New Reviews: Children

Narrators Jeff Cummings and Adenrele Ojo give refreshing energy to 14 wide-ranging essays about the global upheaval and social shifts of the year 1968. Both narrators provide a scholarly tone to the broad- reaching discussion of social movements like the Cultural Revolution and the Prague Spring. They strike an introspective tone for the more personal stories, one focusing on... Read More

Can you really expect Astrid, the little thunderbolt of Glimmerdal, to stop singing while she skis? Not according to her! In this lively audiobook, narrator Devon Sorvari portrays spirited Astrid as the heart and soul of her Norwegian village. Even when trouble appears in the form of grumpy Mr. Hagen, who runs an adults-only health retreat, and the mysterious giant woman called... Read More

Twelve-year-old Trinitee Stokes plays Judy Cooper, a humanoid robot with attitude, on the Disney Channel series "K.C. Undercover." In addition to her acting, Trinitee focuses on tween girls' fashion, always doing the right thing, and living a smart and spiritual life. With this audiobook she takes on her first major writing project, and she narrates it, too. Trinitee is bright... Read More

Author Padma Venkatraman narrates her own work, displaying the depth of feeling and caring between 11-year-old Viji and her 12-year-old intellectually disabled sister, Rukku. They flee an abusive home only to face new vulnerability in the city of Chennai when their money is stolen and they must live on the streets. Venkatraman describes the developing bonds as the sisters form... Read More

Narrator Giordan Diaz creates the perfect tone of excitement for this engaging fantasy audiobook. Charlie Hernandez doesn't know why he has sprouted both horns and feathers, but he soon realizes he will need all the knowledge of Hispanic folklore he has gained from his ABUELA to battle the forces of evil that have emerged in Miami. Diaz fills the character of Charlie with... Read More

Narrator Ramon de Ocampo pulls listeners into this compelling story of an underground world where wishes come true. Eleven-year-old Van is hearing impaired and uses his other senses to pay close attention to his environment. So he is the only person who notices a girl and a squirrel stealing coins out of a fountain. His discovery that the duo belongs to a secret society that... Read More

Combining an approachable style with an unhurried pace and occasional character accents, narrator Michael Yurchak captures the voices of the American soldiers who landed at Omaha and Utah Beaches during WWII. Deborah Hopkinson provides a sweeping exploration of D-Day, the massive Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. The text is broken into sections, such as the... Read More

When 13-year-old fox spirit Min learns that her brother, Jun, has gone missing from his post in the Space Forces, she abandons the backwater planet of Jinju and embarks on a dangerous quest to find him. With her shape-shifting abilities, magically persuasive "Charm," and clever tenacity, Min is a compelling heroine. Kim Mai Guest's youthful narration grounds listeners in Min's... Read More

Narrator George Newbern's genial tone imparts warmth and kindness to this story of a town that has seen better days and a wishing well with the power to change lives and mend relationships. With impeccable consistency and an easygoing pace, Newbern evokes the atmosphere of a place out of time, complete with mysterious deathbed wishes, a failing family business, and even a jewel... Read More

In his latest performance, skilled narrator R.C. Bray invites listeners into a fantastical world that is home to giants, Bigfoot babies, and dragons. Twins Ashlynne and Julian are introduced with voices full of fervor and excitement before they are trapped in a shared dream in which they must defeat the ominous King Nightmare. Bray describes the world of Dream through the... Read More

Potterheads, rejoice! A thrilling musical score and behind-the-scenes interviews on the making of the latest film in author J.K. Rowling's magical world will spark interest in this audiobook from Muggles everywhere. With a jocular, fast-paced narration, Dan Fogler is the perfect tour guide to the movie set, where he chats up set designers, builders, costume designers, and the... Read More

Narrator Rosalyn Landor reprises her roles as Jaundice and Kate, and creates a host of new characters in this third audiobook in the Bland Sisters series. The sisters are flying from Morocco to Egypt to uncover the mysteries of a magical scarab. Foiling multiple attacks along the way, they also discover the true history of their parents before being reunited with them. Landor's... Read More

