BERNICE HARRISONOn Alternatives To Movies And The Mall
Those of us who have spent countless car journeys going slightly demented as The Wheels on the Busblasted from the speakers might be deeply wary of audiobooks. But it's worth having another go, as they're one of the best ways to keep everybody happy. The trick is to choose one for all ages, from children to driver.
The Graveyard Bookby Neil Gaiman. Bloomsbury, £16.99. This brilliant story about a child who grows up in a graveyard took us all the way from Dublin to Derry and back. We stayed in the car for 10 minutes when we got home to hear the end.
Four Favourite Storiesby Roald Dahl. Collins, £15.95. Including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach. Read by the author – a master of pacing – so vastly entertaining.
The Wind in the Willowsby Kenneth Grahame. BBC, £15.65. A children's classic with an all-star cast, including Richard Briers as Rat and Alan Bennett as the narrator.
Alex Rider: The Six Missions Collectionby Anthony Horowitz. Walker, £30. Modern British spy thrillers with plenty of action and intrigue.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Princeby JK Rowling. Bloomsbury, £65. The sixth instalment of the series, and the latest to make it to the screen, is read by Stephen Fry, whose enjoyment of the book is infectious.
The Giggler Treatmentby Roddy Doyle. BBC, £5.86. The hilarious story of Rover the talking dog is read with relish by comedian Tommy Tiernan.