Audiobooks have a strong contribution to make in this area. Research shows that engagement with audiobooks supports children’s listening and reading skills in a similar way to reading a story out loud, yet with less demand on teacher resources. Audiobooks enable children to broaden their vocabulary and to experience stories they may not yet have the literacy skills to tackle with confidence, enabling them to "reach up" to adventures that are more engaging and more immersive than their reading level normally allows. This is particularly true for reluctant readers, and children with special educational needs, who may find that the result of slow reading is that the story never catches fire in their imagination. Audiobooks can help to spark the flame that encourages struggling readers to engage with books.  

Audiobooks can effectively engage reluctant, struggling and developing readers by enabling them to access stories beyond their current reading level (National Literacy Trust, 2020). The "cool factor" of listening to stories on a digital device is also particularly appealing to reluctant readers. Audiobooks also help families with parents who struggle to read, or who lack confidence reading, supporting them in sharing stories with their children.