by Alexander McCall Smith ; illustrated by Laura Rankin ; Read by Charlotte Parry ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 4, 2005
Having tasted and enjoyed the thrills of sleuthing, Harriet is willing to help out her aunts' friend, Mr. Fetlock, whose horses are having amazingly bad luck at the racetrack. Charlotte Parry is convincing as young Harriet, who is at times worried, excited, and relieved. Parry's varied voices convey each character's age and background--the worried Mr. Fetlock, the eccentric aunts, the suspicious jockeys, even the evil Mr. C. Heat. While at times it's hard to tell which jockey, or aunt, is which, the plot is simple enough that the inconsistencies don't matter. Parry's reading is clear, and her steady pacing makes it easy for a young listener to follow along.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2005
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Mary Boone ; Read by Ellie Gossage ‧ RELEASE DATE: yesterday
Gosage delivers these scientifically-sound oceanic anecdotes with an easy-listening appeal.
Narrator Ellie Gosage speaks to middle-grade listeners as a friend, her tone changing with each ocean-themed topic. Gosage’s conversational narration reflects the book’s plain language. Her tone ranges from amused, as in “Blubber Blunder,” about a town’s attempt to destroy an 8-ton whale carcass with a half-ton of dynamite, to impressed, as in “The (Dog’s) Nose Knows,” about one dog’s unique ability to locate floating whale poop from a half-mile away while on a boat. (The excrement is used to capture DNA information.) In a chapter about a grieving orca, Gosage’s narration is especially soulful.
Gosage delivers these scientifically-sound oceanic anecdotes with an easy-listening appeal. (10-12)Pub Date: yesterday
Duration: 3 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217172764
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: yesterday
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by Matthew Burgess ; Read by Taisha Cameron ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 27, 2026
By honoring Mungo’s earned confidence, this cozy episode boosts young listeners’ own.
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
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Taisha Cameron voices this tale of a young fox on his first solo adventure. It’s November, and the red berries are calling out to young Mungo. With a nod of assent from his mother, the kit ventures out into the countryside. Menaces, both real and imagined, faze Mungo but do not stop him, and the reward for both fox and listeners is pure joy. Children who listen as they page through the print edition will see both in Julie Benbassat’s winsome illustrations. Burgess’ text is subtly rhythmic and powerfully sensory; Cameron nimbly navigates both aspects. Her gentle voice carries listeners along with sensitive precision.
By honoring Mungo’s earned confidence, this cozy episode boosts young listeners’ own.Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
Duration: 6 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063478251
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
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