| Next time you’re browsing around in a book shop, | | | | also reporting success in using children’s audio |
| take a look at the names on the audio tapes. You | | | | books as an aid for teaching their children how to read. |
| might be surprised about how many names you | | | | With sound effects, music and songs, children are |
| recognize. Recently, publishing companies have begun | | | | having more fun reading along; they are gaining more |
| to see the potential held in audio books, and have been | | | | interest in reading books, not just listening to them. |
| producing more and more of their printed best sellers in | | | | If you are thinking right now, "Celebrities will do anything |
| audio book format. The audio book market has grown | | | | for money," you are way off. The average pay to |
| so popular that celebrities are now getting in on the | | | | record a six hour long audio book, even for celebrities, |
| action. | | | | is between $4,000 and $6,000. This is more like spare |
| It is not uncommon for audio books to utilize different | | | | change for many of the higher paid celebrities out |
| voice actors to portray the different characters in the | | | | there. There are many reasons these highly paid, |
| book. Along with sound effects, music and sometimes | | | | internationally famous celebrities agree to lend their |
| a celebrity cast, audio books can become an entire | | | | voices to audio books. Some celebrities do it because |
| production. These audio books are the ones that are | | | | they enjoyed reading the book so much that they |
| getting the most exposure. Bill and Hilary Clinton, for | | | | want as many people as possible to enjoy the book, |
| example, achieved huge success when they produced | | | | and help the author make the sales he or she |
| their best selling books in audio format. This shows that | | | | deserves. Other celebrities do it because they want to |
| people want very much to hear the stories straight out | | | | help children learn to read, while some celebrities do it |
| from the mouths of authors. | | | | for political reasons. Whatever their reasons are, more |
| As with animated children’s movies, more | | | | and more celebrities are recording audio books, and |
| celebrities are being drawn to doing the voices of the | | | | sales have grown to an all time high. |
| characters in children’s audio books. Parents are | | | | |
