My 10-year-old daughter and I drove across the United States and back and we listened to books on tape the entire way. The first I chose because it is one of my favorite all-time books, Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver. It's considered a midgrade novel for 8- - 12-year-olds, but the writing is extraordinary and the story is gripping. We listened to books one, two, and three.

We also listened to books six and seven of the Harry Potter series, and book one of The Darks is Rising series by Susan Cooper.

Before that trip, my daughter didn't consider herself as much of a reader, but during and after listening to those books and reading along on the hard copies of a couple, man, she was seeing imagery from the novels all along the road. It was amazing how engaged she was.

Now we read aloud on the commute back and forth to school every day. She's a great reader now and was thrilled with the books she got for Christmas.

Rock on with the books on tape.

Safe journey,

Roxy

I've never listened