National Literacy Trust
See literacytrust.org.uk to learn more about the National Literacy Trust and how you can support them.
Learn more about research initatives
In 2022, the charity published a report exploring how children and young people's listening habits have developed post-lockdown. They asked three key questions: whether they enjoy listening, how frequently they listen, and what formats they listen to. Take a look below to explore some of the key callouts.
National Literacy Trust picks
Listen Up!
Blue Planet II
The Cosmic Diary of Our Incredible Universe
Rise Up
10 listens to inspire hope and positivity
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You Can Do It
- How to Find Your Voice and Make a Difference
- By: Marcus Rashford, Carl Anka - contributor
- Narrated by: Kenton Thomas
- Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Marcus uses the power of his voice to shine a light on the injustices that he cares passionately about, and now he wants to help you find the power in yours! From surrounding yourself with the right team, to showing kindness to those around you, to celebrating and championing difference, You Can Do It shows you that your voice really does matter and that you can do anything you put your mind to. You don't have to be an international footballer to make a difference—even the smallest changes can have the biggest impact.
-
-
Inspiring! Love and encouragement from Rashford!
- By Jladd on 08-12-23
By: Marcus Rashford, and others
-
The Heart and the Bottle
- By: Oliver Jeffers
- Narrated by: Helena Bonham Carter
- Length: 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Award-winning picture book star Oliver Jeffers explores themes of love and loss in this life-affirming, uplifting tale, due to be featured in a major motion picture.Once there was a girl who was full of wonderment at how the world worked. She shared all her dreams and excitement with her father, who always had the answer to every question. That is until one day when his chair was empty, not to be filled again - how would the girl ever find meaning from her life again?
By: Oliver Jeffers
-
Seed
- By: Caryl Lewis, George Ermos - illustrator
- Narrated by: Sam Stafford
- Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Marty doesn't have much. Unlike his mum, who has billions of things: newspapers, holey shoes, rusty lawnmowers, broken picture frames—she keeps EVERYTHING! It's hard to leave the house. Marty does his best to look after her and wonders if anything will ever change. But on Marty's birthday, Grandad, with a glint in his eye, gifts Marty a very special seed. Grandad hasn't been this excited since he invented the bum scratcher 2000 or thought he'd brewed wonder fuel from rhubarb leaves!
By: Caryl Lewis, and others
-
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World
- Teen Edition Retold by Malala for her Own Generation
- By: Malala Yousafzai, Patricia McCormick
- Narrated by: Neela Vaswani
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Written in collaboration with critically acclaimed National Book Award finalist Patricia McCormick, Malala tells her story - from her childhood in the Swat Valley to the shooting, her recovery and new life in England. She's a girl who loves cricket, gossips with her best friends, and, on the day of the shooting, nearly overslept and missed an exam. A girl who saw women suddenly banned from public, schools blown up, the Taliban seize control, and her homeland descend into a state of fear and repression.
-
-
Inspirational & powerful
- By polly on 03-11-16
By: Malala Yousafzai, and others
-
Nura and the Immortal Palace
- By: M.T. Khan
- Narrated by: Shiromi Arserio
- Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nura has worked all her life in the mica mines, earning just enough to keep her family afloat–and enjoy the odd delicious gulab jamun from the market. Some day she's going to find the Demon's Tongue, a legendary treasure buried deep in the mines, and her family will never have to worry about money again. But when a terrible accident buries her best friend below ground, Nura goes in search of him and passes over into the magical and terrible world of the jinn. Across a pink sea and under a purple sky, she finds her way to a palace, where great riches and a whole new life are on offer.
By: M.T. Khan
-
Like a Charm
- Like a Charm, Book 1
- By: Elle McNicoll
- Narrated by: Carmella Brown
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Edinburgh is a city filled with magical creatures. No one can see them...except Ramya Knox. As she is pulled into her family's world of secrets and spells, Ramya sets out to discover the truth about the Hidden Folk with only three words of warning from her grandfather: beware the sirens. Plunged into an adventure that will change everything, Ramya is about to learn that there is more to her powers than she ever imagined.
