Alexa on Amazon Echo Speakers in Canada Can Now Read Audiobooks from Audible [u]

Amazon’s Echo devices in Canada have gained a new skill, as Alexa can now read Audible audiobooks for you. The company says “Whether cooking, cleaning or just taking it easy, Canadians can start listening just by using their voices!”

Here’s how it works, according to Amazon Canada in an email: 

• To play an audiobook in your library, such as The Handmaid’s Tale, just say: “Alexa, read The Handmaid’s Tale.”
• To pause or resume, you can say “Alexa, pause” or “Alexa, resume my book.”
• You can skip ahead or go backwards 30 seconds by saying “Alexa, go back” or “Alexa, go forward.”
• Feel free to pick up right where you left off on your mobile device using the Audible app.

To celebrate the launch of Alexa reading Audible audiobooks, Canadian listeners can listen to Anne of Green Gables from Audible for free (narrated by Canada’s Rachel McAdams), through April 15th. All you need to say is “Alexa read Anne of Green Gables from Audible.”

Update: Amazon says third party devices such as ecobee4 will support this skill, but Sonos One does not yet.

Click here to check out Audible Audiobooks on Amazon.ca and let us know if you’re going to try this.