Audio Auras: Back to School Calm

By Kristen Capano (Audio Production Assistant), Victoria Hernandez (Pre-Production Associate), and Rebecca Scalese (Production Assistant)
New classrooms, new teachers, big changes…oh my. The end of summer can be a stressful time for young students heading back to the classroom. No need to fear, the Audio Aura Team is here…with a new team member, Rebecca Scalese! Rebecca also works in Pre-Production, and has joined the ranks of audiobook industry professionals that specialize in playlist matchmaking.
Allow us to help ease the anxiety of those early days with audiobook recommendations perfect for back-to-school. Whether your child is entering school for the first time or is familiar with routines, rubrics, and recess, these audiobooks will encourage listeners of all grade levels to enter the new school year with a bit more calm.
Levels K-5: (best paired with their picture book counterpart!)
audio Breathe Like a Bear: First Day of School Worries Author: Kira Willey Read By: Kira Willey The perfect audiobook to ease anxious young minds, Breathe Like A Bear: First Day of School Worries is a mantra for the first day – and any day – worries. Filled with easy-to-follow breathing exercises, mindful prompts, and a soothing mantra that will help kids to navigate their anxiety, this audiobook is a wonderful pairing to the physical picture book.
audio Picture Day Author: Sarah Sax Read By: Michael Crouch , Giordan Diaz , Keylor Leigh , Em Grosland , Jamie K. Brown , Beth Hicks , Davu Smith , Valerie Rose Lohman , Felisha Wong and Mirai Picture day can be a dreadful event for students, especially for seventh-grader Viv. She craves to be noticed and decides to take her image into her own hands via live-streaming. Then….drama ensues while trying to recreate her new image and maintaining true to her best friends. This audiobook edition of the graphic novel will help middle school students be true to themselves while being a true friend.
audio The Queen of Kindergarten Author: Derrick Barnes Read By: Tyla Collier Starting Kindergarten is a big milestone, and with The Queen of Kindergarten and The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, your child will be encouraged to embrace this new experience. The heroes of these stories teach listeners how to discover what makes them unique, use their talents to build self-esteem, and interact with others. Energetic, immersive and fun, these audiobooks are perfect for reinforcing back-to-school excitement and building confidence in the newest students.
audio The Name Jar Author: Yangsook Choi Read By: Shannon Tyo Starting a new school is never easy, and that transition can be made even more difficult when you feel different from your classmates. The Name Jar is the story of Unhei, a Korean girl who moves to the United States and starts at a new school in town. Unhei feels like she stands out from the other students, as they have trouble pronouncing her name. With courage and a little help from her friend, Unehi learns to embrace the challenges of being different and finds the beauty in what makes her unique.
For Middle Graders
audio Flipping Forward Twisting Backward Author: Alma Fullerton Read By: Erin Ruth Walker In gymnastics, Claire soars and dreams of going to the Olympics one day. She’s the best gymnast on her team, but at school she continually gets in trouble. When Claire is at the principal’s office, the principal thinks she might be acting out due to her potentially being dyslexic. Her mom is in denial of this potential diagnosis and doesn’t allow Claire to be tested. Can Claire challenge her mom’s refusal and try to learn new reading strategies to help her succeed in gymnastics and in the classroom?
audio Dear Student Author: Elly Swartz Read By: Kate Reinders Beyond academics, friends and extracurricular activities are part of what makes going back to school so exciting! Dear Student tells the story of Autumn, a middle school student who secretly writes as the school advice columnist. Autumn’s put to the test when her secret identity is challenged and she must rise to the occasion by trusting herself, even when it’s hard.
audio Rising Troublemaker Author: Luvvie Ajayi Jones Read By: Luvvie Ajayi Jones Ajayi Jones’ young readers’ edition of Professional Troublemaker , Rising Troublemaker , is focused on teens embracing their fullest, boldest, inquisitive selves. Life is filled with scary obstacles that don’t stop once you become a teenager, but Ajayi Jones’ provides straight-forward, hilarious perspectives on how not to allow fear to make you do less, but rather speak truth to power.
audio El Deafo Author: Cece Bell Read By: Fred Berman , Matt Godfrey , Bailey Carr , Jennifer Aquino , Avi Roque , Sanya Simmons , Nicky Endres , Sarah Tubert and Lexi Finigan This beloved #1 New York Times bestselling graphic novel has been adapted on audio with a full cast and sound effects! At Cece’s old school, everyone in her class was deaf, just like her. But now she’s starting over at a new school with hearing classmates, and is worried. When Cece realizes that her Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that helps her to hear her teachers in the classroom, can be used to hear the teachers anywhere they are in the school, she realizes she wields a superpower that everyone else wants in on. But is being a superhero as great as it seems? This is a funny, poignant, important listening experience that teaches students the importance of being their genuine selves.
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