-
-
utterly charming
- By flyinglib on 15-04-22
By: Elle McNicoll
-
You Can Do It
- How to Find Your Voice and Make a Difference
- By: Marcus Rashford, Carl Anka - contributor
- Narrated by: Kenton Thomas
- Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Marcus uses the power of his voice to shine a light on the injustices that he cares passionately about, and now he wants to help you find the power in yours! From surrounding yourself with the right team, to showing kindness to those around you, to celebrating and championing difference, You Can Do It shows you that your voice really does matter and that you can do anything you put your mind to. You don't have to be an international footballer to make a difference—even the smallest changes can have the biggest impact.
-
-
Inspiring! Love and encouragement from Rashford!
- By Jladd on 08-12-23
By: Marcus Rashford, and others
-
The Heart and the Bottle
- By: Oliver Jeffers
- Narrated by: Helena Bonham Carter
- Length: 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Award-winning picture book star Oliver Jeffers explores themes of love and loss in this life-affirming, uplifting tale, due to be featured in a major motion picture.Once there was a girl who was full of wonderment at how the world worked. She shared all her dreams and excitement with her father, who always had the answer to every question. That is until one day when his chair was empty, not to be filled again - how would the girl ever find meaning from her life again?
By: Oliver Jeffers
-
Seed
- By: Caryl Lewis, George Ermos - illustrator
- Narrated by: Sam Stafford
- Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Marty doesn't have much. Unlike his mum, who has billions of things: newspapers, holey shoes, rusty lawnmowers, broken picture frames—she keeps EVERYTHING! It's hard to leave the house. Marty does his best to look after her and wonders if anything will ever change. But on Marty's birthday, Grandad, with a glint in his eye, gifts Marty a very special seed. Grandad hasn't been this excited since he invented the bum scratcher 2000 or thought he'd brewed wonder fuel from rhubarb leaves!
By: Caryl Lewis, and others
-
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World
- Teen Edition Retold by Malala for her Own Generation
- By: Malala Yousafzai, Patricia McCormick
- Narrated by: Neela Vaswani
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Written in collaboration with critically acclaimed National Book Award finalist Patricia McCormick, Malala tells her story - from her childhood in the Swat Valley to the shooting, her recovery and new life in England. She's a girl who loves cricket, gossips with her best friends, and, on the day of the shooting, nearly overslept and missed an exam. A girl who saw women suddenly banned from public, schools blown up, the Taliban seize control, and her homeland descend into a state of fear and repression.
-
-
Inspirational & powerful
- By polly on 03-11-16
By: Malala Yousafzai, and others
-
Nura and the Immortal Palace
- By: M.T. Khan
- Narrated by: Shiromi Arserio
- Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nura has worked all her life in the mica mines, earning just enough to keep her family afloat–and enjoy the odd delicious gulab jamun from the market. Some day she's going to find the Demon's Tongue, a legendary treasure buried deep in the mines, and her family will never have to worry about money again. But when a terrible accident buries her best friend below ground, Nura goes in search of him and passes over into the magical and terrible world of the jinn. Across a pink sea and under a purple sky, she finds her way to a palace, where great riches and a whole new life are on offer.
By: M.T. Khan
-
Like a Charm
- Like a Charm, Book 1
- By: Elle McNicoll
- Narrated by: Carmella Brown
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Edinburgh is a city filled with magical creatures. No one can see them...except Ramya Knox. As she is pulled into her family's world of secrets and spells, Ramya sets out to discover the truth about the Hidden Folk with only three words of warning from her grandfather: beware the sirens. Plunged into an adventure that will change everything, Ramya is about to learn that there is more to her powers than she ever imagined.
-
-
utterly charming
- By flyinglib on 15-04-22
By: Elle McNicoll
10 family listens to celebrate Black History Month
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Fablehouse
- By: E. L. Norry
- Narrated by: Olivia Forrest
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fablehouse is a children’s home like no other. Housed in a crumbling mansion that perches on a cliff and backs on to ancient mysterious woodland, this is the home for many of Britain’s Brown Babies, children born to African-American GIs and white British women following the Second World War. Heather has already been through several children’s homes and is wary of Fablehouse and its unusual head teacher, Miss Isolde. But when children start acting strangely, Heather discovers a plot from a fae realm to infiltrate and overthrow the human world.
