Spotify is adding the kids and family catalog from Scholastic U.S. to Audiobooks in Premium, with the titles available to subscribers in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Titles that were previously sold only through direct purchase are now included in subscribers’ monthly audiobook listening allowance.
What subscribers can access#
From today, Premium subscribers in these six markets can listen to the Scholastic kids and family catalog within their monthly allowance. Series including The Hunger Games, Wings of Fire and Captain Underpants are among the titles available.
Growth of the Audiobooks in Premium collection#
Spotify said its audiobook collection has grown from 150,000 titles to 800,000 since Audiobooks in Premium launched three years ago. The new Scholastic US titles add to that collection.
Partner statements#
Duncan Bruce, Director of Partnerships and Licensing at Spotify, said: “Scholastic is synonymous with childhood reading. We’re thrilled to bring that catalog into Audiobooks in Premium, where families can discover and enjoy these titles freely within their monthly hours, helping to build lasting reading habits.”
In an interview ahead of the launch, Jackie De Leo, Chief Merchant and Publisher at Scholastic, discussed how audiobooks can encourage reading and help families fit more books into busy lives. Scholastic said that the agreement gives children and families more ways to access its catalog, in a format that fits into daily routines at home, on the road and elsewhere.
Scholastic also said that audiobooks can help a child develop a love of reading, particularly while they are still learning the skill. It cited listening to stories as a low-pressure way for children to become familiar with characters and longer narratives, and as a way to build concentration.
Titles highlighted in the interview#
- Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, which was named Audiobook of the Year at the Audie Awards. A film adaptation is due out in November.
- Hey, Kiddo, an immersive, full-cast audio adaptation of Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s graphic memoir.
- The Owl Diaries series by Rebecca Elliott, with principal narrator Emily Eiden, featuring full-cast productions with music and sound design.
- Burn the Water by Billy Ray, with Zoe Boyle, from Downton Abbey, who worked on the audiobook. Its sequel, The Water Will Fall, is scheduled for release in March.
