Audiobooks, as defined by Harris (2019), are voice recordings of written texts that listeners can engage with through auditory means rather than traditional reading. They have become increasingly accessible, compatible with various devices, and readily available from different sources, including libraries and online bookstores. In educational settings, audiobooks serve as a versatile curriculum resource that contributes significantly to multimodal learning. They primarily engage the audio dimension, allowing students to experience language and narrative in an auditory form. This immersive auditory experience enhances their listening skills and deepens their understanding of spoken language nuances, such as tone, pacing, and pronunciation.

Kuzmicova's (2014) study on mental imagery in silent reading compared to audiobook listening highlights a crucial distinction. While traditional silent reading involves a dynamic process of creating mental images of story elements while processing narrative structure and style, audiobook listening focuses on the auditory and, to some extent, kinesthetic aspects of the narrative. The distribution of attention in audiobook processing may vary, as listeners can either immerse themselves in the story content or become attentive to linguistic qualities and nuances. The passage recognizes that the audiobook experience is distinct from traditional reading and encourages a unique phenomenological analysis. Moreover, it highlights the potential of audiobooks to draw attention to linguistic qualities, including pronunciation, intonation, and pacing, which can be vital in appreciating an author's linguistic craftsmanship.

Incorporating audiobooks into educational settings aligns with multimodal pedagogy, emphasizing the importance of engaging with diverse modes of communication to enhance literacy skills and promote deeper understanding. Audiobooks provide a rich and immersive learning experience that caters to various learning styles and allows students to explore the linguistic qualities of literature in a multimodal context.

Kuzmicova, A. (2014). http://su.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A871993. DIVA. http://su.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A871993&dswid=2800

Harris, M. (2019). The Cutting Edge World of Audiobooks. Lifewire. https://www.lifewire.com/what-are-audiobooks-2438535