New Reviews: Children

Sound effects and Bahni Turpin's lively narration enhance this vivid story of an inquisitive future scientist. Ada must rely on her curious mind, her friends Rosie and Iggy, and her family to rescue a friend in trouble. When Uncle Ned goes airborne in a pair of inflatable pants and can't land himself, Ada devises a scientific plan to bring him back to earth. The plot's twists... Read More

Kevin T. Collins's even pacing makes this scientific history easy to follow. After building his own microscope in 1674, Antony van Leeuwenhoek's discovery of tiny moving creatures in lake water stunned the scientists of his day and led to the field of microbiology. Collins narrates the story in an accessible, lively way, portraying Antony's patient, diligent work over 50 years... Read More

Taylor Meskimen portrays Ollie, a 12-year-old living in gritty downtown New York City in 1981 with her parents, who are artists. When her father mysteriously leaves their family, her mother spirals into depression and neglects Ollie. Fending for herself, Ollie is afraid to tell the truth to anyone who could help her. Finally, her friend Alex tells a grown-up--their parents'... Read More

Narrators John Lithgow and Kate Mulgrew alternately share poems and songs created by Fred Rogers for his long-standing television show. Rogers's messages affirm children and give voice to the myriad feelings, good and bad, that all people feel from time to time. Wonder, joy, questions, exploration, outsides and insides, a new baby, one-of-a-kindness, needs emotional and... Read More

Narrator Kirby Heyborne reprises his role as Nandu, a Nepalese boy, in this sequel to WHAT ELEPHANTS KNOW. The 13-year-old lives with his adoptive father, Subba-sahib, in the newly established Royal Elephant Breeding Center on the edge of the jungle in 1970s Nepal. His community is tested by earthquake, drought, a dangerous wild bull elephant, and menacing poachers. Heyborne's... Read More

Narrator Paris Rosenthal brings to life the advice of her late mother, a writer and independent filmmaker. The audiobook is written in the format of a letter to the listener. Rosenthal sounds light and earnest as she offers widely varied suggestions for being one's own person: Acknowledge your unique looks, share your thoughts, ask questions, find others who are like or unlike... Read More

Robert Petkoff's clear and engaging voice guides listeners through a scientific history of chemical elements. Adapted from the bestselling title for adults, this version for young people still requires a good deal of background knowledge about chemistry. But those who can follow along will be rewarded with with fun facts and fascinating stories, like how a teenager tried to... Read More

Narrator L.J. Ganser's journalistic tone makes listeners feel like they are hearing a thrilling live broadcast of each of these 12 exciting and sometimes harrowing space missions. He brings us behind the scenes of Mission Control, and even into the cockpit of some of the most infamous space missions in history--from APOLLO 13 to the 1986 Space Shuttle CHALLENGER explosion.... Read More

Narrator Jesse Vilinsky establishes a youthful voice for Louisiana, Louisa for short, who is spending the summer on Deer Island with her grandparents while her parents go on a bird-watching excursion. Upon arrival, Louisa notices that her grandfather is losing his vision, which will eventually prevent him from driving, one of his passions. She also begins to notice George, a... Read More

Caroline McLaughlin narrates the story Congressman Norman Mineta's WWII experience in a serious tone. In response to war hysteria and anti-Japanese sentiment, the U.S. government imprisoned more than 100,000 Japanese-Americans in hastily constructed internment camps. Many were U.S. citizens. In 1941, fourth-grader Norman, his parents, and his four siblings were forcibly removed... Read More

Monika Felice Smith's youthful voice has a slight rasp, matching the personality of 12-year-old CJ, who is both worldly-wise and naïve. For some years, CJ has traveled the country with her aunt, a medium, who periodically channels CJ's late mother. Smith expresses CJ's can-do attitude toward driving a truck with a stick shift, planning a route anywhere in the country, and... Read More

Graham Halstead narrates this story of a family's trip to attend the decidedly quirky funeral of Papa Kwirk. Rion Kwirk considers himself a regular kid in a weird family. Halstead differentiates his thoughts and utterances with contrasting voices--his thoughts are more humorously sarcastic. When Rion meets an attractive girl, however, Halstead delivers his spoken words with... Read More

Lisa Flanagan welcomes listeners back to the Endling world with her second narration in this series. She meets the challenge of new characters and maintains fluidity and connection with those listeners already know. The main character, Byx, who recounts the adventure, believes herself to be an endling--the last of her species. Flanagan gives her a range of tones that express... Read More

As this sequel to DACTYL HILL SQUAD opens, listeners find dinosaur wrangler Magadalys Roca and her team of pterodactyl-riding orphans en route from Brooklyn to New Orleans, where they hope to learn the fate of Magadalys's brother, a wounded Union soldier. Returning narrator Channie Waites brings boundless energy to this uncommonly nuanced Civil War story. Before the team... Read More

