New Reviews: Children

Ruffin Prentiss captures the angst of 13-year-old Malcolm Montgomery as the teen balances the uncertainty of foster care with the daily turmoil he experiences in middle school. Tops on Malcolm's list of things to do: Be adopted "before it's too late." When his new school begins to implement an AI-powered robot in the classroom and he is chosen to maintain it, the bullies pounce... Read More

Ramón de Ocampo's prosaic narration adds to the uneasy mood of this middle-grade horror story. After an embarrassing school incident, Casey becomes a social outcast. His family worries about him--until a local dad drops a new friend at Casey's home. Morel doesn't speak, has no eyes, and appears to be made of clay. Oddly, only Casey seems to notice these peculiarities. De Ocampo... Read More

Renowned artist Andrew Wyeth grows from childhood to maturity in this audiobook. Listeners meet Andy in his father's art studio, then travel with him between coastal Maine and Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, as he studies and paints neighbors, nature, and light. For a book about a painter, the narrative adapts well to an aural medium, concentrating on Wyeth's relationships and... Read More

Nano Nagle chronicles the lives of three sun bears--Tan-Tan, Kitud, and Boboi--from the time they're saved as cubs to their release back into the Borneo rainforest. Nagle's caring tone perfectly complements the story. While describing the bears' stay at Dr. Wong's Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center, Nagle uses a dramatic voice to inform listeners about this special species... Read More

Amy Cameron's performance of this story of a lighthouse keeper's daughter who saves a ship's passengers from drowning is inspiring, openhearted, and almost musical. Grace Darling's father manages a lighthouse off the coast of England in the early 1800s. In Cameron's capable hands, Grace's steadfastness is clearly apparent--she loves her lighthouse, her island, her family, and... Read More

Christopher Gebauer narrates this story of Orthodox Jewish Ezra, the Chosen One, who has trained his whole life for two things: Yeshiva study and defeating a monster upon his bar mitzvah to ensure an age of peace. But strange events leading up to that fateful day make him question his mission. Gebauer excels at the indignant tones and youthful energy of preteen boys. Some of... Read More

This rhyming picture book from the Questioneers series introduces Billie Jean Peet, a second-grader and middle child sandwiched between musically gifted siblings. Their father is equally talented. Narrator Jorjeana Marie begins the story in a singsong, saccharine tone indicating the carefree attitude and lack of self-awareness common to many small children. However, when Billie... Read More

Mimi doesn't like Waipo's favorite tea. How long can she avoid drinking it without hurting her grandmother's feelings? Katharine Chin delivers the answer in a heartfelt performance. Waipo repeatedly offers liangcha to Mimi, who thinks it's gross and yucky. Chin captures the humor in Mimi's efforts to get rid of the tea, as well as the tension when Waipo and Mimi clash over the... Read More

Keylor Leigh's narration makes it immediately understandable why Kaylani McKinnon doesn't want to leave Brooklyn for a summer in Martha's Vineyard with family friends. Once there, she finds herself sharing a room with one of the mean-girl siblings and unable to communicate with her beloved dad, who's incarcerated. That's before Chadwick, a popular boy and one of the only people... Read More

Listeners will be captivated by Reena Dutt's lively narration of this magical, action-packed adventure for middle graders. Dutt skillfully shifts between intrepid heroine Laila Habib's point of view and a robust cast of Indian and mythical Islamic characters, showcasing impressive vocal range. She vividly conveys the culturally rich world of Qaf, which is filled with jinn and... Read More

Caitlin Kinnunen narrates this middle-grade story, showcasing its verse form. Twelve-year-old Opal lives at the top of a fire tower in the Gila National Forest, New Mexico. Her mother and grandmother are responsible for spotting fires, determining their locations, and alerting the authorities. However, Opal longs to be in town, where she can attend school and not be constantly... Read More

A full cast of Native American performers take young listeners to a Cherokee stickball game. Most of the narrators are Cherokee, like author Traci Sorell, who delivers her concluding notes, and Zebadiah Nofire, who ably leads the narration and voices the glossary. The Keetoowah, Navajo, Kiowa, and Pawnee Nations are also represented by players, coach, and onlookers. The... Read More

