementary kids (from board books to chapter books). It has real actors reading and highlights as it reads. Most of the books are general kids books without a lot of “bestsellers” but there is both fiction and non-fiction and you can give quizzes after each book for brief comprehension/vocabulary review.
I enjoy ChristianAudio.com
They offer a free book each month and have some great ones my kids really enjoy too (Saving Zasha, Kingdom’s Dawn series, Your Story Hour)
What device do you use to play the audiobooks? My son loves listening to audiobooks and I am looking for a good, easy-to-use MP3 player to put his audiobooks on. Any suggestions?
The Wizard of Oz as read by Anne Hathaway! You can get it on Audible
I could noot resist commenting. Exceptionally well written!
The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis are read aloud by Harper Collins on this Podcast.
Ancient Faith Ministries.
http://www.ancientfaith.com/browse/tag/chronicles+of+narnia
My. dyslexic first grader loves the Epic! app.
Thanks for a very helpful article. We are homeschooling again this year after trying public school last year. In my daughter’s dyslexia class we were given access to Learning Ally and love it, but now that we are home and have to pay for a subscription, I’m trying to decide whether Learning Ally or Audible would be more affordable. Any thoughts on the comparison of the two?
Audible has more professional recordings but costs a LOT more. LA has text books which has been good for my older kids. LA is more affordable!
Hi I went into Storynory to install and it keep coming up I had to install Auido ? I think that is what it was called. So you have to subscribe to Audio to acess Storynory?
Thanks, Lana.
My daughter has a hard time with Bookshare’s robotic reading style. I was wondering if Learning Ally had actual people reading the books? Also can you follow along with the text? Thank you, Tracy Kearcher
Any thoughts on why my child refuses (with tears) to follow along while being read to? What am I missing?
How old? There are many reasons kids resist learning!
Scribd costs $7 a month and has tons of audiobooks to stream.
Another great source that my brother and I use for books is epic! It has audio books and read to me books. A lot of options and is free for any type of teacher!
We love Epic!
This is a great audiobook called Friends Fight Foes that helps children read in a fun and effective way. It is recorded with a full cast. Children can read along with the script that is available on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Friends-Fight-Foes-Episode-Midnight/dp/B099VTW8RQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1627154347&sr=8-3