Tired of the same old summertime activities?  Looking for something fun for the whole family?  I have a suggestion for you!  Easy, free, fun, no mess, and there is something for everyone in your whole family!

Bring home a book on CD from your local library.  A membership is free and having a professional reader really adds to the magic.  Plus, it allows for you to either follow along for young readers trying to learn or get lost in your imagination for older readers looking for a cool, indoor activity.  It's a great way to inspire reading in your home and introduce your family to a whole new world.

I have some suggestions for groups of all ages.  I, myself, commute to my workplace and I never could have survived the hour long journey without books on CD!

Children (5-12) and adults will love Tim Curry reading Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events".  Why rent the movie when you can read all 13 wonderfully awful books?  Each book is between 3 and 5 hours long and is guaranteed to make even the adults laugh out loud.  Tim Curry is amazing.

Adolescents (10-adult) will be instantly hooked listening to Jim Dale read the Harry Potter collection from J.K. Rowling.  The first 3 books (The Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, and Prisoner of Azkaban) are suitable for younger audiences but books 4-7 may be a little too intense for anyone under 10!  Haven't you wondered what all the fuss is about?  Find out while exploring your own magic.  Jim Dale's ability to change his voice for each character and bring you into the story is superb!  I promise your whole family will have British accents by the end of the first book!

I will continue this blog with other suggestions and other books in separate parts.  Just know, as silly as the idea sounds, I can assure you that this will be fun for the whole family!  Share with your kids.  You will both be better for it!