By: E. L. Norry
-
Black in Time
- The Most Awesome Black Britons from Yesterday to Today
- By: Alison Hammond
- Narrated by: Daniel Reid-Walter, Natalie Simpson, Alison Hammond
- Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hiya! Alison Hammond here! I love getting to know all about different people, and I'll tell you a secret...sometimes people we don't know much about are the most interesting of all! Which is really what this book is all about. Let me ask you a question: How many Black people can you name from our history? Mary Seacole? Ira Aldridge? George Bridgetower? Pablo Fanque? Walter Tull? Have you heard of these people? Yes? That's great! But if you haven't, don't worry, you're not alone, which is why I'm so excited to tell you all about them.
-
-
I have learnt so much
- By Alexandra on 03-04-24
By: Alison Hammond
-
Sulwe
- By: Lupita Nyong'o, Vashti Harrison
- Narrated by: Lupita Nyong'o
- Length: 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o comes a powerful and moving book about colourism, self-esteem and learning that true beauty comes from within. Sulwe's skin is the colour of midnight. She's darker than everyone in her family and everyone at school. All she wants is to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey through the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.
By: Lupita Nyong'o, and others
-
Coming to England
- By: Floella Benjamin
- Narrated by: Baroness Floella Benjamin
- Length: 2 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Floella Benjamin was just a young girl when she, her sister and two brothers arrived in England in 1960 to join their parents, whom they had not seen for 15 months. They had left their island home of Trinidad to make a new life in London—part of a whole generation of West Indians who were encouraged to move to Britain and help rebuild the country after the Second World War. Reunited with her mother, Floella was too overwhelmed at first to care about the cold weather and the noise and dirt from the traffic.
By: Floella Benjamin
-
We’re Going to Find the Monster
- By: Malorie Blackman, Dapo Adeola
- Narrated by: Malorie Blackman
- Length: 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Join two intrepid adventurers as their imaginations transform their house into a wild wonderland - and their big brother becomes a mighty monster. A joy to listen to with its cumulative refrain and full of funny, relatable characters, this is a contemporary celebration of creativity, fantasy and family.
By: Malorie Blackman, and others
-
Little Leaders
- Bold Women in Black History
- By: Vashti Harrison
- Narrated by: Nikki Amuka-Bird, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Cathy Tyson, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Debut author Vashti Harrison tells the stories of both iconic and lesser-known female figures of black history - from nurse Mary Seacole to politician Diane Abbott, mathematician Katherine Johnson and singer Shirley Bassey. Among these biographies listeners will find heroes, role models and everyday women who did extraordinary things.
-
-
Amazing
- By Lara on 13-10-23
By: Vashti Harrison
-
Fablehouse
- By: E. L. Norry
- Narrated by: Olivia Forrest
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fablehouse is a children’s home like no other. Housed in a crumbling mansion that perches on a cliff and backs on to ancient mysterious woodland, this is the home for many of Britain’s Brown Babies, children born to African-American GIs and white British women following the Second World War. Heather has already been through several children’s homes and is wary of Fablehouse and its unusual head teacher, Miss Isolde. But when children start acting strangely, Heather discovers a plot from a fae realm to infiltrate and overthrow the human world.
By: E. L. Norry
-
Black in Time
- The Most Awesome Black Britons from Yesterday to Today
- By: Alison Hammond
- Narrated by: Daniel Reid-Walter, Natalie Simpson, Alison Hammond
- Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hiya! Alison Hammond here! I love getting to know all about different people, and I'll tell you a secret...sometimes people we don't know much about are the most interesting of all! Which is really what this book is all about. Let me ask you a question: How many Black people can you name from our history? Mary Seacole? Ira Aldridge? George Bridgetower? Pablo Fanque? Walter Tull? Have you heard of these people? Yes? That's great! But if you haven't, don't worry, you're not alone, which is why I'm so excited to tell you all about them.
-
-
I have learnt so much
- By Alexandra on 03-04-24
By: Alison Hammond
-
Sulwe
- By: Lupita Nyong'o, Vashti Harrison
- Narrated by: Lupita Nyong'o
- Length: 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o comes a powerful and moving book about colourism, self-esteem and learning that true beauty comes from within. Sulwe's skin is the colour of midnight. She's darker than everyone in her family and everyone at school. All she wants is to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey through the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.
