Kishnani’s bright turn as the inquisitive Nadia brings this exploration of community and climate change to life.
Narrator Nikhaar Kishnani creates an effervescent personality for a small but mighty 8-year-old in this middle-grade audiobook. Nadia Islam has big plans for Ramadan this year, especially since it will be her first chance to fast alongside her best friend, Yasmin. When Nadia’s parents decide to visit family in Bangladesh instead, she has to pivot toward this new experience. Kishnani perfectly pitches Nadia’s mix of disappointment at the change, nervousness at traveling abroad, and rising interest in her journalist aunt Khalamoni’s reporting on climate refugees near their home village. The thoughtful narration substitutes for the extensive illustrations of the print edition.
Kishnani’s bright turn as the inquisitive Nadia brings this exploration of community and climate change to life. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063286016
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: March 10, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
Live Oak Media recently caught our attention with this new read-along book and cassette program. We listened first, and were so delighted we couldn't wait to get the book. The picture book made the experience even better, but the audio recordings was strong and vibrant by itself. THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart's Depression-era story of a young girl sent to live with her Uncle Jim in the city has a sweet, wistful quality with narration alone, but coupled with David Small's soft-edged pencil illustration, it's a total delight. The reading is repeated on both sides of the tape, one with and without page-turning signals.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A sensitive performance.
Deepa is a precocious 12-year-old girl in remission from leukemia. Under the tutelage of her uncle, a house call doctor, she becomes involved in solving teen tennis player Taio's puzzling medical mystery. Deepa is unsure of herself, but she’s ready to get back to middle school after a year away for treatment. Narrator Soneela Nankani depicts Deepa's desire to be more than the "sick kid" while navigating her youthful insecurities and the social challenges of middle school. Nankani also ably portrays Deepa's growing confidence in herself as she uses her own experience with illness to help figure out what’s wrong with Taio.
A sensitive performance. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 32 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668182833
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: today
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
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