What Are Audiobooks and Why Are Schools Using Them?
By ePlatform Collection Management
| Jul 05, 2569
Categories : Learn about Audiobooks
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes | Last updated: July 2026
Audiobooks are not new, but the way schools use them has changed.
For many students, listening to a book is no longer just an alternative to reading on the page. It can make reading more accessible, give students another way to engage with books, and help them stay connected to texts that match their age, interests and abilities.
In this guide, we’ll look at what Audiobooks are, how they work in schools, who benefits most, and how schools can provide access in ways that support a wide range of readers.
Key Takeaways
- Audiobooks are recorded versions of books that students can listen to through a digital platform, app or browser.
- Schools use Audiobooks to improve access to reading, especially for students who find print, decoding or sustained reading challenging.
- Audiobooks can support reluctant readers, dyslexic students, autistic students, EAL/ESL/ESOL learners and older students who need reading support.
- Audiobooks are not a replacement for all print reading, but they can support comprehension, vocabulary, confidence and engagement with age-appropriate texts.
- School Audiobook platforms make it easier to provide access at scale, with digital lending, student logins, curated collections and usage insights.
Table of Contents
- What is an Audiobook?
- How Do Audiobooks Work in Schools?
- Audiobooks vs Read-Aloud eBooks
- Why Are Schools Using Audiobooks?
- Which Students Benefit from Using Audiobooks?
- Do Audiobooks Count as Reading?
- What Should Schools Look for in an Audiobook Platform?
- FAQs
What is an Audiobook?
An Audiobook is a recorded version of a book that students listen to rather than read from the page. Audiobooks may be narrated by a voice actor, the author, or a full cast, and can usually be streamed or downloaded through an app, browser or digital library platform.
At their simplest, Audiobooks give students another way to access a story or text. Instead of decoding every word visually, students can listen to the book read aloud while following the story, characters, vocabulary, and ideas.
In schools, Audiobooks are often used alongside print books and eBooks. They are not designed to entirely replace reading on the page, but they can make reading more accessible for students who find print difficult, lose confidence quickly, or need extra support to engage with age-appropriate texts.
How Do Audiobooks Work in Schools?
For students, using an Audiobook is very simple. They find a title, borrow or open it, press play, and listen through headphones, speakers or a device. Depending on the platform, they may also be able to adjust playback speed, set bookmarks, continue listening across devices, or download the book for offline access.
There are three key elements that make Audiobooks useful in a school setting:
- Access: Students can listen to books through a school-approved platform, often at school or at home.
- Narration: A fluent narrator models pace, expression, pronunciation and phrasing, which can help students follow the meaning of a text more easily.
- Choice: Audiobooks allow students to access stories and topics that match their interests, even when the printed version may feel too challenging to read.
For schools, Audiobooks work best when they are easy to discover, simple to access and connected to the wider reading culture of the school. They can support independent reading, class texts, reading at home, intervention, wellbeing collections and reading for enjoyment.
Digital reading for schools
Curious what eBooks & Audiobooks could look like at your school?
Book a short demonstration to see the student experience, explore available eBooks and Audiobooks, and understand how ePlatform supports reading across your school.
- See how students browse, borrow, read and listen
- Explore tools that support different reading needs
- Learn how usage insights help librarians and school leaders
Audiobooks vs Read-Aloud eBooks
Audiobooks and read-aloud eBooks both allow students to listen to text, but they are not the same experience.
An Audiobook is a professionally recorded version of a book, usually narrated by a voice actor, the author, or a full cast. It is designed as a listening experience, with natural pacing, expression and tone.
A read-aloud eBook uses text-to-speech technology to read the words on screen aloud. This can help students follow written text, hear pronunciation, access a specific passage, or use language support tools such as translation.
For a broader comparison of digital reading formats, read our guide: eBooks vs Audiobooks: What’s the Difference for Schools?.
In simple terms, Audiobooks are often stronger for reading engagement, story immersion and fluency modelling. Read-aloud eBooks are often stronger when students need to follow the written words, check pronunciation, translate text, or receive support while working with the text on screen.
Both can play a useful role in schools. Audiobooks can help students build confidence and enjoyment, while read-aloud eBooks can support access to written text when students need extra help with decoding, pronunciation or comprehension.
Why Are Schools Using Audiobooks?
Schools use Audiobooks because they give students more ways to access books, stories and curriculum texts. For some students, listening can reduce the pressure that comes with reading on the page. For others, it can make books feel more engaging, more accessible and easier to fit into everyday life.
Audiobooks do not replace print reading. They are about giving students another way into reading, especially when print alone is not enough to keep them connected to books.
To Improve Reading Engagement
For some students, reading can feel slow, frustrating or disconnected from what they enjoy. Audiobooks help remove some of that friction by allowing students to experience the pace of a story, follow characters and build meaning without getting stuck on every word.
When students find a book they actually want to listen to, Audiobooks can help rebuild positive reading habits. They give students a way to participate in reading culture, talk about books with peers and discover the kinds of stories that interest them.
To Improve Accessibility
Audiobooks make books more accessible for students who find print challenging. This may include students with dyslexia, ADHD, visual fatigue, processing difficulties, attention challenges or other learning needs.