By: Lupita Nyong'o, and others
-
Coming to England
- By: Floella Benjamin
- Narrated by: Baroness Floella Benjamin
- Length: 2 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Floella Benjamin was just a young girl when she, her sister and two brothers arrived in England in 1960 to join their parents, whom they had not seen for 15 months. They had left their island home of Trinidad to make a new life in London—part of a whole generation of West Indians who were encouraged to move to Britain and help rebuild the country after the Second World War. Reunited with her mother, Floella was too overwhelmed at first to care about the cold weather and the noise and dirt from the traffic.
By: Floella Benjamin
-
We’re Going to Find the Monster
- By: Malorie Blackman, Dapo Adeola
- Narrated by: Malorie Blackman
- Length: 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Join two intrepid adventurers as their imaginations transform their house into a wild wonderland - and their big brother becomes a mighty monster. A joy to listen to with its cumulative refrain and full of funny, relatable characters, this is a contemporary celebration of creativity, fantasy and family.
By: Malorie Blackman, and others
-
Little Leaders
- Bold Women in Black History
- By: Vashti Harrison
- Narrated by: Nikki Amuka-Bird, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Cathy Tyson, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Debut author Vashti Harrison tells the stories of both iconic and lesser-known female figures of black history - from nurse Mary Seacole to politician Diane Abbott, mathematician Katherine Johnson and singer Shirley Bassey. Among these biographies listeners will find heroes, role models and everyday women who did extraordinary things.
-
-
Amazing
- By Lara on 13-10-23
By: Vashti Harrison
10 fantastic family listens all about friendship
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Show Us Who You Are
- By: Elle McNicoll
- Narrated by: Charlotte Boundy
- Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Cora's brother drags her along to his boss' house, she doesn't expect to strike up a friendship with Adrien, son of the intimidating CEO of Pomegranate Technologies. As she becomes part of Adrien's life, she is also drawn into the mysterious projects at Pomegranate. At first, she's intrigued by them - Pomegranate is using AI to recreate real people in hologram form. As she digs deeper, however, she uncovers darker secrets.
-
-
A pleasure to listen to.
- By MARK E. WATSON on 01-10-21
By: Elle McNicoll
-
The Danger Gang
- By: Tom Fletcher
- Narrated by: Tom Felton, Tom Fletcher
- Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Franky can't wait to move to his new town - although he wishes he didn't have to leave his best friend, Dani, behind. But everything changes after the storm, when strange green lightning and powerful thunder crash down on the town. From that night on, the kids who live on Franky's street start to change. One by one, they become a little odd. A little unusual. A little...magical. Franky's always wanted to be part of an amazing gang - just like his hero, super-spy Zack Danger! And soon, he realises that there's real danger in store for himself and his new friends.
-
-
listening to it on repeat!
- By NicWak on 16-11-20
By: Tom Fletcher
-
The Offline Diaries
- By: Yomi Adegoke, Elizabeth Uviebinené
- Narrated by: Tiwa Lade, Ella Dacres
- Length: 3 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ade is about to start at a new school. She is not happy with her stepdad for making them move here. Shanice has been at the school for a year already. Since her mum died, she’s been living with her dad and annoying older brother, spending most of her time outside school in her dad’s hair salon. When Ade and Shanice meet in the salon, and spot each other’s diaries, an instant friendship is formed, and they start to chat online...but offline is a whole other story!
By: Yomi Adegoke, and others
-
The Last Bear
- By: Hannah Gold
- Narrated by: Helen Phillips
- Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There are no polar bears left on Bear Island. At least, that’s what April’s father tells her when his scientific research takes them to this remote Arctic outpost for six months. But one endless summer night, April meets one. He is starving, lonely and a long way from home. Determined to save him, April begins the most important journey of her life....
-
-
an okay story
- By Sam on 19-04-21
By: Hannah Gold
-
When the Sky Falls
- By: Phil Earle
- Narrated by: Phil Earle
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It’s 1940, and Joseph has been packed off to stay with Mrs F, a gruff woman with no great fondness for children. To Joseph’s amazement, she owns the rundown city zoo where Joseph meets Adonis, a huge silverback gorilla. Adonis is ferociously strong and dangerous, but Joseph finds he has an affinity with the lonely beast. But when the bombs begin to fall, it is up to Joseph to guard Adonis’ cage should it be damaged by a blast. Will Joseph be ready to pull the trigger if it comes to it?
