New Reviews: Children

Bahni Turpin delivers a heartbreaking performance of this middle-grade story about grief and healing. On Sage's 13th birthday, her best friend is killed in a hit-and-run accident. Doing the best she can to process her trauma, Sage connects with others through group counseling. Turpin's performance treats the material with respect, which listeners will appreciate. The varied... Read More

This love letter to Hawaiian culture, performed by Barrie Kealoha, follows a girl raised with hula and ancestral pride. The reprises of "what hula taught her" add structure to an otherwise thin plot. Kealoha fluidly delivers the vocabulary of her culture that are peppered throughout the English rhymes. Her soothing voice adds a lullaby quality that is perfect for young... Read More

A full cast performs this mysterious companion story to ALONE. A looming threat forces thousands in Colorado to flee for their safety. Confined in "temporary" shelters for years, four kids seek out the truth behind their evacuation. The story unfolds through poems, newspaper reports, journal entries, and screenplays. Eunice Wong provides further context narrating radio... Read More

Sanya Simmons narrates the sixth installment in this eighteen-book series, each written by a different award-winning author. Ayana Ndoum is a shy, quiet student who usually does not stand out among her wacky third-grade classmates. While Simmons individualizes students and adults so that listeners can clearly grasp personalities and relationships, her primary focus is on... Read More

English narrator Chris Devon provides a warm background while bringing to life the characters in this simple and compelling tale of friendship. While Septimus loves listening to opera in his cottage by the sea, he knows that he's a bad badger--and even questions whether he's a badger at all. For these reasons, he's both relieved and happy when a gull begins visiting him. The... Read More

Classical music provides an enjoyable background to the story of Cecilia Chiang. She first watched cooking in her family home in China and then was introduced to its varied cuisine as she crossed the country during WWII. Later, she immigrated to the US. Cindy Kay's soft voice transmits Cecilia's dedication to the dishes she loves and grows stronger and more determined as she... Read More

Leon Nixon deftly recounts the endlessly fascinating life of Barack Obama, beginning with magnificent descriptions of his early life in Hawaii and Indonesia, and his sadness at first encountering world poverty. Young listeners meet "Barry," who'd been insulted by classmates but later, as an adult, felt he'd come home when he arrived in Chicago. An African visit to his birth... Read More

Narrator Kim Staunton communicates a buoyant pride in this very short story highlighting the contributions of Africans before the slave trade began. Original music and gentle sound effects of waves and wildlife accompany a storied list of African accomplishments in the fields of art, music, warfare, science, and math. Staunton's fluid delivery highlights the author's careful... Read More

With a rhythmic cadence and a call-and-response reminiscent of BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE? author Leslé Honoré narrates her uplifting book. Soft, warm music begins the narration as Honoré asks somber questions, such as "Brown girl, Brown girl / what did you do?. . . who will you be?" Honoré responds to the questions with solemn answers before the narrative moves to... Read More

Newcomer Samuel Eubanks brings an unstudied earnestness to his narration of this story of Black boys and bygone Mississippi summers. This is the first children's book by MacArthur Fellow Kiese Laymon. The unnamed protagonist spends summers with his grandmother; right next door is a boy who is visiting the country from New York. Eubanks sounds just a few years older than these... Read More

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, Aoife McMahon, with her lovely Irish brogue, brings Síne Quinn's introduction to 15 Irish faeries to life. This children's audiobook will also entrance adults as it looks at the light and dark sides of Irish faeries ranging from banshees and leprechauns to other shape-shifting and trickster characters. With her Irish lilt, McMahon introduces... Read More

Eva Kaminsky gently introduces little listeners to Farmer Eva, whose understanding of the "brown underground" helps her garden thrive. As Kaminsky delivers the story, her musical tone makes the most of the author's rhythmic phrasing. Youngsters will learn about the contributions made by "all the helpful critters . . . and the microbes too," and the careful inclusion of children... Read More

The youngest ever inaugural poet, Amanda Gordon, brings to life her powerful poem and message to all girls. It's a love letter to girls using any pronoun, from any culture, and with any level of ambition, saying that they have the means to make change, inspire and support others, and achieve their goals. Gordon's narration is motivating and vigorous. Delivered at a steady pace,... Read More

The third book in the Witchlings series, delightfully narrated by Cyrina Fiallo, sees friends Seven Salazar and Thorn Laroux searching for a cure for their best friend, Valley Pepperhorn, who has been turned to stone. As "spares" of Ravenskill, the girls have less magic and power than traditional witches. And as the tension between spares and witches escalates, spares begin to... Read More