Guy Lockard narrates the final episode in the Track series. This time the story focuses on the formative years of Coach, who's been central to the young runners in the previous titles. Back in the day, Coach was Otie Brody, a 12-year-old sprinter who longed for two things: to be like Carl Lewis and to have a pair of Jordans. Problems small and big enter his life: First, Otie... Read More

Narrators Griffin Puatu and Shannon Scott convey a dystopian America after altered weather causes a climate disaster. Relatable, resourceful Nick and his younger sister, Lily, work to save themselves as Earth's atmosphere escapes into space, causing an oxygen shortage. Few people can go outside. It's captivating to hear Nick, Lily, and their friends use old-fashioned... Read More

Nairobi-raised Junior Nyong'o brings vocal nuance to his narration of Kenyan author Patrick Ochieng's story of children dislocated by postelection violence. When the latest cycle claims his father's life, 14-year-old Kimathi; his little sister, Ngina; and their mother find themselves in a camp for internally displaced people. There Kimathi finds much hardship but also friends... Read More

Narrator Alexandra Hunter establishes an apathetic voice for 13- year-old Kass, who has switched from public school to a fancy private school in order to join the diving team and have better opportunities for academic success. Kass struggles to fit in at her new school and even starts questioning economic disparity and its causes when she meets 17-year-old Miles, who dumpster... Read More

Narrator Gail Shalan gives a spirited performance of this ghoulish mystery. Elvira, a half-siren who lives in a trailer park for monsters, is very skeptical of the human world outside it. When they learn that a human detective is on the case of the missing Marfa Monster Festival crown, Elvira and her friends decide to investigate on their own. But more monster residents... Read More

Narrator Kate Coventry creates an energetic and high-pitched voice for the witch Evelyn, who, much to her initial disappointment, has only enough money to get a mystery pet, rather than the pet of her choice. What's more, the pet is inside an egg--so she doesn't know what it is. Coventry captures Evelyn's frustration as she struggles to wait patiently for her egg to hatch. She... Read More

Mark Sanderlin is the perfect narrator for this story of a preteen boy who is keeping a huge secret. Sanderlin's tone is young and welcoming, his pace steady, and his enunciation precise. He voices the confusion and impatience of Nathan, who is living with a tremendous secret: He's the son of aliens--and now he's growing a tail! Nine other kids, spread across the country, share... Read More

Chloe Cannon guides listeners through this exploration of how animals and plants survive wildfires. Cannon's tone is engaging and steady as she maps out the methods nature has developed over time for animals to detect and evade wildfires. In a sensitively handled chapter with a content warning, wildfire deaths, injuries, and recovery methods are discussed. The final chapters... Read More

Eleanor Bennett's crisp British accents bring listeners into the intriguing world of Feather, a small creature who lives in a crumbling wall next to a large, encroaching forest. She seems even more miniature as she takes off into unknown lands, seeking Merildun, a stranger who has stolen the spyglass that belongs to her people. Despite the small voice Bennett gives the heroine,... Read More

Narrator Maxwell Glick creates a youthful voice for 12-year-old Jax, who decides to run away and establish his own micronation after being forced to live with his aunt and uncle in Kansas. His new nation is founded on the farmland of the town pariah, Owen, whose brother mysteriously vanished nine years earlier. Glick captures Jax's emotions as he deals with the loss of his... Read More

Swayam Bhatia helps listeners imagine the feisty spirit of North Indian Simi Singh, a 12-year-old who meets school and field hockey challenges handily. Bhatia reflects Simi's fear when threats come from a prejudiced classmate and the comfort she finds in her loving extended family. Bhatia depicts Simi's personality as her parents' interfaith Sikh-Muslim marriage puts the... Read More