Peter Helliar's brisk tempo and comedic delivery highlight the humorous continuing story of Frankie Fish; his best friend, Drew; and time travel. Attempting to thwart the hyper-annoying Lisa Chadwick and win the Halloween parade costume contest, Frankie and Drew dream up a super-simple plan for picking up authentic Viking costumes using the Sonic Suitcase. What they don't count... Read More

Narrator Jayne Entwistle elegantly portrays an adventuring rockhopper penguin and her companions--animal and human. Freya, the penguin, is inspired to travel by her avid reading of HINTS TO LADY TRAVELLERS AT HOME AND ABROAD (a real book). She settles into the basket of a hot air balloon that three 1897 Swedish explorers are hoping to land at the North Pole (a real historical... Read More

Narrator Jesse Vilinsky presents a relatable heroine with palpable emotion in this intimate and authentic portrayal of a young teen's recovery from anorexia. Vilinsky reads at a fast clip, embodying 12-year-old Riley's nervous tension as she begins a two-month stay in a treatment program that includes group therapy. Each of the girls in the group has a distinct voice, making it... Read More

Narrator Georgina Sutton delivers Queen Victoria's take on each of the seven people whose biographies comprise this program. However, the bulk of the audiobook is narrated by Benjamin Soames, who delivers the biographies themselves. His voice is likable, expressive, and energetic, but his narration, especially at the outset, is too slow, with too much emphasis on individual... Read More

Author Edsel narrates with the urgency the Monuments Men themselves must have felt as they hurried to locate art stolen by the Germans during WWII. Edsel focuses on eleven men and one woman who traveled in Italy, France, Belgium, and into Germany itself to locate works of art stolen from museums and private collections and to plan the restoration of buildings of cultural... Read More

The opening tuneful measures set the beat as author Eric Litwin narrates his second audiobook about Groovy Joe--the "song-singing, tail-wagging party of one!" But this dog is not alone for long. With each new knock at the door, Litwin's precise and enthusiastic voice welcomes guests to Joe's disco party. Each knock, knock foretells the number of guests at the door and begs for... Read More

Narrator Johnny Heller exuberantly portrays Harry, Doug, their friends, and their teachers in this 30th anniversary finale. Heller captures Doug's excitement at the end of third grade, while Harry sounds unusually subdued. Things are clarified when Harry announces his family is moving. Listeners will join Doug as he "tours" Harry's bedroom, revisiting the elements of earlier... Read More

In the audio version of this picture book for young readers, a poor little porcupine who just wants a hug asks for one from her forest friends. Everyone is too afraid of her prickly spines to give her the cuddles she needs. Narrator Ramón de Ocampo gives unique voices to Porcupine and her animal companions. Whether exclaiming over the idea of snuggling with a porcupine or... Read More

Delanna Studi narrates two scary stories in this middle-grade collection: "Skeleton Man" and its sequel, "The Return of Skeleton Man." Molly, a modern-day Mohawk girl, is sent to live with her creepy great-uncle after her parents' mysterious disappearance. But she knows something is not right. The spooky traditional Mohawk tales her father used to tell her about the Skeleton... Read More

Narrator Janina Edwards's words take listeners to Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. As Martin Luther King and the city's citizens plan a peaceful protest, it is the children who step forward to march without the repercussion of job loss. Listeners will walk with a young protester as she encounters hate, police dogs, and several days of jail. Edwards deftly expresses her fear but... Read More

Narrator Kathleen McInerney delivers all the heavy tween emotions writer Anne Ursu serves up in this empowering story of magical realism for middle grades. Fifth-grade twins Iris and Lark feel lost when they are placed in separate classrooms for the first time. Outspoken Iris tries to define herself while worrying that no one will stand up for sensitive Lark. McInerney paints... Read More

Kyla Garcia returns to narrate the second book in the Love Sugar Magic series. Spirits are running loose through town, and Leo and her family must round them up and send them back behind the veil. Garcia's reading sparkles with energy and fun--from the warm tones and Hispanic accents of the adults and the fast-talking Spanish of the spirits to the Texas accents of Leo's school... Read More

