AD | Post contains gifted items and affiliate links
From thrilling tales to educational escapades, Yoto cards offer endless possibilities for young minds to explore, discover, and grow. Discover 10 of the best Yoto cards for 8-12 year olds in this post!
What is a Yoto player?
Yoto has a couple of different Yoto players, the original Yoto player (3rd generation) and the Yoto mini player. The Yoto player is a portable audio player that uses story cards to play audio content, such as audio books.
The great thing about Yoto players is that they can be used by all family members, including little kids and older kids. They are a great way to minimise screen time, and encourage children to do story time a little bit differently.
Read my Yoto Mini player review here!
Yoto Cards
Yoto players work with Yoto cards, which are physical cards, roughly the size of a credit card. To play the card, you insert a Yoto card into the top of the Yoto box, where there is a card slot provided. In this case, it would be at the top of the Yoto Mini. Once inserted, the player will begin to play the audio from the card.
Yoto offer a really wide range of Yoto Cards, which can be purchased via the Yoto store on the Yoto website. You can filter the cards by things like age, creator, character or best sellers and new releases. This is a really easy way to narrow down your choices and find something suitable for the child you’re buying for. Different kind of cards include:
- Classic stories
- Music cards
- Educational
- Make Your Own Card (aka myo cards)
- Sleep sounds
- Meditation
These are just a few of the types of Yoto cards available and I’m sure you’ll find stories from a lot of your and your children’s favourite authors. Sometimes a card will be singular and sometimes you’ll be able to get a pack from either the same author or of the same theme. Your children might be huge fans of Roald Dahl or Enid Blyton, where sets are available. Maybe they’ll like more specific topics like educational content or music cards. Whichever your children prefer, there’s definitely something for children of all ages.
Check out the full range of Yoto cards.
The best Yoto Cards for ages 8-12
The 8-12 age group can be a tricky one when it comes to books and audio books. Yoto has you covered though with a selection of short stories, educational Yoto cards and Yoto player cards filled with stories from favourite characters and franchises. Discover some of our favourite Yoto cards for the big kids, aged 8-12!
1. The Creakers
What silently waits in the shadows at night? What’s under your bed, keeping just out of sight?
Do you ever hear strange, creaking noises at night? Ever wonder what makes those noises?
Lucy Dungston always did.
Until one morning, Lucy discovers that all the grown-ups have disappeared – as if into thin air. Chaos descends as the children in Lucy’s town run riot. It’s mayhem. It’s madness. To most kids, it’s amazing!
But Lucy wants to find out the truth. Lucy lost her dad not long ago, and she’s determined not to lose her mum too. She’s going to get her back – and nothing is going to stop her . . .
. . . except maybe the Creakers.
Buy on the Yoto store
2. The Percy Jackson Collection
One day I was just a normal teenager, until I accidentally vapourised my maths teacher and got expelled and shipped off to Camp Half-Blood. Things would have been going well if Poseidon, God of Sea, wasn’t my Dad, and I didn’t have magical creatures trying to kill me.
Follow my journey as I try to save the day and not get killed in the process.
Half boy. Half God. ALL Hero.
Dive into all three Percy Jackson adventures in this collection of Yoto cards:
Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters
Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curse
Buy on the Yoto store
3. Max Magic
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! Max Mullers loves doing magic tricks – his gran has taught him everything he knows! But his tricks aren’t enough to keep Bottley the Bully off his back. Then a run-in with Bottley at his parents’ market stall gets Max into even bigger trouble – now the notorious East End gangsters the Crayfish Twins are after him!
If Max is going to get out of this one, he’ll need A MIRACLE. Fortunately for Max, with magic . . . anything is possible!
Buy on the Yoto store
4. Disney Classics Collection
Explore a whole new world with these fresh retellings of six much-loved animated Disney films. Perfect for introducing little (and big) ears to some of history’s most enchanting tales.
Includes: Frozen, 101 Dalmatians, The Little Mermaid, Pinocchio, Dumbo and Sleeping Beauty.
Buy on the Yoto store
Buy on Amazon
5. Marvel Phase One
This collection includes:
Captain America: The First Avenger!
Steve Rogers was once just a scrawny kid. But after a top-secret government experiment, he became Captain America. Join the action when this superhero protects the free world against the Red Skull and Hydra in this complete origin story as told in Marvel’s Avengers Phase One: Captain America: The First Avenger.