-
-
Amazing!
- By Ann on 30-10-21
By: Phil Earle
-
Einstein the Penguin
- By: Iona Rangeley
- Narrated by: Miriam Margolyes
- Length: 3 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the Stewarts spend a sunny, frosty December day at London Zoo, they’re enchanted by one small penguin. At the delight of young Imogen and Arthur, Mrs Stewart insists the penguin 'must come and stay with them whenever he likes'. But not one Stewart expects the penguin to turn up at their door that evening, rucksack labelled 'Einstein' on his back.
By: Iona Rangeley
-
Show Us Who You Are
- By: Elle McNicoll
- Narrated by: Charlotte Boundy
- Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Cora's brother drags her along to his boss' house, she doesn't expect to strike up a friendship with Adrien, son of the intimidating CEO of Pomegranate Technologies. As she becomes part of Adrien's life, she is also drawn into the mysterious projects at Pomegranate. At first, she's intrigued by them - Pomegranate is using AI to recreate real people in hologram form. As she digs deeper, however, she uncovers darker secrets.
-
-
A pleasure to listen to.
- By MARK E. WATSON on 01-10-21
By: Elle McNicoll
-
The Danger Gang
- By: Tom Fletcher
- Narrated by: Tom Felton, Tom Fletcher
- Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Franky can't wait to move to his new town - although he wishes he didn't have to leave his best friend, Dani, behind. But everything changes after the storm, when strange green lightning and powerful thunder crash down on the town. From that night on, the kids who live on Franky's street start to change. One by one, they become a little odd. A little unusual. A little...magical. Franky's always wanted to be part of an amazing gang - just like his hero, super-spy Zack Danger! And soon, he realises that there's real danger in store for himself and his new friends.
-
-
listening to it on repeat!
- By NicWak on 16-11-20
By: Tom Fletcher
-
The Offline Diaries
- By: Yomi Adegoke, Elizabeth Uviebinené
- Narrated by: Tiwa Lade, Ella Dacres
- Length: 3 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ade is about to start at a new school. She is not happy with her stepdad for making them move here. Shanice has been at the school for a year already. Since her mum died, she’s been living with her dad and annoying older brother, spending most of her time outside school in her dad’s hair salon. When Ade and Shanice meet in the salon, and spot each other’s diaries, an instant friendship is formed, and they start to chat online...but offline is a whole other story!
By: Yomi Adegoke, and others
-
The Last Bear
- By: Hannah Gold
- Narrated by: Helen Phillips
- Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There are no polar bears left on Bear Island. At least, that’s what April’s father tells her when his scientific research takes them to this remote Arctic outpost for six months. But one endless summer night, April meets one. He is starving, lonely and a long way from home. Determined to save him, April begins the most important journey of her life....
-
-
an okay story
- By Sam on 19-04-21
By: Hannah Gold
-
When the Sky Falls
- By: Phil Earle
- Narrated by: Phil Earle
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It’s 1940, and Joseph has been packed off to stay with Mrs F, a gruff woman with no great fondness for children. To Joseph’s amazement, she owns the rundown city zoo where Joseph meets Adonis, a huge silverback gorilla. Adonis is ferociously strong and dangerous, but Joseph finds he has an affinity with the lonely beast. But when the bombs begin to fall, it is up to Joseph to guard Adonis’ cage should it be damaged by a blast. Will Joseph be ready to pull the trigger if it comes to it?
-
-
Amazing!
- By Ann on 30-10-21
By: Phil Earle
-
Einstein the Penguin
- By: Iona Rangeley
- Narrated by: Miriam Margolyes
- Length: 3 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the Stewarts spend a sunny, frosty December day at London Zoo, they’re enchanted by one small penguin. At the delight of young Imogen and Arthur, Mrs Stewart insists the penguin 'must come and stay with them whenever he likes'. But not one Stewart expects the penguin to turn up at their door that evening, rucksack labelled 'Einstein' on his back.
By: Iona Rangeley