Narrator Edward A. Mendoza captures the otherworldly mood of this unique story. Selfish 12-year-old Barnaby and his parents spend three weeks packing his grandpa's belongings for a move. Barnaby's relief at getting to stay in an attic room turns to dismay when the spoiled ghost of a man named Maxwell, who died in the 1980s, demands his help with unfinished business. Mendoza... Read More

Gwen and her three younger siblings inherit their family home on a sparsely inhabited island after their mother and grandparents die. Narrator Charlie Sanderson creates credible character voices for independent and strong-willed Gwen and her family--petulant Roger, twins Hester and Hazel, and their ineffective but sincere stepfather, Henry. When Esme Laverne is hired to watch... Read More

Elena Rey builds sympathy for two characters with an unlikely alliance in this fantasy. She captures the feelings of Graciela Lima, a 12-year-old who is swept into the sea and awakens as a sea spirit a hundred years later. Rey's narration builds the details of this complex undersea realm--complete with creatures of all kinds and purposes. Rey also portrays the blacksmith's son,... Read More

The truly frightening Brothers Grimm story about an evil witch who devours children is made even more sinister as interpreted by Stephen King. This 30-minute audiobook, narrated by King himself, isn't a bedtime story for children, but rather a horror story for adults. King may not have the performing skills of an actor, but his earnest delivery makes up for it. His narration is... Read More

Jay Reum's narration captures the divided heart of 13-year-old Canyon Cress, who's holding on for dear life as he rides bulls, cares for his younger sister, and tries to contain his father's drinking and his own grief over his mother's death. Reum's slight Western accent adds to the ambiance of the story. His portrayals of minor characters give authenticity to Canyon's... Read More

Narrator Jeff Ebner's youthful voice and careful pacing are well suited to this middle-grade horror audiobook. Rory has avoided the house next door ever since he and his best friend encountered the malevolent spirits that eventually caused his friend's family to move away. So when Jack's family moves in, Rory will do whatever it takes to protect them, especially Jack's little... Read More

Narrator Cynthia Farrell's strong and steady voice engages listeners as she vocalizes iconic photographer Imogen Cunningham's passion for capturing the world with her art. A childhood love of picture books evolves into a talent for drawing and painting, and eventually Imogen discovers an affinity for photography. Taking pictures allows her to capture the world as she views it... Read More

Intended for children, this audiobook contains tough truths for listeners of all ages. Derrick Barnes introduces his story with an author's note imbued with empathy and resolve, telling listeners that he sees its fictional main character as the embodiment of his sons. At age 13, Henson Blayze is a football idol in his small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi. He loves his dad,... Read More

Listeners will enjoy the short, magical adventure of young Cala and her family during the night of Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead). While they all begin to gather in the cemetery to remember loved ones and friends who have passed on, it's clear that Cala is apprehensive and scared, especially now that her grandfather has died. At some point, she's separated from her family and... Read More

Narrator Joy Regullano captures the voice of 11-year-old Lila Clement, who reluctantly travels to Ohio with her family after her estranged grandfather's death. Her parents must settle his estate, which includes the mysterious inn Grandpa Clem owned. Soon after Lila and her brother arrive, strange occurrences begin, and Lila starts seeing ghosts. Terrified yet curious, she... Read More

Narrator Sorcha Groundsell brings to life 11-year-old Gwen MacKinnon, who is sent to spend several weeks with her Great-Uncle Matthew, sparing her a stay with her inattentive dad. There, she's delighted to make friends with his dog, Pumpkin, who accompanies her to the town library. Groundsell's tone imbues this story with intrigue, also fostering listener interest with her... Read More

Kate DiCamillo's third installment in the Norendy Tales soars with a controlled narration by a very proper-sounding Allan Corduner. A childless shoemaker and his wife are surprised when a tiny child appears one day in a boot in his shop. He names her Evangeline. Corduner gracefully captures the tension that grows between the husband and wife as they focus on the child's... Read More

Lee Osorio's youthful narration and precise pacing create a chilling listening experience in this middle-grade horror story. Diego is staying with his aunt and uncle in Mexico City while his parents go through a divorce, which he worries he caused. His new school's field trip to La Isla de Muñecas (Doll Island), a magical island with a wish-granting doll, could be the perfect... Read More