Orchestral music filled with the chirping of birds fades into the background as narrator John Pruden begins the story of Central Park in New York City. The two winners of the 1858 design contest, Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted, set out their vision on a ten-foot-long schematic of the new park they called The Greensward. Bubbling fountains, a myriad of bridges, and a... Read More

Narrator Corey Allen captures the author's poignant picture of the origins of the 369th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Harlem Hellfighters. His husky, measured tones bring the listener into the world of African-American soldiers in the midst of WWI as they fought for the right just to join the Army and serve their country. The thoroughly detailed story includes a brief... Read More

Author and narrator Jane Yolen brings another of her dinosaur escapades to life. Young listeners may be shocked or perplexed as dinosaurs mistreat books by chewing them, tossing them, and jumping on them but then will be treated to demonstrations of proper book care and the joy of sounding out words and making sense of them. At bedtime, Yolen's spot-on characterization shines... Read More

Narrator Sisi Aisha Johnson transports listeners to rural South Carolina in the 1940s through the passionate perspectives of three characters: 11-year-old Ella and her two cousins--14-year-old Myrna, an orphan, and 12-year-old Henry, who is Ella's best friend. They live together with their grandparents, but life is dangerous for African-Americans in the South. Teased by other... Read More

Narrator John Keating drops listeners right into the heart of London during WWII in this historical mystery. Bertie Bradshaw is a civil defense volunteer whose job is to bring citizens to safety during air raids. When he finds a secret spy notebook, dropped by an American girl, he becomes intrigued and tries to find out more about its owner and how to decipher the code in the... Read More

Spritely music introduces poet Kwame Alexander's ode to the joys of reading for the youngest listeners. In a friendly and enthusiastic voice, Alexander compares opening a book to peeling a clementine: "Next, dig your thumb at the bottom of each juicy section and pop the words out." The short poem rewards repeat listening to tease out all of the meaning and imagery, and... Read More

Jenna Lamia expresses the youthful longing of Lucy, who still grieves for her late mother, a marine biologist. After five years, she's adjusted to life with her father and is buoyed by her lifelong friendship with her neighbor, Fred. But then, he drowns. Lamia balances Lucy's grief with her determination to uncover the answer to a question her mother once studied: Why are white... Read More

With a clear voice and a slow, steady pace, Lee German narrates the true story of Maggie, an elephant in an Alaskan zoo who is bereft when the only other elephant at the zoo dies. In the wild, elephant families stay together, so lonely Maggie befriends a tire and carries it everywhere. German has a Midwestern accent and a friendly tone that perfectly matches the story, which... Read More

Narrator Ariana Delawari's childlike pitch and pacing perfectly capture the magical realism of this delicious spin on Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Eleven-year-old Mimi wants to win the baking contest being held by the interesting new bakery in town. While seeking inspiration in the woods, she meets a boy from India who shows her edible flowers and herbs, which she... Read More

Narrator Chloe Cannon's Southern accent enhances this sweet story of contemporary friendship on an island off the coast of South Carolina. After a life-saving heart transplant, 12-year-old Sunny is ready to reinvent herself, starting with finding a new best friend and then kissing a boy. Sunny's engaging personality shines brightly through Cannon's narration. She gives Sunny's... Read More

As the sun rises on a bevy of construction vehicles poised to undertake a new and large job, Dion Graham is just the narrator to get in on the fun. With precise diction and steady pacing, Graham lets the rhyming text carry listeners into the action-packed day. His cement mixer lets out a BLAST to summon helper trucks, who respond with enthusiastic honks. Work begins with pairs... Read More

Narrator Christine Lakin provides a determined voice for Nikki, who joins one of the best club basketball teams in town as a step toward her goal to play high school ball one day. In order to pay the club's many fees, she must babysit her younger brother, whose youthful voice perfectly reflects his energetic personality. The pressure of the tough practices, extra... Read More

Narrator Ramon de Ocampo fills this story with cartoonish voices and an astounding array of fart noises that are sure to thrill middle-grade fans of crude humor. Oddonis, Adonis's plain twin brother, is optimistic on his first day at Olympus Middle School, but the schoolyard cruelty of his god classmates squashes his hopes. With a band of misfit friends, he challenges his... Read More

Narrator Vaneh Assadourian's rich, lilting voice underscores the lyricism of this audiobook spoken in verse. She gives sonorous dignity to the Muslim family featured in the story. Twelve-year-old Jude is an ordinary girl who loves her family, her home in Syria, and American movies--but as war comes closer, her pregnant mother decides it is not safe to stay there. Jude and her... Read More

Author Lucy Strange narrates her second book, capturing the historical thriller's gothic atmosphere. The story transports listeners to the southeast coast of England at the beginning of WWII. Strange imbues her words with impactful inflections and poignant pauses that take listeners into the heart of 12-year-old Pet. An encroaching war is confusing enough, but worse yet are... Read More

