Podcasts, for example, can help learners to enhance their vocabulary, comprehension and listening skills. Here, you’ll find a list of podcasts for children that promote literacy, reading and books (plus a few more to spark learners’ imaginations on other topics). First, though, let’s look at why podcasts are great for encouraging literacy and learning.
What makes podcasts great for improving literacy and reading?
There are many reasons parents and educators should consider using podcasts to encourage literacy among young learners. You can find an in-depth look at how podcasts can improve literacy learning here, but a few compelling factors include:
- The Literacy Trust has found that more children and young people who listen to podcasts enjoy reading (47.8% vs 40.8%) and read daily (30.4% vs 27.0%) compared to those who don’t.
- Podcasts encourage imagination, offering a great alternative to screen time.
- Most podcasts are free: all you need is an internet connection and some way to download and play them, such as a smartphone, laptop or smart speaker.
- There are podcasts available on a whole world of topics, giving children access to new knowledge and helping to start conversations at home about reading and literacy.
- Podcasts are accessible whilst inspiring listeners to want to know more, encouraging them to look for books and online resources they can read to follow up on what they’ve learned.
- Reading along to podcasts in the classroom can help learners focus and build confidence.
The only question is where to start! Luckily, you’ll find some helpful suggestions below.
15 of the best literacy, reading and book based podcasts for kids
500 Words: Bedtime Stories
Based on BBC Radio 2’s short story-writing competition for children aged 5 to 13, 500 Words, this podcast presents a wide range of engaging bedtime stories for kids, written by kids.
The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian
A serialised sci-fi story about an 8-year-old exploring space and solving mysteries with his friends, The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian is a fun podcast the whole family can listen to together.
Book Club for Kids
A 20-minute book club podcast aimed at children aged 8 to 12. Each episode features three students discussing a favourite book and interviewing its author, plus a celebrity reading.
The Creeping Hour
How about something spooky? The Creeping Hour is a family-friendly horror anthology series presented by The Creeps, three friends who listened to too many scary stories and turned into monsters! That’s their story, anyway, and the stories they tell are perfect for children aged 8 to 12.
Fun Kids Book Worms
Book Worms features interviews with popular children’s authors to see what makes them tick (plus readings from their books). You’ll also get monthly book recommendations for children.
The Guardian Children’s Book Podcast
In this podcast, which focuses on writing for children and teens, authors are interviewed about their work. Some of the best episodes feature young readers posing questions to their favourite authors.
Julie’s Library
Ever wanted Mary Poppins to read you a story? In Julie’s Library, screen icon Julie Andrews teams up with her daughter – children’s author and educator Emma Walton Hamilton – to read and explore their favourite children’s books, inspired by a lifelong love of reading and literacy.
Kids Animal Stories
A podcast that focuses on the wonders of the animal kingdom and encourages children to embrace the natural world. Created by Mr. Jim, who also produces the Kids Short Stories podcast.
Puffin Podcast: Mission Imagination
Hosted by comedian Babatunde Aléshé and two young readers, each episode of Mission Imagination whisks listeners away to a fantastical world from the imagination of a brilliant Puffin author.
Short Stories for Kids: The Magical Podcast of Story Telling
Short Stories for Kids tells stories based on listener submissions. By leaving a story suggestion in a review, learners have the chance to be the hero in their own adventure!
Sleep Tight Stories
Need something to help children drift off to sleep at night while also firing their imaginations? Then Sleep Tight Stories provides a new story, suitable for children of all ages, every week.
Story Explorers
Hosted by CBBC presenter Ben Shires, Story Explorers brings school children and authors together. Each week, a group of Year 5 and 6 students meets a writer to chat about their work.
Storynory
Storynory channels its television namesake, Jackanory, by focusing on the basics: having one person reading a great story, with no need for flashy sound effects. And with more than 600 stories from around the world available in the archive, it offers something for everyone!
Story Time
A free audiobook podcast for children ages 2 to 13, most Story Time episodes clock in at under 20 minutes, making them the perfect length for toddlers.
What If World
Hosted by Eric O’Keefe (aka Mr. Eric), every episode of What If World starts with a listener question – such as “What if there was a wizard city?” or “What if a mouse ate a very very very spicy doughnut?” – and turns it into an exciting story. Even if you get through all the episodes available, you don’t have to stop there: the podcast creators have also made a handy “What if…?” question generator to give you a jumping-off point for telling your own stories in the imaginative What If world!
9 non-fiction podcasts to inspire young learners
The podcasts above are all focused on literacy, storytelling and books. But there are plenty more podcasts that learners might want to explore! In the list below, you’ll find a range of non-fiction podcasts that can inspire curiosity and ideas for topics to read more on.
Bedtime History
A history podcast designed to lull young listeners to sleep with educational stories. Episodes cover the lives of inspiring people, stunning feats of engineering and exciting historical stories.
Brains On!
In this award-winning podcast for children and inquisitive adults, Molly Bloom teams up with a kid co-host each week to answer fascinating questions about science and history.
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
For each episode of this podcast, host Jane Lindholm answers questions submitted by kids. With topics covering nature, language and even the end of the world, it’s a great choice for curious minds!
Dream Big
Hosted by Eva and Sophia Karpman (currently 13 and 7 years old respectively) – plus their mom, Olga (age not specified) – Dream Big is a family-friendly podcast designed to inspire children and adults alike to follow their dreams. It also boasts an impressive array of guests, and many episodes come with downloadable resources designed to inspire thought-provoking discussions as a family.
Everything Under the Sun
For each episode of Everything Under the Sun, author, quiz writer and original QI elf Molly Oldfield teams up with an expert to answer questions sent in by children from around the world.
Whatever your age, if you’ve ever asked yourself questions like “What do clouds taste like?” or “Why are sheep so fluffy?”, you’ll find something to satisfy your curiosity in this podcast.
Fierce Girls
Each episode of Fierce Girls tells the story of an inspiring Australian woman or girl, including athletes, aviators, scientists and spies. The website also features a host of educational resources that parents and teachers can use to inspire conversation, helping kids to continue learning after listening.
Oxford Sparks Big Questions
If you’re looking for something to inspire older teens and adult learners, then the Oxford Sparks Big Questions podcast is a great place to start! Each bite-size episode features an interview with some of the brightest minds behind Oxford science to answer a question about a new subject.
The Past and the Curious
As well as having an excellent pun name for fans of speedy cars and Vin Diesel, The Past and the Curious is a history podcast for children and families. Each episode focuses on a different historical figure or event, combining a quirky sense of humour with solid research into each topic.
Short and Curly
Ethics might not sound like the most fun subject for a podcast, but the presenters of Short and Curly show it can be! In every episode, they ask fun questions about animals, technology, school, pop culture and the future, sparking a conversation to get the whole family thinking. And with classroom resources available for children aged 8 to 12, it’s a great choice for teachers as well.
Make podcasts work for you (and your children!)
Above, we have included a whole range of brilliant podcasts that are perfect for any learners looking for a new way to learn - but don’t be afraid to look further afield if you can’t find the content you’re looking for. And if you’re looking for some podcasts for adults that promote great literacy teaching, then check out another of our articles here.
