As the summer months approach, not every day is filled with sunshine and pleasant weather when all of the kids are out of school and enjoying vacation. Parents with a suitable plan for when rainy days take over will successfully stay ahead of the restlessness that comes when children claim there is noting 'fun to do.' Perhaps, stashing away a few audio books can help provide a different approach towards entertainment that doesn't involve senseless cartoons and mindless TV shows.

You should also keep in mind that audio books don't always have to keep children busy for only when they're stuck inside, as the audio versions of classic fairytales and a couple of modern favorites also make great traveling delight for long car rides. When transferring your audio book to a CD ? multiple children can enjoy the titles that best suit their individual tastes when given a CD player of their own.

The fun associated with audio books is endless as music, sound effects, and sometimes an assortment of voices add to the overall enjoyment. Depending on the age group of your children, the following list of audio books may appeal to your little one(s):

The Frog Wore Red Suspenders

A collection of humorous poems accompanied by the music of author Jack Prelutsky delivers an enchanting audio book filled with the sounds of guitar, mandolin, keyboards, and percussion. This particular title seems a hit with two- to four-year olds.

The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events)

British actor Tim Curry (of Rocky Horror Picture Show fame) presents this Lemony Snicket gem, bringing to life an assortment of unforgettable characters, which includes the likes of Count Olaf and the Baudelaire orphans. This Harper Children's Audio series includes three other volumes ? the last two read by the author himself. Young listeners aged 10 and up are often most interested in this particular title.

Henry Huggins & Ramona's World

Beverly Cleary is a well-known author of children's books, who is responsible for a collection of classics that portray remarkable characters that speak to the young population of readers. "Henry Huggins" is recommended for children aged 8 and up. This time, it is actor Neil Patrick Harris that reads the adventures of Henry and Ribsy to children under Harper Children's Audio. Another notable Beverly Cleary tale includes "Ramona's World" (narrated by Stockard Channing), which follows the adventures of Miss Quimby and her sisters.

Because of Winn Dixie

The Listening Library has produced an audio book version of the tale of Opal and her lovable stray dog Winn Dixie. Children ages 8 and up truly enjoy the storytelling of Kate DiCamillo, as read by actress Cherry Jones.

The Harry Potter Series

The entire family will get a kick out of hearing the adventures of Harry Potter unfold with the help of an audio book narrator. One of the shorter books of JK Rowling is "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," which involves 12 hours of suspense, wizardry thrills, and mystery sure to add loads of imaginative fun for children looking for excitement during a rainy summer day.