Every second of this dynamic production--from the bouncing notes of the opening theme to the last snapped finger--creates a musical soundscape. Narrator Karen Murray's sweet and steady tones guide the listener through a history of Black music told in rolling lines of poetry. Murray moves seamlessly from the talking drums of Africa through the origins of the blues, jazz, funk,... Read More

Magic-loving young listeners have a new world to explore. With a crisp English accent and a spirited performance, Ell Potter invites listeners into this middle-grade adventure. Eleven-year-old Meticulous (Metty) has been afraid of her own fate ever since her magical tattoo predicted she'd become a murderer. When her father disappears, Metty is desperate to find him. As she... Read More

Passion fills this story narrated by Malik Rashad about 12-year-old baseball fanatic Timothy "Pumpsie" Strickland. Pumpsie and his soft- spoken mom, Donya, share a love for their local team, the Nashville Wildcats. One of five kids, Pumpsie feels overlooked and is sometimes defensive, muttering during uncomfortable conversations. After his confident sister, Tiana, films a... Read More

For a third and final time, Sophie Aldred's narration takes listeners into the dystopian world of outlaws Scarlett McCain and Albert Browne. Aldred's depictions of the many characters define and distinguish them fluidly, especially the main characters. At the same time, Aldred builds the tension in several ways: There are the action-filled moments of robbery and ambushes and... Read More

In a youthful voice, Elena Rey introduces an Oregon school and library that are in danger of shutting down. Listeners meet bright, empathic 13-year-old Alex and her beloved grandmother, a retired librarian she's lived with since her mother's death. Rey's scenes of library staff, patrons, and youth council kids are delightfully rendered. Listeners are privy to Alex's nervous... Read More

Narrator Rama Krishna Vallury charms in this heartfelt audio about when to fit in and when to stand out. Ajay always follows his Sri Lankan parents' strict rules for him: no bad grades, no scary movies, and NO friendships with girls. When a taunt from a popular kid goads Ajay into stealing a chocolate bar with a valuable prize inside, he has to figure out how to get his life... Read More

Michael Crouch leads an enthusiastic crew of narrators as he portrays Dexter Foreman, the only preteen resident of The Pines retirement village. When a visit from the truancy officer lands Dexter at the local middle school, his old-fashioned clothes and habits make him a target of curiosity and ridicule. After one of his "handyman fixes" leads to an unexpected suspension, Dex... Read More

In this suspenseful story narrated by Harry McEntire, 12-year-old Atlas Wade and his father are on a team that is attempting to be the first to scale Mount Everest. A rival team of Nazi climbers is also on the mountain. McEntire's tenor voice and English accent enliven Atlas, who is angry at his father for taking him climbing when he's still grieving the death of his mother.... Read More

Mark Bramhall narrates an adventure about unlikely friends: Orris, a rat, and Timble, an owl. Bramhall's deep voice, distinct enunciations, and gentle rhythms are a perfect match. Bramhall's portraits are well defined for the young, enthusiastic Timble and the older, grumbly Orris. Bramhall deepens his characterizations of the friends' developing relationship, which faces a... Read More

First-time listeners, as well as those who once treasured this story, will be thrilled by Sutton Foster's character portrayals. Central to this audiobook's success is Foster's portrayal of Pippi, the quirky 9-year-old who moves in next door to Tommy and Annika with a horse, a monkey, no parents, and wild stories. Foster's narration crackles with dynamic vibrancy when it comes... Read More

Like chef José Andrés, the subject of this picture-book biography, this audiobook is the perfect blend of excellent ingredients. Soft Spanish guitar throughout reflects Andrés's background. Sound effects like sizzling dishes accent events in Andrés's life. Luis Carlos de La Lombana's narration has an emotional tone that encourages listening. He combines a skillful integration... Read More

Author/narrator Vaunda Micheaux Nelson presents this nostalgic story in verse, set in 1960s Pittsburgh. Listeners meet endearing 11-year-old Cooper Dale, who is hoping to shine in her all-white school. Emotive descriptions of her family's horrified reaction to the Kennedy assassination and her delight at the Beatles are realistic. Nelson flawlessly presents the family's warm... Read More

Listeners well-versed in Greek mythology will be able to follow along more easily with Senka, Charon's assistant in ferrying the souls of the recently departed to the realm of the Dead. When she becomes involved with a Living girl, Poppy, who is on a quest to retrieve the ghost of her brother, they begin an adventure that has them encountering virtually every denizen of the... Read More

