? about books on tape

[laceemouse]

It seems that most of you fly so I may have to try another forum, but this is transportation related so I will give it a shot. We usually drive on our trips, and while we have a VHS/DVD player in our suburban the kids sometimes get sick of our collection of movies. I do try to get a new one or two prior to each trip, but I would like to try something new this time. My mom and sis have driven up here from Louisiana a couple of times and they have gotten books on tape from Cracker Barrel. You can get them, rent them that is, at one location and return them at another. What a great marketing ploy, get those customers to return again! But anyway, have any of you ever done this? I was wondering about the selection, anything family friendly? My mom and sis get things like Grisham. We will be driving to Williamsburg Va in a couple of weeks and would like to maybe give this a try.....Lacee

 

[CarolMN]

Can't help with the Cracker Barrel question, but have you considered your local public library? Ours has books on tape (and CD) that you can check out for free and keep for either 2 weeks or 3 weeks - depends on if there is a waitlist for the title or not.

I listen to them on the way to and from work. Makes the 35 minute drive a lot easier on me - seems all the other people on the road drive so much better when I'm listening to a story, LOL! I just finished listening to James Patterson's 3rd Degree which was quite good and I didn't pay a cent to "rent" it. I've checked out Harry Potter books, various children's classics as well as recent best sellers.

Anyway, if you're going to be back home within 3 weeks, visit your local library and see what they might have for you.


Best wishes -

 

[harleyquinn]

Another plug for the library!!

As I am a librarian I just had to!

We have a MUCH better selection than Cracker Barrel and we're free!

Most libraries will let you take stuff like that out longer if you tell them you're going on vacation.

If you need suggestions PM me! I'm a children's librarian so I can tell you about family friendly, yet not too kiddy ones!

 

[disneymom3]

Totally agree with the library suggestion.

We rent books on tape all of the time. The Boxcar children and the Mrs Piggle Wiggle series appeal to all of my kids as do the Magic Treehouse, though those are a bit younger. (Kids are 8, 4 and two.) We spend a lot of time in the car as I am a Realtor and my kids often end up coming with me to drop off various paperwork and such. (We were in the car for almost three hours today!

We have also driven to FL and back twice from MN and never used a TV but we do lots of books on tape.

How old are your kids? My oldest also spends a lot of time listening to books on tape on her walkman. In fact, when we flew down in March, she turned down watching a DVD with her cousins because she was listening to a book!

 

[laceemouse]

Thanks for the suggestions. I had thought about the library but was not sure how long you could keep the tapes. I will check on that, our next trip will be almost 2 weeks. My kids are 13, 11, 9, and 6. It's kind of hard to get movies, etc. that appeal to all of them but we try. My youngest is a Scooby Do fanatic, so everyone else kind of just has to suffer through that when she wants to watch it LOL...

 

[hercamore]

Library, for sure.

Our local one has a huge selction. My neighbor is blind and when she and her dh travel, they plug a tape in for both of them!

herc.

 

[disneymom3]

Okay, new suggestions based on the ages of your kids.

The Wrinkle in Time series by Madeleine L'Engle is on tape. Those would be perfect for that age range. And anything by Elizabeth Enright. In particular Gone Away Lake would be great for those ages. Our library just got in a bunch of the true classics. They are in red and white boxes at our library. Be sure to check those out and of course, your children's librarian may be a wonderful resource. (Some are, some aren't.)

 

[NotUrsula]

And from another librarian, please keep our tapes safe. If you are going to do a long summer road trip and take library tapes, please bring a small lunch cooler to store them while in on the road. The insulation helps to keep the tapes from getting hot enough to melt/warp when left in a closed vehicle for short periods. (Obviously, you don't want to actually put ice in the cooler.)

When you reach your vacation destination, take them inside the hotel; even if they are stored in a cooler, being left inside a hot vehicle for an extended period of time can damage them.

 

[disneymom3]

"Don't judge a book by it's movie" Unknown


Oh my, as a book obsessive person, I love this quote! I missed that on the first read.

NotUrsula, that cooler idea is a great suggestion. Thanks!

 

[Megan's Mom]

Books on tape are one of the best inventions ever. I keep books on tape in the van for even driving around town. Beats listening to what is on the radio these days. I get most of mine from the library but have rented some at Cracker Barrel when we have been on a trip and ran out of tapes. The good thing about the tapes since your kids are at such an age range they could each have a tape/cd player and listen to their own books. My library lets you check out 5 tapes and I think 2 or 3 that are on cd's. Look for the unabridged books because they are longer that way you can be sure to have enough minutes for you trip.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

All of the HP book are available on tape (I know some are on CD, but don't know if all are available.)

Our entrie family loves to listen to these. They are unabridged and the reader does an amazing job with all of the voices and such. I know one of the books is 22 hours, don't remember how long book 5 took. It is very long.

Our library has them for loan, or we can also interlibrary loan if needed.

 

[PanamaMike]

I love books on tape (they make road trips fly by) and I have used my local library to check out countless titles over the years.

I remember when I was a kid, well before audio books were around, my parents would read books and record themselves with our home stereo. Then on driving trips my sister and I could pass the time listening to our favourite stories.

 

[powellrj]

I usually use the library also, but Cracker Barrel works this way. You buy the first book and they have an OK selection if you haven't read many current books, then you can return it to another Cracker Barrel and get your money back minus I think its a $4.00 a week charge. I get several books a week at the library and its great for car trips. But my DH hates them so I can only do them when I am alone.

 

[MrsIneedavacation]

And you don't need to be driving to Orlando to get the most out of books on tape. Listening on the drive to and from the airport and the hotel will help keep the little ones (and the big ones too) from getting to overheated with the thought of where they are going so they won't be exhausted when they get there. You can also listen to them while on the plane to help calm the nerves. After the plane is in the air though...they don't want electronics turned on during take off or landings.

Books on tape are the busy persons way of "relaxing with a good book" while still being productive by reaching a destination or completeing a needed task. I listen to them while cleaning house, driving in the car, flying in a plane, etc, etc.... I've listened to all my library has and now comb Ebay for them, listening and then selling them right back on Ebay so I can buy more!