Audiobook narrators use their voices to create a picture like an illustrator might use paint. Different choices about sound qualities like pitch, volume, and rhythm can make big changes to how a character comes across, the mood of a scene, or how immersed listeners feel in a story overall. Done well, audiobook narration adds dimension to a story, creating something new that stands on its own. And when it comes to representation of Black culture in kids' books, Black narrators can deliver powerful storytelling that enriches the representation on the page.
There are many exceptional Black actors working in audiobook narration today. Here are just a few of the talents bringing our favorite stories to life, along with a selection of their audiobooks for kids. Place your hold today!
Actors pictured in the order below.
Guy Lockard
- Stuntboy in the Meantime by Jason Reynolds
- Ghost by Jason Reynolds
- As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds
Imani Parks
- Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
- Serena Says by Tanita S. Davis
- To Night Owl From Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer
Ron Butler
- Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott
- Rebound by Kwame Alexander
- Battle for the Park by H.D. Hunter
Bahni Turpin
- Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem by Kate DiCamillo
- The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
- Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland
Michael Boatman
- Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake
Sisi Aisha Johnson
- One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia
- Ways to Share Joy by Renée Watson
- Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson (2023 Newbery Winner!)