Katie Koster and Katie Hafner introduce 10 women from Hafner's "Lost Women of Science" podcast, which focuses on the ways female science pioneers were overlooked due to their gender, and sometimes race. Scientists include pathologist Dorothy Andersen and Black chemist Alice Ball. Each segment includes a summary of the subject's principal achievements and a biography that leaves... Read More

Xe Sands's strong narration reflects the promise in the title of this children's audio on the topic of a parent's serious illness. Her variations on the refrain "love stays strong" serve as a continual affirmation throughout, and her tender tone sounds like she's addressing an adored child. Sands's lyrical cadences emphasize changes in the natural world and how the seasons'... Read More

For a fun, witchy listen, you can't go wrong with Aubrey Plaza, who hams it up in a quirky narration. Luna has always wanted to be a witch like her grandma in Puerto Rico. When she finds a real witch's house, she gets the curmudgeonly witch, Pheenie, to teach her all she knows. But first, Luna needs to help get the house ready for a Halloween party. Plaza doesn't disappoint.... Read More

Narrator Stephen DeRosa imbues this educational kids' mystery with verve and humor. He animatedly voices pirate ghosts, multilingual grandmothers, eccentric artists, basketball-coaching nuns, and two plucky kids. Together, they must use communication, creativity, and historical knowledge to save New Orleans' Mardi Gras festivities from an inconvenient (but not scary)... Read More

Simply perfect! No detail is missing from an enchanting picture-book adaptation that needs no images. An orchestral score is seamlessly layered with the sounds of nocturnal creatures and the frightened murmured voices of Garden Glen residents who are scurrying to light lanterns to keep the darkness at bay. Narrator Elizabeth Knowelden's prim English accent perfectly suits... Read More

Narrator Eva Kaminsky creates a youthful voice for 12-year-old Maisie, whose mysterious text messages on her phone lead her to discover that she's a moonleaper. As one of these special kinds of time travelers, she's tasked with helping her dying Great-Aunt Hazel to change the future by changing the past. Maisie is uneasy at first as she tries to understand what is going on, all... Read More

Rock-and-roll power couple Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, now with more mature voices, sing and lyrically recite their charming audiobook, which begins with a dedication to their grandchildren and "grands" everywhere. Their lively exchanges include funny comments on hair, clothes, and jobs. Pat makes music by singing--snatches of Led Zeppelin, lullabies, etc.--while Neil... Read More

Hazar Elbayya narrates her picture book, bringing alive the emotions of a powerful story that speaks of war, hope, community, and resilience. In the opening, Elbayya expresses the tenderness between young Salaam and her grandfather, who teaches her the specialness of olive trees: their deep roots in the land and their ability to connect everyone. Elbayya's neutral tone reflects... Read More

Narrator Sam West effortlessly sweeps listeners along in this magnificent sequel to IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES. When Anya's grandfather, the king of Dousha, is murdered and her beloved father is accused of the crime and imprisoned, Anya will do anything to help him. Help comes in the form of Christopher, a guardian of the magical Archipelago where Anya lives, along with a bevy of... Read More

Narrator Michael Boatman is once again a master of vocal sound effects in this third installment of the Skunk and Badger series: the ErrrrrRRRRR of a rock tumbler tumbling, the scutch-scutch of snowshoes moving over snow, the Beed-el-LOO-bing! of a banjo being plucked. Raising two precocious young rats in Aunt Lula's brownstone, Skunk and Badger find themselves in way, way over... Read More

Kathleen McInerney brings a vibrant playful tone to her narration of these seven whimsical woodland tales. Her energy perfectly suits the lighthearted spirit of the stories, making them enjoyable to listen to with young children. However, because the print version of this work is a picture book, the brief prose and lack of page descriptions in the audiobook leave the listener... Read More

