The best middle grade audiobooks for beginners: where to start
If you've never finished a middle grade audiobook, start with one that already won. Every title below took the Audie Award in the middle grade category — broadly loved, superbly narrated, the audiobook industry's own pick for the best middle grade production of its year. They are the safest first credits: hard to switch off, and hard to regret. The most recent winner is All the Blues in the Sky by Renee Watson (2026).
Stuntboy, In the MeantimePlaying the Cards You're DealtVarian JohnsonPlaying the Cards You're DealtThe Good HawkJoseph ElliottThe Good HawkCharlotte's WebE. B. WhiteCharlotte's WebSunnyJason ReynoldsSunnySee You in the CosmosJack ChengSee You in the CosmosHow to Fight a Dragon's FuryCressida CowellHow to Fight a Dragon's FuryEchoPam Munoz RyanEchoThe Graveyard BookNeil GaimanThe Graveyard Book| Audiobook | Author | Narrator(s) | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| All the Blues in the Sky | Renee Watson | Bahni Turpin | Audie Middle Grade (2026) |
| Black Star | Kwame Alexander | Angel Pean, Nile Bullock, Karen Chilton, Aaron Goodson, Dominic Hoffman | Audie Middle Grade (2025) |
| What Happened to Rachel Riley? | Claire Swinarski | Ferdelle Capistrano, Alexandra Hunter, full cast | Audie Middle Grade (2024) |
| Stuntboy, In the Meantime | Jason Reynolds | Guy Lockard, Nile Bullock, Angel Pean, James Fouhey, Soneela Nankani, Leon Nixon, Chante McCormick, Lamarr Gulley, DePre Owens | Audie Middle Grade (2023) |
| Playing the Cards You're Dealt | Varian Johnson | Dion Graham | Audie Middle Grade (2022) |
| The Good Hawk | Joseph Elliott | Gary Furlong, Fiona Hardingham | Audie Middle Grade (2021) |
| Charlotte's Web | E. B. White | Meryl Streep, full cast | Audie Middle Grade (2020) |
| Sunny | Jason Reynolds | Guy Lockard | Audie Middle Grade (2019) |
| See You in the Cosmos | Jack Cheng | Kivlighan de Montabello, Brittany Pressley, Michael Crouch, full cast | Audie Middle Grade (2018) |
| How to Fight a Dragon's Fury | Cressida Cowell | David Tennant | Audie Middle Grade (2017) |
| Echo | Pam Munoz Ryan | Mark Bramhall, David de Vries, MacLeod Andrews, Rebecca Soler | Audie Middle Grade (2016) |
| The Graveyard Book | Neil Gaiman | Neil Gaiman, Derek Jacobi, Robert Madge, Clare Corbett, Miriam Margolyes, Andrew Scott, Julian Rhind-Tutt, full cast | Audie Middle Grade (2015) |
| Matilda | Roald Dahl | Kate Winslet | Audie Middle Grade (2014) |
| Same Sun Here | Silas House, Neela Vaswani | Silas House, Neela Vaswani | Audie Middle Grade (2013) |
| Heart and Soul | Kadir Nelson | Debbie Allen | Audie Middle Grade (2012) |
| The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate | Jacqueline Kelly | Natalie Ross | Audie Middle Grade (2011) |
| Operation Yes | Sara Lewis Holmes | Jessica Almasy | Audie Middle Grade (2010) |
| The Graveyard Book | Neil Gaiman | Neil Gaiman | Audie Middle Grade (2009) |
| Clementine | Sara Pennypacker | Jessica Almasy | Audie Middle Grade (2008) |
| Listening for Lions | Gloria Whelan | Bianca Amato | Audie Middle Grade (2007) |
| The Star of Kazan | Eva Ibbotson | Patricia Connolly | Audie Middle Grade (2006) |
| Peter and the Starcatchers | Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson | Jim Dale | Audie Middle Grade (2005) |
| Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | J. K. Rowling | Jim Dale | Audie Middle Grade (2004) |
| Troy | Adele Geras | Miriam Margolyes | Audie Middle Grade (2003) |
| The Amber Spyglass | Philip Pullman | Philip Pullman, full cast | Audie Middle Grade (2002) |
| The Subtle Knife | Philip Pullman | full cast | Audie Middle Grade (2001) |
| The Golden Compass | Philip Pullman | full cast | Audie Middle Grade (2000) |
| Lily's Crossing | Patricia Reilly Giff | Mia Dillon | Audie Middle Grade (1999) |
| Redwall, Mossflower, and Mattimeo | Brian Jacques | full cast | Audie Middle Grade (1998) |
| Babe, the Sheep-Pig | Dick King-Smith | Stephen Thorne | Audie Middle Grade (1997) |
| Jumanji | Chris Van Allsburg | Robin Williams | Audie Middle Grade (1996) |
Listen to your first middle grade audiobook free
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Frequently asked questions
Which middle grade audiobook should I start with?
Start with a recent Audie Middle Grade winner such as "All the Blues in the Sky" by Renee Watson (2026). Award winners are the safest first listens because they are judged on narration as much as story, so the performance carries you through.
Are these good for someone new to audiobooks?
Yes. Every audiobook here won the Audie Award, the audiobook industry's own award — they are broadly loved and exceptionally well narrated, which is exactly what makes a first audiobook easy to finish.
How do I listen for free?
A free 30-day Audible Premium Plus trial includes one credit. You can use it on any middle grade audiobook on this page and keep it permanently, even if you cancel before the trial ends.
More middle grade guides: every Audie-winning middle grade audiobook · full-cast middle grade audiobooks · all listening guides · best audiobooks by award.