Narrator Kathleen McInerney memorably portrays both adult and child characters in this compassionate audiobook. She particularly shines as the misfit protagonist, Cove, an emotionally intelligent middle schooler living on Martha's Vineyard. Cove is heartbroken when her best friend, Nina, moves off the island, leaving Cove on her own in dealing with the mean girls at school.... Read More

Narrator Jennifer Ikeda perfectly captures the confusion of a girl displaced by war and hardship. For years, the only home Japanese-American Hanako has known is an internment camp. When she and her family are released at the end of WWII, they decide to renounce their American citizenship and return to her father's birthplace near Hiroshima, where they face uncertainty about... Read More

Narrator Dylan Moore's slow, even pacing gives voice to 12-year-old Nova, a nonverbal foster child on the autism spectrum who is counting down the days to the promised return of her runaway sister, Bridget, on the day of the space shuttle CHALLENGER's launch. In flashbacks, listeners hear Bridget's fierce, protective love for Nova in her tough tone, which is sharp with the... Read More

Graham Halstead skillfully narrates this audiobook full of quirky characters and wacky scenes reminiscent of Roald Dahl. Walter Mortinson is a 12-year old inventor who is struggling within the confines of the bland factory town of Moormouth. He and his friend, Cordelia, decide to run away, and the two embark on a wild road trip to find Walter's hero, the famed inventor... Read More

Author/narrator Peter H. Reynolds encourages each of his young listeners to find their voice, as even a single voice can make an impact on the world. This audiobook is beautifully narrated by the writer, with some help from a few children. The gentle, melodious music that accompanies each section harmonizes with the fluid tones of the text, enhancing the audiobook's message.... Read More

Narrator Lisa Cordileone convincingly portrays both tween and adult characters, immersing listeners in the timeless story of Delsie, her grandmother, and their neighbors, who live in a coastal Cape Cod town. Delsie had been looking forward to summer with her best friend, Brandy, but this year Brandy has befriended a mean girl named Tressa. Tressa's bored drawl contrasts with... Read More

Narrator Eevin Hartsough's youthful voice lends whimsy to the fantasy world of Alorria, where "storm beasts" and their human guardians control the weather. Twelve-year-old introverted Mina can't wait to become a guardian and change the world in her own way, but when her egg hatches and a lightning beast named Pixit emerges, everyone thinks it's a mistake. Lightning guardians... Read More

Narrator Christina Moore brings excitement to this story of the birth of the universe. With expectant fervor, she describes the emptiness before the universe was formed, and then dramatically whispers "BANG!" as the stars explode into life. As the starstuff burns and churns, gradually becoming planets, oceans, plants, and animal life, Moore's narration builds tension until the... Read More

Narrator Suzy Jackson's bright voice and youthful characterizations bring listeners into a middle school computer class in this sequel to CLICK'D. When Allie's class gets an assignment to create a mobile game from recycled code, Allie teams up with her friends to create "Swap'd," an app that lets kids buy, sell, and trade stuff at school. With the money she earns, Allie intends... Read More

Narrator Alison Larkin brings the imaginary world of TICKLE PLENTY to life with a voice as light and sweet as cotton candy. As Tickle and her friends go on a magical adventure down the Lemonade River to the Lollipop Garden, Larkin narrates at a slow pace with deliberate, precise diction that is clear and singsong as a bell. She portrays the characters of this fantasy world... Read More

Narrator Shaun Taylor-Corbett uses various American accents and voices to re-create the Depression-era setting of this audiobook. Twelve-year-old Cal Blackbird lives a hobo life with his father, a Creek Indian and WWI vet. Cal's subtle Southern accent and polite tone contrast with the redneck twang of the locals they meet while riding the rails. Then Cal trades his freedom for... Read More

What better way to learn about the joys of gardening than to hear members of a family sharing their experience? Meet the Gaineses, who had no experience with growing things when they started with "Fern Number One" and then moved on to a houseful, and then to a "yardful" of plants. Along the way, this family shares both the science and practicality of gardening; for example,... Read More

Narrator Kirby Heyborne enhances this beautiful story inspired by a real Oregon wolf. Swift, the fastest pup in his litter, is later called Wander, after he flees from his family during a vicious attack. As Wander matures, Heyborne skillfully alters his delivery of this first-person account. Listeners will travel with Wander through countless challenges, including crossing the... Read More

Narrator L.J. Ganser's sardonic tone perfectly matches the snarky humor of this nonfiction history of aviation. Using contemporary language that kids will relate to and that will make them laugh, the audiobook traces the record of humans' attempts to fly and their many crashes--from the ancient Greek myth of Icarus to the Wright brothers' initial trials and errors. Listeners... Read More

With heartrending earnestness, narrator Taylor Meskimen draws listeners into the emotional life of Zenobia July, a tech-savvy trans girl who's facing a new year at a new middle school. Fresh from the loss of her father, Zen moved in with her married aunts, and now she's living openly as a girl for the first time. Navigating middle school friendships is tough, even among the... Read More