This is a very brief introduction to the 6,888th Central Postal Directory Battalion of WWII. Jade Wheeler narrates with crisp enunciation, slow pacing, and buoyant admiration for the work of the Black women serving in the newly desegregated U.S. Army. Letters from home were a great morale builder for the troops. The Six Triple Eight was deployed in the U.S. and overseas to... Read More

The excitable voice of Matt Godfrey will resonate with young listeners as he recounts the hilarious shenanigans of a quirky preteen named Carter. After a ski collision with his brother lands him in a wheelchair for several weeks, he becomes obsessed with spying on the day-to-day activities of the people in his town. He borrows his mother's drone to snoop on classmates and hacks... Read More

Charles Everett's deep-voiced narration gives a storyteller's tone to this audiobook. His voice combines with bright, cheery music to welcome listeners into the third tale of elderly zookeeper Amos and his animal friends. Everett continues with the caring tone established in past audios as Amos weathers windy, rainy days by knitting thoughtful gifts, including an afghan for the... Read More

Narrator Natalie Duke is excellent in this spooky, funny, and fast-paced listen. Twelve-year-old Maya Murtagh is on a mission to fix her relationship with her best friend and writing partner. She also wants to find a story that earns her a regular column in her school's newspaper. The perfect story presents itself when her family visits Black House Mansion, the former home of... Read More

Narrator and author Sy Montgomery chronicles the life of Fire Chief, a 42-pound snapping turtle who is struck by a car while moving from his habitat at the fire station to his other habitat, where he was expected to spend the new season. Montgomery's passion for Fire Chief, and all turtles, is clear in her narration as she describes the organizations that can help them. The... Read More

Hamilton Clancy masterfully presents this magical Hurricane Katrina story and historical travelogue. Listeners meet 12-year-old Vernon, who is grieving his mother's death and feeling shocked that his dad wants to leave New Orleans despite their home having survived the storm. Then he meets feisty Alisa, whose mom is intending to move to Houston for work. Soon, the youths... Read More

Narrator Sarah Skaer takes listeners on a magical summer sojourn in this new English translation of Kashiwaba's 1975 fantasy. Sent alone to Misty Valley instead of Nagano, where her grandparents live, Lina is taken aback to learn she's expected to work for her keep. Skaer's pleasant lilt conveys the narrative as Lina works in various establishments along what the residents call... Read More

M.L. Sanchez introduces listeners to Wanda, a real-life Puerto Rican child who, after seeing the magic of the stars on a fishing trip, grows up to be an astrophysicist. She goes to college but, tragically, loses her vision to diabetes. Wanda's determination and dedication, along with her friends and assistants, are rivetingly portrayed by Sanchez. The moment that a friend... Read More

Jesse Vilinsky narrates this thrilling historical novel with pizzazz. Thirteen-year-old Evie arrives at the 1936 Berlin Games with one goal in mind: a Gold Medal in gymnastics. Though she notices the tension in the air, it's not until she's drawn into a plot to steal Nazi gold from the German National Bank that she realizes the biggest stakes she's playing for. Vilinsky's... Read More

Narrator Skye Alley introduces talented poet Fred, know-it-all Luisa, and monster-loving Drake, who've been chosen to write their school's holiday play. Adding to the pressure--and honor--Luisa's Uncle Reyes, a playwright, will assist. Alley's best creation, Fred, wants their play to illustrate the darkness of the winter season. As his writing partners reluctantly agree, they... Read More

Laura Knight Keating captures every nuance--both human and doll--in this contemporary yet old-fashioned fantasy. In front of a dollhouse shop, lonely, 11-year-old Tiph captures and returns a runaway dog to its elderly Hungarian owner, Nene (Aunt) Szilvia. Spunky Tiph and Nene are Keating's standout characters, with Nene's stunning voice and accent making every appearance a... Read More

Who knew? The great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens is also a gifted storyteller! Clare Corbett's thoughtful narration of this charming series set in the 1970s has the feel of a classic. Corbett presents each unique Fielding child: serious Tom, the oldest; Carrie, the horse lover; Em, who's helpful to everyone; and Michael, gentle, dyslexic, and often misunderstood. When... Read More