With perfectly accented Spanish, narrator Frankie Corzo brings to life 10-year-old Luna's world, including her loving extended Mexican family with its many PRIMAS (cousins). Self-conscious about the white stripe in her hair caused by poliosis, Luna always wears a hat to cover it so the kids at school won't tease her. She is angry that her tattletale cousin, Claudia, is... Read More

Young Lulu, the tantrum-throwing spoiled heroine of the Lulu series, has met her match in narrator Michele O. Medlin. Loud volume, check. Irritating and grating timbre, check, check. Whiny tone, elongated to annoyance, check. Imperious and know-it-all attitude, yes and yes! Medlin handles them all. As the production opens, Lulu's parents have just shocked their daughter with... Read More

Vibrant music plays as narrator Vikas Adam begins to tell this collection of tales from India. Adam smoothly transitions from the strong and consistent voice of the narrator to the impactful dialogue of the characters, including the young Prince Veera. When the story opens, the prince is just starting to understand how to be a fair and just ruler with the grace and wit of a... Read More

Mary McScary may try to be frightening, but narrator Emily Eiden takes young listeners into her mind with just the right amount of scariness. Mary's favorite activity is bringing fright to creatures and things--a goldfish, a parent, or even a balloon--and she is successful. Her biggest desire is to scare her cousin Harry McScary. What will happen when he comes to visit? Eiden's... Read More

A full cast brings a ton of energy to this audiobook. The recording booth must be an exciting place for narrators who are portraying a medieval troubadour turned into a goose, a bumbling magician, a dastardly younger brother to the king, the king himself, a sorceress, and a band of young knights. Will these enthusiastic newbies to knightdom be able to return the kingdom of... Read More

Emily Arnold McCully narrates her own Caldecott Medal-winning book with emotion well suited to her gently dramatic story. Mirette, the daughter of a boarding house owner, has met many traveling circus performers. But when she sees a new guest, the famous high-wire artist Bellini, walking across a wire strung in the backyard, she is desperate to try it herself. McCully lowers... Read More

Whose voice could be more welcoming than Chris Ciulla's for this classic tale that could be a young listener's first chapter adventure? When Elmer Elevator heeds a stray cat's suggestion for a fine outing away from bothersome parents, he fills his father's backpack with a seemingly random variety of things and sneaks off. Soon, he discovers that rescuing a baby dragon on Wild... Read More

Jordan is full of anxiety at the start of seventh grade, and this full-cast audiobook production of Craft's graphic novel gives a peek into his life. Loving parents played by Robin Miles and Guy Lockard encourage Jordan to give his new private school a try, and as Jordan gets caught in a whirlwind of new classmates, listeners hear young voices bouncing off the walls. Jordan,... Read More

When Max, a 13-year-old American living in Belgium with his family, finds Ahmed, a 14-year-old Syrian refugee living in the cellar, he must do all he can to ensure his new friend's safety during tumultuous times. Narrator Jeremy Arthur establishes even pacing that intensifies as the police become suspicious about Ahmed's immigration status. Arthur adds accents to both major and... Read More

Narrator January LaVoy whisks listeners into Levine's magical world in this companion novel to ELLA ENCHANTED. With warm and joyful tones, LaVoy introduces heroine Evie, a young healer practicing her valued trade from her mother's house. Wormy, Evie's closest friend, who assists in her practice, is characterized with a voice that holds both endless knowledge and refined wit.... Read More

Christopher Gebauer's narration aids in making the opening scene of this audiobook believable. A butler shows up on the doorstep of 12-year-old Carter Jones on the chaotic first morning of a new school year. Gebauer gives a proper British accent and proud attitude to the portly gentleman and to Carter's mockery of the butler's manner. This is only the first implausible... Read More

Narrator Nancy Wu expertly conveys Peasprout's hilarious snarkiness and spunk in the sequel to PEASPROUT CHEN: FUTURE LEGEND OF SKATE AND SWORD Traditional Asian music introduces the audiobook before giving way to an original pop song, presaging the blending of worlds in this Asian-inspired fantasy. Entering her second year at Pearl Famous Academy of Skate and Sword, Peasprout... Read More