Listening can reduce the load of decoding and allow students to focus more on meaning, vocabulary, character and comprehension. A strong narrator also models pace, tone, pronunciation and expression, helping students experience how language flows when read well.
To Help Students Access Age-Appropriate Texts
Some students have strong interests and mature ideas, but their independent reading level does not match the texts they want to explore. This can be especially frustrating for older students who need reading support.
Audiobooks can help bridge that gap by giving students access to books, themes and ideas that match their age and interests, even when the printed version may feel too difficult to read independently.
To Support Reading Beyond the Classroom
Audiobooks particularly help schools extend reading beyond the classroom. Students can listen at home, while travelling, during quiet reading sessions or as part of holiday reading.
Because Audiobooks are easy to start and continue, they can fit into moments where print reading may not be practical. This makes them a useful part of a wider reading strategy, supporting independent reading, classroom texts, intervention, wellbeing collections and reading for enjoyment.
Which Students Benefit from Using Audiobooks?
Audiobooks are beneficial for a wide range of students, not only those who find reading difficult. In schools, they are especially useful when students are interested in books but need another way to access, enjoy or stay engaged with reading.
Reluctant Readers
Audiobooks help reluctant readers by reducing the pressure of reading every word on the page. Students can follow the story, enjoy the characters, and experience the momentum of a book without feeling held back by decoding, stamina, or low confidence.
Dyslexic Students
For dyslexic students, Audiobooks can reduce the load of decoding and tracking text, allowing them to focus more on meaning, vocabulary and comprehension. They do not replace structured reading support or phonics instruction, but they can help students continue to access and enjoy books while they build their reading skills.
Autistic Students
Some autistic students benefit from Audiobooks because listening can provide a more controlled and comfortable reading experience. Students can use headphones, adjust the volume, pause when needed and listen in a way that suits their routine, preferences and sensory needs.
EAL, ESL and ESOL Students
Students learning in an additional language can benefit from hearing words pronounced clearly and used in context. Audiobooks expose students to rhythm, sentence patterns, vocabulary and expression, which can support comprehension, confidence and oral language development.
Older Students Who Need Reading Support
Audiobooks can help older students access books with themes, characters and ideas that match their age and interests, even when the printed version is difficult to read independently. This can help reading feel more relevant and less connected only to intervention or catch-up work.
Do Audiobooks Count as Reading?
Yes, Audiobooks absolutely count as reading, especially when students are actively listening, following the story and building understanding from the text.
Reading is not only about decoding words on a page. It also involves comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, meaning, imagination and connection with ideas. Audiobooks support many of these outcomes, even though students access the book by listening rather than reading print.
That said, Audiobooks do not replace every aspect of reading print books. Students still need opportunities to practise decoding, spelling, writing, visual word recognition and close reading. For this reason, Audiobooks work best as part of a balanced reading approach, alongside print books, eBooks, read-aloud tools and classroom discussion.
For students who find print difficult, Audiobooks can make books feel more accessible and help them stay included in reading culture. They allow students to access stories, build comprehension and connect with books that might otherwise feel out of reach.
What Should Schools Look for in an Audiobook Platform?
For Audiobooks to have an impact, students need more than access to a few individual titles. They need a simple, reliable way to find, borrow and listen to books when they need them.
A school Audiobook platform can help by bringing access, lending, collections and usage insights into one place. When comparing options, schools should look for:
- Simple access: Students should be able to listen through a browser or app with minimal setup.
- School-friendly logins: Single sign-on or school-managed access can make adoption easier.
- Age-appropriate collections: The collection should support different year levels, interests and curriculum needs.
- Flexible listening: Students should be able to listen at school, at home and, where available, offline.
- Curated discovery: Librarians and teachers should be able to promote relevant titles, collections and reading themes.
- Usage insights: Borrowing and engagement data can help schools understand what students are reading and show the value of the digital library.
The easier Audiobooks are to access, promote and measure, the more likely they are to become a regular part of the school’s reading culture.
FAQs
Are Audiobooks Worthwhile for Students?
Yes, Audiobooks can support comprehension, vocabulary, listening skills, confidence and reading enjoyment, especially when used as part of a balanced reading approach.
Do Audiobooks Help Reluctant Readers?
Yes, Audiobooks can help reluctant readers by reducing some of the pressure that comes with reading on the page. Students can follow the story, build meaning and enjoy books without getting stuck on every word.
Do Audiobooks Count as Reading?
Yes, Audiobooks can count as reading when students are actively listening and building understanding from the text. They do not replace every part of print reading, but they are a meaningful way to access books and support comprehension.
What is the Difference Between Audiobooks and Read-Aloud eBooks?
Audiobooks are professionally recorded books designed for listening. Read-aloud eBooks use text-to-speech technology to read written text on screen aloud.
Can Schools Lend Audiobooks to Students?
Yes, schools can lend Audiobooks through a digital library or a school Audiobook platform, allowing students to borrow and listen to them through a browser or app.
Final Thoughts
Audiobooks give schools another way to make reading more accessible, flexible and engaging. They support students who find print challenging, help reluctant readers build confidence and make age-appropriate books available to a wider range of learners.
Used alongside print books, eBooks, read-aloud tools and classroom discussion, Audiobooks can become a valuable part of a balanced school reading strategy.
Learn more about ePlatform's Audiobook Collections.