Jim Dale's Harry Potter is still the gold standard for family listening

Dale reads like a grandparent who has told this story many times and still loves it. Every character, from Hagrid to the smallest ghost, gets a recognisable voice, and he keeps them consistent across the whole series.

Some of his choices are big, especially the villains and the Weasley twins, but for children that is part of the fun. Adults will find the broadness charming rather than tiring.

This first book is short and brisk, a perfect length for a family road trip.

Note that the British edition read by Stephen Fry is a different recording. Both are excellent; Dale's is livelier, Fry's a little more dry.