National Literacy
Trust picks

Listens to inspire hope and positivity
Discovering listens the whole family can enjoy can be tricky, so who better to share their top picks than our friends and audio advocates the National Literacy Trust. Working with schools and families, the team know a thing or two about what makes the best listen, from immersive soundscapes to enticing narration.

As we head into the new year, take a chance to inspire hope and positivity with these listens. Get inspired with real-life stories from Malala Yousafzai and Marcus Rashford, or dive into magical tales including Carl Lewis's Seed and Nura and the Immortal Palace by M. T. Khan.
Product list
  • You Can Do It cover art

    • You Can Do It

    • How to Find Your Voice and Make a Difference
    • By: Marcus Rashford, Carl Anka - contributor
    • Narrated by: Kenton Thomas
    • Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins
    • Release date: 21-07-22
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 16 ratings
    • You Can Do It by Marcus Rashford
    • ‘Marcus Rashford and Carl Anka are back with another uplifting book to support young people to achieve their goals. We recommend this listen to inspire positivity and encourage you to make your own difference, however small.’

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  • The Heart and the Bottle cover art

    • The Heart and the Bottle

    • By: Oliver Jeffers
    • Narrated by: Helena Bonham Carter
    • Length: 3 mins
    • Release date: 11-02-11
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 13 ratings
    • The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
    • ‘We recommend this heart-warming story of love and loss, about an inquisitive little girl who loses someone important, yet rediscovers the wonder of the world around her.’

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  • Born to Run cover art

    • Born to Run

    • By: Michael Morpurgo
    • Narrated by: Isla Blair
    • Length: 3 hrs and 29 mins
    • Release date: 04-08-11
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 112 ratings
    • Born to Run by Michael Morpurgo
    • ‘A true classic from Michael Morpurgo, Born to Run is about a greyhound who lives many lives and focuses on the friendship between child and dog. A real tear-jerker with a hopeful message.’

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  • Seed cover art

    • Seed

    • By: Caryl Lewis, George Ermos - illustrator
    • Narrated by: Sam Stafford
    • Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
    • Release date: 12-05-22
    • Language: English
    • Not rated yet
    • Seed by Caryl Lewis
    • ‘Marty's birthday present from his grandad doesn't look like much but brings great hope to all. We were carried away on a tide of dreams by this wondrous tale.’

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  • Nura and the Immortal Palace cover art

    • Nura and the Immortal Palace

    • By: M.T. Khan
    • Narrated by: Shiromi Arserio
    • Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
    • Release date: 28-04-23
    • Language: English
    • 4 out of 5 stars 4 ratings
    • Nura and the Immortal Palace by M. T. Khan
    • ‘When Nura’s best friend is kidnapped by the jinn - enchanted beings of fire - she is determined to rescue him. We were whisked away on a magical adventure in this tale which touches on hope, friendship, and the importance of education.’

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  • I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World cover art

    • I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World

    • Teen Edition Retold by Malala for her Own Generation
    • By: Malala Yousafzai, Patricia McCormick
    • Narrated by: Neela Vaswani
    • Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
    • Release date: 24-10-14
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 60 ratings
    • I am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormick
    • ‘Malala’s courageous journey to champion education for girls is thought-provoking and an inspiration for all. This audiobook is a wonderful starting point for listening together and beginning discussions around children’s rights.’

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  • Absolutely, Positively Natty cover art

    • Absolutely, Positively Natty

    • By: Lisa Greenwald
    • Narrated by: Caroline Sorunke
    • Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins
    • Release date: 09-05-23
    • Language: English
    • Not rated yet
    • Absolutely, Positively Natty by Lisa Greenwald
    • ‘Natty’s motto is 'good vibes only'. Can her new friends convince her that sometimes it’s okay not to be okay? The narrator brings this lovable heroine to life in an entertaining look at the balance between hopefulness and toxic positivity.’

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  • Like a Charm cover art

    • Like a Charm

    • Like a Charm, Book 1
    • By: Elle McNicoll
    • Narrated by: Carmella Brown
    • Series: Like a Charm, Book 1
    • Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
    • Release date: 12-04-22
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 163 ratings
    • Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll
    • ‘Ramya knows her brain works slightly differently to others. But when sinister, magical creatures threaten to take over Edinburgh, she must use her dyspraxia to defeat them. We adore this absorbing, highly entertaining narration about a bold, optimistic protagonist.’

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  • The Wall Between Us cover art

    • The Wall Between Us

    • By: Dan Smith
    • Narrated by: Charlie Sanderson
    • Length: 4 hrs and 9 mins
    • Release date: 07-09-23
    • Language: English
    • Not rated yet
    • The Wall Between Us by Dan Smith
    • ‘It's 1961 and best friends Anja and Monika are separated by the Berlin Wall. Despite many challenges across the decades, their cat Otto shows them how to remain full of hope. We love this historical adventure.’

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  • A Poem for Every Day of the Year cover art

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