We could have a Winnie-the-Pooh convention with all the audiobook versions that have cropped up this season. All are quite classic renditions of the Pooh stories--particularly welcome after the recent trend that made every story into a cartoon. It's quite hard to make distinctions among these except to say that if you'd prefer an American voice reading Pooh's adventures with Eeyore, Piglet, Roo, Owl and Christopher Robin, try Charles Kuralt's readings. They may sound a bit like On the Road With Pooh and Piglet, but Kuralt's avuncular voice takes the perfect tone for the longer stories of Winnie-the-Pooh and The House At Pooh Corner. He's fully relaxed and lets the narrative take its familiar path while keeping the whimsy fresh. Families can enjoy this reading and parents will appreciate the understated British humor as they become part of the audience instead of narrators themselves.
(Graphic fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1997
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Penguin Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Robb Moreira summons a mythic tone for this original spinoff of the Aztec creation story. In Higuera's story, the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl's lesser-known brother, Xolotl, recounts "what really happened." Xolo has a dog's head, paws, and, most importantly, a love of humankind. Moreira's declamatory tones suit the epic nature of the story but also sometimes flatten the nuances of Higuera's characterizations. Listeners who don't seek out the print edition to accompany the audiobook will miss illustrator Mariana Ruiz Johnson's strikingly stylized figures, colorfully lush design, and critical narrative detail that's often communicated only in the illustrations. Those who do read and listen will occasionally find themselves zooming past wordless sequences that demand close attention. Both otherworldly and sweet--and perhaps best enjoyed in print.
(Mythology. 7-10)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
Duration: 1 hr
DD ISBN: 9798899735035
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ciaran Saward's zany delivery is perfect for a young audience that thrives on silly nonstop action and striking sound effects. Selfish, bullying Monkey is sent into space but soon crash-lands in a forest, which he decides to colonize. When genial Bunny realizes this, he gathers Pig and Weenie Squirrel--all humorously rendered--to save their peaceful home from the intruder. Seward incorporates instructional tidbits, for example, how bats navigate. The most fun are Skunk, Monkey's megalomaniac inventor, and French-accented Le Fox, who just wants to be left alone. Sound effects such as the snoring of a hibernating bear take listeners into the action. Audio enriches delightful wordplay, and older audiences will hear references to current events.
(Graphic fantasy. 6-10)Pub Date: July 1, 2025
Duration: 3 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781038029454
Publisher: Bolinda Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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