If you’re anything like us, spring means a lot of road trips, baseball practices, dance recitals, and random afternoons stuck in the car. After just driving all the way to California and back for spring break, I was reminded how grateful I am that my kids genuinely love learning through books, podcasts, and music — and can actually entertain themselves (most of the time).
Now, don’t get me wrong — they don’t always pick non-annoying content (I’m looking at you, Diary of a Wimpy Kid), but for the most part, they choose some great stuff we all enjoy listening to together.
If you’re gearing up for spring break travel, summer road trips, or just want to keep your kids busy without handing over a screen, here’s our ultimate list of family-friendly books, podcasts, and playlists that are fun for the whole crew.
Check out all our favorites on our Amazon list here!
Favorite Family-Friendly Books
Whether you’re traveling or just trying to get your kids to pick up a book during downtime, these series are a hit in our house:
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Harry Potter – A classic. If you haven’t introduced Hogwarts yet, now’s the time.
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Magic Treehouse – Quick reads, historical adventures, and always a favorite with our younger kids.
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A-Z Mysteries – Short mysteries that keep even the wiggliest kids interested.
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Percy Jackson – Mythology mixed with humor and action. What’s not to love?
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid – It drives me nuts sometimes, but the kids are obsessed.
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Wings of Fire – Dragons, adventure, and some pretty deep storytelling.
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The Wild Robot – A robot surviving in nature? Surprisingly emotional and smart.
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Chronicles of Narnia – Another must-read classic, especially if you like fantasy.
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The Bad Guys Series – Funny, quick reads that even reluctant readers will devour.
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Dog Man – Graphic novel gold.
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The Princess Academy – A great empowering read for girls (and boys too!).
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I Survived Series – Historical fiction that feels like an action movie.
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Whatever After Series – Fairy tales reimagined with a modern twist.
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Dork Diaries – Relatable, funny, and great for middle-grade readers.
Family-Friendly Podcasts We Love
Podcasts saved our road trip sanity more times than I can count. Here are a few of our go-tos:
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Wow in the World – This NPR podcast is packed with kid-friendly science facts and hilarious hosts. Honestly, I learn as much as they do.
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Book Club for Kids – Perfect for older kids and teens. Hearing authors talk about their books is just plain cool.
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Stories Podcast – Classic children’s stories retold in a way that actually holds attention spans. (Also great for winding kids down at bedtime after a full day.)
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But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids – Kids ask the questions, experts answer them. Example: “Why do cats purr?” That’s the level of adorable education you can expect.
Best Kid-Friendly Playlists for Spring
When we’re not deep-diving into books or podcasts, we let the kids pick from these:
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Spotify Kids Playlist – Spotify has tons of curated playlists that are safe, fun, and won’t make parents lose their minds.
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Family Road Trip Playlist – Create a mix of oldies, Disney favorites, and kid-approved pop songs. A win-win for all generations stuck in the car together.
Why It Matters
As a busy dad, there’s something awesome about seeing your kids actually enjoying a book, getting curious about science, or just jamming out to music that doesn’t make your ears bleed. Filling our downtime with great content means fewer screens, more learning, and (bonus!) quieter car rides.
So, if you’re planning a spring road trip or just need something fresh to mix into your daily routine, I highly recommend checking out these picks. Trust me, it’ll make your spring just a little more magical — and a lot less whiny.
Got a favorite book, podcast, or playlist? Share your family’s favorites in the comments below!
