Almarie Guerra gently reinforces the line breaks of this novel in verse, but her emphasis is placed more strongly on its characters' emotions. Eleven-year-old Laura is sorting out a range of feelings as she copes with having been removed from her family. Guerra reflects Laura's discomfort and anger at being placed in the home of an aunt who never seemed to care about her family. Soon Laura expresses guilt that it was she who placed the 911 call that resulted in her parents being taken to rehab. This is an audio with lots of interiority, and Guerra meets these demands with seeming ease. She shows Laura's growth as she trains an abandoned puppy, bonds with a compassionate classmate, and grows to understand the complications of loving parents who struggle with addiction.
(Verse fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
Duration: 3 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593747698
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 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
An audiobook that’s sure to spark chuckles of recognition in children and adults alike.
The incomparable Sedaris is always a pleasure to listen to. In a departure from his usual humorous writing for adults, here he narrates his children’s picture book about a selfish sister who claims everything—from the stove to her granddad to her brother’s kidney—for herself. Sedaris’s narration is dramatic and fun, and he adds a slight quaver to his voice for effect. With its rhymes and cadence, the writing is reminiscent of Dr. Seuss’. There are both tantrums and pathos, and the ending invites listeners to consider the consequences of the sister's greediness.
An audiobook that’s sure to spark chuckles of recognition in children and adults alike. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 17, 2026
Duration: 3 mins
DD ISBN: 9798898852559
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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