Actor Rainn Wilson displays his vocal talents with an enchanting performance of this imaginative classic children's novel. An introduction read by the author sets up the tale of Milo, a child who is always bored with life's offerings, and his adventures through a magical tollbooth to the Lands Beyond. With an engaging delivery, Wilson succeeds in captivating listeners. Soothing... Read More

Narrator Almarie Guerra chronicles the lives of important historical figures with the same passion the advocates used to fight injustice and stand up for their beliefs. Offering listeners a diverse look at protesting through the ages, this account spans several centuries, beginning with Joan on Arc in 1429 and ending with the Women's March of 2017. An afterword by Samantha... Read More

The story of Chaya Lindner's defiance as part of a Jewish resistance group in Nazi-occupied Poland will grip those who listen to this action-packed historical fiction. Jesse Vilinsky's narration features a commanding, rebellious tone as Chaya smuggles people from ghettos and terrorizes military targets. Vilinsky is also nimble enough to be tender and emotive when describing the... Read More

Full of the best kind of punk-rock energy, narrator Almarie Guerra and a full cast take listeners on a rollicking ride around the roller derby track. This much loved graphic novel comes to life with bright voices and sound effects, including tumbles, bottles of hair dye, and lots of roller skates. Guerra's slightly nasal voice suits tough yet insecure Astrid, the... Read More

Narrator Crystal Taliefero's welcoming, child-friendly voice entices young listeners into a colorful undersea world. Author and illustrator Bob Barner's bright collages and simple text in this read-along are attention grabbers. Listeners will hear rhyming snippets with accompanying catchy music about deep-sea fish, ocean mammals, coral, and more. Additional information is... Read More

Following up SHE PERSISTED with this new collection of biographies, Chelsea Clinton introduces listeners to a group of 13 international women who have shaped history. She narrates her own words in a measured tone with deliberate emphasis on the refrain, "she persisted." Included are the familiar contemporary figures J.K. Rowling and Malala Yousafzai, as well as scientist Marie... Read More

Ushered into story time by a melodic piano piece, young listeners soon encounter narrator Nikki M. James, whose voice takes on charming, strong, and informational tones throughout the audiobook. With each page, James introduces a new historical figure, highlighting each woman's perseverance in a brief paragraph followed by a well-known quote. In addition to James's narration,... Read More

Narrator Channie Waites captures the pain, struggle, and ultimate triumph of a New York slave named Isabella, who later became known as Sojourner Truth. With precise, clear diction, Waites delivers the dramatic story of Isabella's fight for her and her son's freedom, emphasizing the impassioned quality of Schmidt's evocative prose. Waites uses distinct timbres and cold tones to... Read More

In this compassionate audiobook, three students in a class, Emma, Jason, and Jesse, portrayed by Frankie Corzo and Ramon de Ocampo, find ways to make three three newcomers feel welcome: Maria, portrayed by Ruth Livier; Jin, portrayed by de Ocampo; and Fatimah, portrayed by Ariana Delawari. Thoughtfully, each of the original students tries to connect with one of the newcomers:... Read More

Iris, a 12-year-old deaf girl, prefers American Sign Language to speech, but listeners can still hear her every thought and sign. This is thanks to Abigail Revasch, who expressively narrates Iris's ASL conversations and mental musings. Iris struggles as a deaf girl in a mainstream school, often feeling isolated. When she learns of Blue 55, an unusual whale that sings at a... Read More

Narrating in flat tone with somewhat bumpy pacing, Talitha Bateman inhabits Aurora "Rory" Franklin, who is sure she's weird. The kids at school certainly think so, and her mother thinks so too--although a bevy of psychologists have declared Rory to be "quirky, but not on the spectrum." This stand-alone follow-up to Weeks's well-loved SO B. IT explores Rory's feelings about her... Read More

