The overarching theme for this year’s Bookseller Children’s conference was the reading for pleasure crisis. When it was time to discuss the way forward, the panel for ‘The reading crisis: time for solutions’ made an impassioned case for the benefits of reading out loud to children [1]. Meanwhile, despite the obvious parallel, the power of audiobooks was only briefly mentioned.

Earlier this year, a survey on 8–13-year-olds narrative listening behaviour found that while reading out loud with parents remains popular, almost half of those who listen to narrative material turn to podcasts and/or audiobooks [2]. Their popularity is on the rise, possibly due to the easy and convenient way that they allow for enjoying stories [3]. Within this context, their lack of emphasis seems quite an oversight.

Though sometimes seen as a lesser reading experience [4], research by the National Literacy Trust has repeatedly highlighted the many benefits that audiobooks have to offer [5]. Not only can listening to an audiobook model reading and give struggling readers access to a wider range of books, but it can also help improve both vocabulary and literacy skills [6]. Perhaps most importantly, listening can also support and encourage a love of reading [7]. So why are audiobooks not touted as part of the solution?

Another panel from the same conference, ‘Capitalising on audio’, emphasized the variety and potential of the market for audiobooks and audiobook players for children [8]. They also shared how they receive feedback on an almost daily basis from parents and teachers who say that after listening to audiobooks, struggling readers have started engaging more with traditional books. Three key enablers to reading for pleasure were identified in ‘The reading crisis: time for solutions’; having wide choice of books that resonate, agency in choice, and encouragement towards viewing reading as fun rather than as a task [9]. Judging by the experiences of the ‘Capitalising on audio’ panel, audiobooks appear to tick all the boxes.

This connection with enjoyment of traditional books also seems to echo earlier research, which highlights that audiobooks can represent a possible way of overcoming barriers to reading in adolescents [10]. Where many dislike reading traditional books, less negative feelings held towards audiobooks [11] can prove a way in. Once you have them listening to audiobooks, positive attitudinal changes towards reading have been observed [12]. Research has even gone so far as to claim that “developing a more complete understanding of how children engage with these emerging formats may be critical to supporting continued engagement with written materials” (Bobbitt et. al, 2024, p. 25). As such, the power of audiobooks should not be dismissed.

Ultimately, there are of course aspects of reading out loud to your children that audiobooks can’t capture, such as snuggling up and informal chats. Nevertheless, with the many benefits audiobooks can bring, it seems neglectful to ignore the obvious parallel, and in turn how important they could be as part of the solution to the reading for pleasure crisis.

References

Best, E. (2020) ‘Audiobooks and Literacy’ National Literacy Trust. [online] Available at: https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/audiobooks-and-literacy-rapid-review-literature/ [Accessed 19 October 2024]

Bobbitt, S.G., Butler, B.E. and Herrmann, B. (2024). A Survey of Narrative Listening Behaviors in 8–13-Year-Old Children. International Journal of Listening, 38(1), pp.16–27.

Fairbrother, K., Herbertson, C., Jones, P., Lundgren, R., and Tarrant, J (2024) ‘Capitalising on audio’ The Bookseller Children’s Conference. London, 30th of September. The Bookseller.

Cahill, M. and Moore, J.  (2016). Audiobooks: Legitimate ‘Reading’ Material for Adolescents?. School Library Research, 19.

Cummins, C., David, A., De Silva, S., Galway, M. and Hicks, D (2024) ‘The reading crisis: time for solutions’, The Bookseller Children’s Conference. London, 30th of September. The Bookseller.

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Footnotes

[1] (Cummins et. al, 2024)

[2] (Bobbitt et. al, 2024)

[3] (Best, 2020).

[4] (Fairbrother et. al, 2024)

[5] (Best, 2020).

[6] (Wolfson, 2008, cited in Best, 2020).

[7] Ibid.

[8] (Fairbrother et. al, 2024)

[9] (Cummins et. al, 2024)

[10] (Moore and Cahill, 2016)

[11] (Moore and Cahill, 2016)

[12] Ibid.