The Incredible Hulk!
Bruce Banner was once just a shy scientist. But after a devastating lab accident, he became the Incredible Hulk. Join the action as this superhero fights against Abomination in his complete origin story as told in Marvel’s Avengers Phase One: The Incredible Hulk.
Thor!
Once just a powerful and arrogant royal from another realm, Thor became one of Earth’s finest defenders. Join the action as this superhero battles for mankind in this complete origin story as told in Marvel’s Avengers Phase One: Thor
Buy on the Yoto store
Buy on Amazon
6. Roald Dahl: The Phizz-Whizzing Collection
Golden tickets, genius little girls, magical peaches and more! This pack introduces some of Dahl’s best-loved characters and stories – which will be your favourite?
This card pack includes:
1. The BFG
2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
3. George’s Marvellous Medicine
4. James and the Giant Peach
5. Matilda
6. The Twits
Buy on the Yoto store
7. Star Wars: The Original Trilogy
The Force is strong with this collection of tales from Star Wars: The Original Trilogy! Join Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia on 18 action-packed adventures across the galaxy. A must-have collection for budding Star Wars fans, told in captivating audio form.
Buy on the Yoto store
Buy on Amazon
8. Horrible Histories Collection: Vol. 1
Discover all the foul facts about the Rotten Romans, Terrible Tudors, Vile Victorian, Woeful Second World War and the Measly Middle Ages in this audio collection packed with horrible stories – with all the horribly hilarious bits included! Oozing with dreadful jokes, awful anecdotes and frightening facts that are sure to both delight and disgust young listeners.
This collection includes:
Horrible Histories: Rotten Romans
Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors
Horrible Histories: Vile Victorians
Horrible Histories: Woeful Second World War
Horrible Histories: Measly Middle Ages
Buy on the Yoto store
Buy on Amazon
9. The Secret Garden
When spoilt young orphan Mary Lennox is brought back from India to live in her uncle’s house on the Yorkshire Moors, she finds the blunt ways of the staff at Misselthwaite Manor an unpleasant shock. Bored and miserable, it seems as though life in England will be awful. But Misselthwaite has hidden delights and, when Mary begins to discover them, nothing is the same again. First, there is the secret garden – and with it comes a boy who knows all the wonders of the country. He can even talk to the birds! Then, as the old house gives up its biggest secret, Mary forms a magical friendship.
Buy on the Yoto store
10. Guardians of the Galaxy
When a group of cosmic misfits team up to protect a mysterious Orb from a villain who wants to destroy the universe, they achieve more than they ever believed they could. Meet the Guardians of the Galaxy: Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket and Groot!
Buy on the Yoto store
Free content on the Yoto app
The Yoto app offers a variety of free content, all of which might be useful for bedtime. There’s a range of interactive elements, where you can pick the right thing for your child, based on their likes and needs.
Sleep sounds
From the ‘my library’ screen on the Yoto app you’re able to access a whole host of free sleep sounds. These include white noise a train journey, thundery rain, gentle waves and even the Yoto sleep radio.
Radio station
Yoto has some great radio stations available via the app, again, from the ‘my library’ screen. Stations include BBC radio, lullabies, Yoto radio and stations in other languages.
Podcasts
Want to try some podcasts for children? The Yoto app is a great place to start. Titles include The Yoto Daily Podcast, Activity Quest, Armchair Adventures and CBeebies.
Join the Yoto club
If you’re someone who likes a subscription service then joining the Yoto club might be something to consider. You can pay either monthly or annually, with the annual option being slightly cheaper per month.
Each month that you’re a member of the Yoto club you will receive 2 club credits which are added to your account. You can choose to either use these straight away on new Yoto cards you like the look of or save them for up to 12 months. You can choose cards to order from the list provided as soon as your credits are available. Available cards vary from month to month with titles such as Star Wars, cards for the holiday season and nursery rhymes.
The Yoto Club membership is ideal for those looking for great value, different stories and a range of new Yoto products each month. It’s a great way to build up your Yoto card collection.
Discover more about Yoto!
- Everything you need to know about the Yoto Mini
- 10 of the best educational Yoto cards
- 10 of the best Yoto cards for 8-12 year olds
- 10 of the best Yoto cards for bedtime