This wonderful middle-grade audiobook is about a youth basketball team led by a coach who understands the value of leadership and living a good life off the court. Tony is trying to make the team, and he does--but not in the way he expects. As the players work hard on the court, they deal with the senseless death of a pal whom the whole community mourns. Marc Anthony Samuel's... Read More

As the story opens with Christina's family eating out, the ensemble of narrators provides a realistic delivery. Later, believing that eighth grade will be her best year yet, Christina persuades her two best friends to try out for cheerleading, even after the heartbreak of not making the squad in their last attempt. Grace Li shines at conveying the wide range of emotions... Read More

Jemar Tisby's experience as a teacher and public speaker, including his "Pass The Mic" podcast, is evident in this clear, compelling narration of his own work. A companion piece to his book THE SPIRIT OF JUSTICE, this collection shares stories about dozens of people who followed their faith to seek justice and pursue the dignity of all people. Tisby's stories are concise and... Read More

Imran Sheikh's narration captures the interiority of 13-year-old Mohammad (Mo) Mirza, who works hard to stay cheerful despite his father's rages. Sheikh delivers the humor, intelligence, gift for storytelling, and sarcasm that buoy Mo as he deals with his father's paranoid schizophrenia; the absence of his mother, who has chosen to work in a distant refugee camp; and being... Read More

Sura Siu's narration soars--it's as light and airy as the high-flying Arctic terns on which this nonfiction audiobook focuses. She takes listeners into the sunny summer world of one such bird, who snatches fish to feed his chicks, fiercely drives off predators, and finally leads them to fly for a month over the ocean at summer's end. Siu's gentle narration stresses the lyricism... Read More

Narrator léonore Crépin leads a full-cast adaptation of a children's graphic novel. When Adèle gets her first period, she's in for a big surprise--suddenly, she can see ghosts! Many women in Adèle's family have been mediums, and now her world has gotten a lot noisier. Crépin gives Adèle a youthful and emotional tone. Her voice reflects Adèle's growing confidence as she meets... Read More

With a singsong jingle that announces their arrival at each new location, Nora and her father are selling used items from their taxi. But Nora is reluctant to part with anything--even if a buyer wants it. Her father is kind and understanding, however, and Nora keeps her favorite toys. It will likely take more than one listen to grasp this story for those who are not not... Read More

Narrator Marisa Calin has a voice made for children's audiobooks. Full of wonder, Calin addresses listeners directly, introducing the cast, adding backstory, and warning when things might get a little dark. Clare is the undead fox that guides souls to the afterlife. Calin voices him with meticulous articulation and a disgruntled air. Clare particularly dislikes badgers, so when... Read More

Author and narrator James Robinson combines his documentary filmmaking skills and familiarity with audiobooks to render his experience with serious visual disability in audio. Sound effects immerse the listener in Robinson's memories, like the ticking of the school clock as impatient classmates wait while he struggles to read. Slow pacing reflects the gravity of each memory. He... Read More

Tara Novie's youthful voice reflects a sense of wonder for the topic of this audiobook: whales. While her bright delivery contrasts with the somberness of those majestic animals that were pushed out of former habitats by human expansion, she does convey a sense of hope as the Hudson River flows clear again and the whales return. In the second part of the audiobook, Novie's tone... Read More

In the small town of Soledad, Texas, in 1952, 12-year-old Pineda encounters a young alien when she crash-lands on his family's pecan farm. Unfortunately, the U.S. military has just taken over the town for a war games exercise. Giordan Diaz gives a winning performance as Pineda, communicating his humor and kindness and switching easily between English and Spanish, which Pineda... Read More

In a lilting voice, narrator Christopher Hampton captures the hope and curiosity of Will, a young Black boy who is hoping to claim land during the Oklahoma Land Rush. Will's companions include his stern father and their mule, Belle, and later the gentle but wizened ex-Union soldier, Caesar. Southern accents, including Will's, and twangy cowboy voices enhance the historic... Read More

Will Malloy performs this moving fantasy audiobook with skill and care. A's parents have been dragging him to painful group conversion therapy meetings ever since he came out as trans. Ironically, it's the only place A has been able to befriend other trans kids. Then his friend Yarrow is taken away for intensive "treatment," and A discovers demons are behind the abduction--and... Read More

Teen Ukrainian American actress Sofia Sanchez's halting, uneven narration is quickly explained by her self-description: "I have Down syndrome . . . and I want to inspire people and make a difference." Her narrative is yet another representation of the amazing things she's accomplished because of her bravery. The audiobook gives apt life lessons on not having to be perfect,... Read More