Senator and presidential candidate Kamala Harris reads her own work, which features everyday family and friends as superheros. Harris enthusiastically describes her earliest supporters and inspirations and kindly poses questions about who in young listeners' own lives champions them and their dreams. Harris is not a seasoned narrator, of course, but her earnestness is fitting... Read More

This atmospheric work of historical fiction and magical realism takes place in nineteenth-century London. Narrator Sarah Coomes creates a variety of voices for the chimney sweeps--Cockney climbing kids who are the featured characters. Listeners meet Nan Sparrow, the legendary climber; a malevolent master; a soft-spoken Jewish immigrant; a gentle chimney sweep; and... Read More

Michi Barall's warm narration of this poetic and imaginative children's book about colors will appeal to young listeners, especially those who continually marvel at the natural world around them. Throughout, Barall's narration echoes the emotion in the text, whether it's a quiet whisper at the end of the day or a joyful call to the sun and sky. Listeners will recognize the... Read More

Narrators Imani Parks and Cassandra Morris capture the attitudes of two 12-year-olds who begin an email friendship as their fathers form a relationship. Parks voices the personality of Bett, a self-confident, risk-taking California surfer girl. Morris's portrayal of Avery is tentative, fearful, and bookish. Both narrators reflect the girls' awareness that their fathers have... Read More

Narrator Lincoln Hoppe conveys a range of emotions in this historical fiction reminiscent of E.T. and set in 1947 Roswell, New Mexico. One night, after witnessing a crash next to his ranch, 11-year-old Mylo, whose brother has recently died, hears a mysterious voice in his head "whisper-scream" for help. Mylo and his best friend, Dibs, venture into the desert and find the... Read More

Narrator David Tennant returns for this sequel. He gives each character a voice so distinct that this audiobook is comparable to a full-cast production. The wizard Xar practices dark magic--but at what cost? The warrior Wish has innate magical abilities, skills that are unheard of among her people. Xar and Wish set out on a quest to rid their land of witches, an act they... Read More

A stellar ensemble cast brings crowd-pleasing personality to a diverse group of misfit students and their teacher in this funny classroom story. Mr. Kermit is counting the days until his retirement, but in his final year of teaching, he is relegated to the "Self-Contained Special Eighth-Grade Class"--a.k.a. "The Unteachables." Over the course of the school year, this underdog... Read More

Narrator Robin Miles's vocal repertoire shines as she brings the Vanderbeeker world to life. Casting about for summer vacation activities, the four find refuge with their beloved upstairs neighbors and then witness a medical emergency. What can a 5-, 7-, 9-, and two 13-year-olds do to calm their fears and be helpful? As they alight on a plan to create a garden in a seemingly... Read More

Johnny Heller and Chris Curry narrate this story of two turtles who find a hat--but only one hat--and the dilemma that ensues. With only one hat that looks so good on them both, who will get to wear it? Children will enjoy listening to Heller and Curry's charmingly crusty renditions of the elderly pair of turtles while looking at Klassen's illustrations. A desert soundscape... Read More

With even pacing and a down-to-earth tone, narrator Jennifer Jill Araya vividly portrays 13-year-old Rachel in the summer before eighth grade. Her longtime best friend, Micah, wants more than just friendship, but Rachel isn't sure if she is attracted to boys at all. Listeners hear Rachel's confusion, frustration, and pain as she comes to terms with her changing friendship with... Read More

Narrator Jeff Cummings uses a matter-of-fact tone to share the history of The Whydah, a pirate ship that was recovered from the depths of the deep off Cape Cod, where it sank centuries ago. Cummings keeps listeners on edge by maintaining a quick pace while describing the day-to-day operations of the ship, the politics that ruled the sea, and the adventurers who chose this... Read More

Narrator Nina Alvamar delivers an energetic tone for soon-to-be- fifth-grader Mavis, who finds herself moving once again when her mother finds a new job as a housekeeper in Landry, Alabama. Mavis decides that this time she will make a best friend, and Rose, the daughter of her mother's employer, seems like a perfect fit. They spend the summer together, going on adventures and... Read More