New Reviews: Children

Nekia Renee Martin guides listeners through a surprisingly comprehensive account of 19th-century African American resistance. Despite the title, the chronological territory covered ranges well beyond abolition and the Civil War to Reconstruction and the beginnings of Jim Crow. Martin's strong yet musical narration introduces youngsters to such touch points as the slave trade,... Read More

Narrator Jesse Vilinsky creates a passionate voice for 12-year-old Margaret--called Bag--who is trying to fit in at her new school in Rhode Island even though she longs for her old life in New York City before her dad left them. When her mom, an aspiring actor, gets a role at a local theater and can't pick her up immediately after school, she ends up getting stuck at her sister... Read More

An engaging performance by Cary Hite enlivens this accessible history of basketball for young listeners, with a focus on the men's game and an "overtime" section devoted to the women's. Hite narrates with relish and an audible appreciation for the sport's evolution from a glorified game of hot potato to today's fast-paced competitions. Hite gives listeners a courtside view of... Read More

Author Daniel Nayeri voices his story of a grandmother who is guiding her grandchild through the steps of weaving a traditional Persian rug. The eager child tells the story with an eye toward creating the perfect rug, but Grandma encourages her young assistant to recognize that perfection is not the goal. Instead, the rug needs to be right for its purpose. Young listeners... Read More

In a warm, gentle tone, Saskia Maarleveld narrates this debut story about magic and family. Thirteen-year-old Lavender has been experiencing memory problems; she must find a solution before her father removes her as his apothecary apprentice. What's especially bothering Lavender is her inability to remember her beloved mother, who passed away. Against the wishes of her father... Read More

Narrator Sunny Lu creates a passionate voice for seventh grader Luna in this coming-of-age realistic fiction. Luna leaves her introverted life behind when she becomes a bibliotherapist for her fellow classmates, recommending books to help them in times of need and eventually writing her own zines with the assistance of her best friend, Scott. Lu perfectly captures Luna's... Read More

Woodson narrates her picture book with sure timing and emotional stresses that increase the story's poignancy. Woodson voices the confusion and innocence of viewpoint character Johnson. This contrasts with the prickly, defensive attitude of his older sister, Beebee. Eventually the children are taken to their Gracie Aunt, an unfamiliar relative. Woodson expresses Gracie's warmth... Read More

With a bright, youthful tone, narrator Rachel Jacobs voices innocent 12-year-old Razzi. Razzi has lived her entire life in an old compound--or mansion--with her parents, brother, and a few other families. She and the other children have never been allowed to go outside because nearly all of mankind was eliminated after the "Great Poisoning." However, a traumatic medical episode... Read More

Woodson's tone is soft and gentle as she reads her picture book about Sarah's adjustment to her grandfather's death. Sarah's family's sweet remembrances recall vividly the wisdom of a tender man who reminded all of them that "everything and everyone goes on and on." This refrain occurs throughout, reminding listeners and reinforcing the audio's central theme. Woodson's dialogue... Read More

In her clear, expressive voice, bilingual narrator M.L. Sanchez tells the exciting story of mouse siblings Vida and Máximo. The town of Moustepec was once happy, but the threat of a cat forces residents to stay home. There are no more fiestas, no more fireworks, and no more music. When a scary encounter with the cat results in Vida's dream about a fantastical creature called an... Read More

It's 1975, and eleven-year-old Gao Sheng, a Hmong girl, is living in the highlands of Laos in a one-room house with her family. Then they are forced to flee. Narrator Robyn Morales lends a soft, feminine huskiness to the protagonist's voice as she describes the family's journey to a refugee camp, to gentle and thoughtful effect. The listener is transported alongside Gao Sheng... Read More