Clara’s Verdict
Kipper is one of those rare children’s characters who has managed to remain genuinely beloved across thirty-plus years without becoming tiresome — a small miracle in a market that tends to grind its successful properties into the ground. Mick Inkpen’s loveable puppy is warm, curious, occasionally bewildered, and consistently kind, and this collection of eight stories, read by Dawn French, is simply delightful. I don’t say that lightly. The Kipper Collection is the kind of audiobook that will have small children demanding it again before you’ve finished the final chapter, and parents finding they don’t mind at all.
About the Audiobook
Eight classic Kipper stories are gathered here, running from the original tale that introduced Inkpen’s creation to millions of families, through a small, perfect set of seasonal and everyday adventures. The collection includes Kipper’s Monster, Kipper’s New Pet, Kipper’s Christmas Eve, Kipper’s A to Z, Kipper’s Birthday, Kipper’s Snowy Day, and Kipper’s Toybox — a roster that covers a comforting range of childhood experiences, from the excitement of birthdays to the slightly spooky pleasure of imagined monsters.
Inkpen’s stories are deceptively simple — there’s very little plot in the conventional sense — but they’re constructed with real understanding of how young children experience the world. Kipper approaches everything with open curiosity; the stories never condescend, and their lessons (when they exist at all) emerge naturally from events rather than being imposed from above. At fifty-seven minutes, this is precisely the right length for a bedtime sequence or a shorter car journey.
The Narration
Dawn French reads, and she’s perfectly cast. French has an instinctive understanding of comic timing and warmth, and she brings both to Kipper in abundance. Her voices for the different characters are distinct without being hammy, and her obvious enjoyment of the material is audible throughout. This is the kind of narration that makes even the most familiar story feel fresh. A genuinely excellent performance.
What Readers Say
This audiobook holds a 4.8-star rating from 368 listeners — exceptional for any title, let alone a children’s collection. The reviews are consistently enthusiastic. Multiple parents describe returning to these stories across generations: one reviewer noted that the books had been used at a playgroup in the 1980s and were now being enjoyed by grandchildren. The combination of Inkpen’s stories and French’s narration is cited as the specific magic here — several listeners mention that the collection works just as well for adults listening with children as it does for children alone. The only minor note is that at under an hour, some families find themselves wanting more.
Who Should Listen?
For children aged two to six, primarily — though parents should be warned that this is one of those audiobooks you’ll find yourself enjoying considerably more than you expected. It’s ideal for bedtime, for quiet afternoons, and for any situation where a small child needs something soothing and engaging. An excellent gift for new parents or grandparents building an audiobook library for young children. If your family doesn’t know Kipper yet, this collection is the ideal introduction.
Available now on Audible UK — listen to The Kipper Collection by Mick Inkpen, read by Dawn French.
