Nonfiction Audiobooks for Kids

Inspired by the best-selling book by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, She Persisted contains eight stories of extraordinary women in history, such as Claudette Colvin, Sally Ride, Virginia Apgar, Nellie Bly, Sonia Sotomayor, Florence Griffith Joyner, and Ruby Bridges. All of these women stood up, stood out, and persevered through difficult times to make significant contributions to our world.

This exciting audio collection from Highlights Magazine is filled with captivating stories of land animals. Young listeners will discover the relationships between black bears and humans, learn how the arctic squirrel cleverly survives the winter, and listen to stories about camels, lions, porcupines, baboons, and other fascinating land animals.

Our family loves the animal stories in the National Geographic Kids Chapter books, and this one is especially a favorite. Living with Wolves tells the story of two wildlife documentarians who discovered what life is like for wolves in the western wilderness. Filled with fun facts and interesting sidebars, this is an engaging listen for any animal lover.

The Oldest Student is an audiobook that everyone should listen to, regardless of age. It tells the story of Mary Walker, who was born into slavery. At age 15, she was freed, and a few years later began her life as a wife and mother. Mary worked numerous jobs to help support her family,including cooking, cleaning, nannying, and raising money for her church. But perhaps her great accomplishment was that at age 116, she learned to read! This is one of the most inspirational stories our family has ever read, and the audio version is captivating.

Unstoppable Us examines the early history of humans in an entirely original way that will captivate middle grade listeners. The book aims to answer the question: how did humans become the most dominant species? The author uses accessible language and master storytelling to explore how humans used tools around them, such as stars for navigation, fire for food and warmth to evolve into a species that can pilot spacecraft and cure deadly diseases. This is a fascinating choice for any curious tween.

Award-winning author Grace Lin presents an extensively researched yet approachable book about the history of popular American Chinese cuisine. Narrator Lisa Ling takes readers through categories of foods and shares the folktales and legends behind dishes like dumplings, Kung Pao chicken, noodles, and more. After we finished listening to the audiobook, my kids immediately wanted to order from our favorite neighborhood Chinese restaurant!

How They Choked will fascinate middle schoolers, especially those new to audiobook listening. This quirky collection of stories feature notable people who made famously monumental mistakes, telling stories of Anne Bolyn, Benedict Arnold, J. Bruce Ismay, and more. L.J. Ganser’s narration is hilarious, and each story is only a few minutes long, making it easier for short car trips (or attention spans!)

This is a beautifully written–and narrated– verse memoir by acclaimed author Jacqueline Woodson. Each poem tells the story of Woodson’s childhood in the 1960s and 70s, a childhood spent in both South Carolina and New York. Woodson eloquently describes how she never felt totally at home in either place, and how living with the remnants of Jim Crow and awareness of the Civil Rights Movement shaped the person she became.

If you have a teenager, you’ve almost certainly heard the perennial question “What should I wear?” Indeed, teens often worry about their appearance, and often feel like they need to buy something new just to keep up. However, Fashionopolis might help reframe their thinking. The book examines how the apparel industry has exploited laborers and harmed the environment.

Growing up is always hard, but some teens experience significant mental health struggles. This guide is a comforting resource and a perfect first step to understanding anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. In addition to straightforward information, the guide includes tips on talking to loved ones about your challenges and how to connect with a mental health professional. The audiobook includes a downloadable PDF with worksheets, resources, and ideas to boost mental health.

Fom Here is a profoundly moving memoir that will stay with teens for a long time. Refugee and author Luma Mufleh shares her experience as a privileged Jordanian, gay woman, Muslim, and refugee. Readers learn how Mufleh’s experiences lead her to found Fugee’s family, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting refugee children in the US. Mufleh’s life is fascinating, and her passionate narration draws listeners even closer to the story. This one is a must-read for any teenager.

Teens will be fascinated by this journey into the world of the brain. Neuroscientist and best selling author David Eagleman deftly navigates this complex topic, answering the questions at the “heart of our existence”: What is reality? Who are you? How do you make decisions? Along the way, he uses fascinating examples from extreme sports, criminal justice, robotics, and more. Teens interested in science will love listening to this audiobook, narrated by the author.

From a critically acclaimed video series comes an engaging audiobook about a little known inventor who navigated racism and discrimination to make life better for all people. This rhyming book will engage young listeners, who will feel inspired by Garrett Morgan, creator of the traffic signal, the gas masks, and other objects still used today.

Teenage history buffs will be enthralled by Hitler’s Last Days, a gripping account of the death of the most reviled villain of the 20th century. This suspenseful narrative is adapted for young readers from Bill O’Reilly’s historical thriller Killing Patton, and trust me: teens will find it impossible to press pause on this bestseller.

Everyone knows what the notable heroes and villains did during World War II, but what about the ordinary people? This audiobook highlights stories from all over the globe, such as those of the Navajo soldiers who developed an unbreakable secret code, the jazz singer who worked as a spy for the French Resistance, and the champion cyclist who smuggled secret messages to help Jews escape the Nazis.

Since 2012, Girls Who Code has taught computer and coding skills to over 10,000 girls across the US. This book, written by the founder of the organization, will inspire all kids to dive into the world of computer science. Straightforward explanations of coding principles are interspersed with stories of real women with careers at some of the world’s leading companies, making it a fun and approachable audiobook listen.

Young zoologists will love learning all about tigers by listening to this fun audiobook. At only 25 minutes long, Tiger is perfect for younger listeners or those just getting into audiobooks. The book features special effects and sound design— children will love hearing the realistic sounds of a tiger’s habitat and their rumbling growls. The book is packed with facts about tigers, including how they survive in various habitats, conservation threats, and how to track a tiger using their paw print!

Katherine Johnson was a NASA mathematician who played an essential role in several key missions, including calculating the trajectory Apollo 11 needed to get to the moon and back. Katherine’s accomplishments alone are impressive, but that she succeeded in a world rife with racism and sexism is what makes this autobiography truly inspiring. We loved this audiobook, brought to life by award-winning narrator Heather Alicia Simms.

Pirates! Scoundrels Who Shook the World tells the hilarious tales of real pirates from history. In addition to learning about influential pirates like Jean and Pierre Lafitte, who helped America win the War of 1812, kids will laugh at the escapades of pirates like Stede Bonnet, who left a comfortable life to become one of the most “clueless” pirates ever. Pirates has it all: swordfights, treasure hunts, daring acts of idiocy, and of course–parrot poop. 

This book, penned by the hosts of the award-winning podcast of the same name, packs a ton of interesting information into a funny, entertaining, and clever audiobook. From the history of the doughnut to the power of canine senses, Stuff Kids Should Know is truly an “incomplete compendium of only the most interesting topics.”Now that we’ve shared our list of 20 nonfiction audiobooks for kids, it’s your turn to share! What are some of your favorite audiobook titles?