How to Connect Kindle to Alexa and Listen to Audiobooks on Echo

There are countless ways to access Kindle ebooks, but did you know you can also enjoy your ebooks in audio format? The same text-to-speech tech that allows Alexa to read your emails, schedules and notifications, also makes it possible for Alexa to read books from your Amazon Kindle. Read on to learn how to connect Kindle and Audible to Alexa and listen to audiobooks on Echo.

Connect Kindle to Alexa

Your Alexa-enabled device should be able to read most of the content from your Kindle, with the notable exception of graphic novels. Remember that any smartphone or tablet with the Amazon Alexa app installed also counts as an Alexa-enabled device!

To tell Alexa to read an ebook from your Amazon Kindle:

1. Launch the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet.

2. Along the bottom of the screen, tap the “Play” tab.

3. Scroll to the “Kindle library” section.

4. Find the book you want to enjoy in audio format, and give it a tap.

5. Choose the device you want to use to listen to the book.

Alternatively, if you already know which book you want to listen to, then you can use a vocal command instead. Simply say “Alexa, can you read…” followed by the title of the book in question, and Alexa should locate this book on your Kindle and start reading.

Using vocal commands with Kindle and Amazon’s Alexa

You can control Alexa’s reading experience using vocal commands. For example, if your attention wandered and you need to jump back into the story, then say “Alexa, skip back,” and Amazon’s assistant will replay the previous 30 seconds of audio. Alternatively, you can jump forward 30 seconds using the command “Alexa, go forward.”

To pause your book, say “Alexa, stop,”” and when you’re ready to continue the story, say “Alexa, resume my book.”

You can also control the Kindle experience via the Amazon Alexa mobile app. If you launch the app, then you should see your currently-selected book along the bottom of the screen.

Give this bar a tap, and you’ll have access to all the controls you need to move back and forth or pause Alexa’s narration.

If you have multiple Alexa-enabled devices, you can also change which device is playing your book.

Connect Audible to Alexa

While Alexa’s text-to-speech dictation is a great way to enjoy your favorite ebooks on the go, Alexa isn’t a professional narrator or voice actor.

As one of the world’s biggest producers of downloadable audiobooks, plenty of household names have lent their vocal talents to Audible’s catalogue, including Michael Caine, Stephen Fry, Michelle Obama, and Louis Theroux.

To play any Audible book via your Alexa-enabled device:

1. On your smartphone or tablet, launch the Amazon Alexa app.

2. Along the bottom of the screen, tap the “Play” tab.

3. Scroll to “Audible Library.”

4. Tap the Audible book you want to listen to.

5. Tap the device where the Audible book will be played.

6. Alexa will now start playing your chosen Audible content.

Alternatively, you can tell Alexa to play an Audible book using the following command: “Alexa, read (book title) from Audible.“

Similar to Kindle, you can tap the bar along the bottom of the Amazon Alexa app to access the controls for the currently-selected Audible book.

Alternatively, you can control the Audible experience using commands such as “Alexa skip forward,” “Alexa, stop” or “Alexa, continue reading book.”

As you can see, it is very easy to connect Kindle and Audiobook to Alexa and start listening to books on your Echo. There are also a few things Alexa can do, like reading your Calendar events, homeschooling, or even learning new skills.