by Barbara Kerley ; illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham ; read by Katherine Kellgren ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 2010
Theodore Roosevelt may have confronted many obstacles as Rough Rider, governor, and president, but he faced an even greater challenge in his daughter Alice, who “ate up the world.” When sent to Miss Spence’s Boarding School to be a proper young lady, Alice finagled a real education in her father’s library and at his table. As her father’s goodwill ambassador, she was embraced by the press and the world. Alice’s spirit—feisty, all-a-bustle, and effervescent—permeates Katherine Kellgren’s narration. At moments of excitement, Kellgren speeds breathlessly along; at moments of exasperation, Kellgren draws out her phrases and emphasizes single words. Kellgren effectively voices the exasperated father, as well. Background music and an interview with the author complete the recording.
Ages 10+Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2010
Duration: 10 mins
Publisher: Weston Woods Studios
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Dan Shaughnessy ; illustrated by C.F. Payne ; read by Ken Coleman ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A
Ken Coleman's expertise as a baseball announcer enriches this history of the Boston Red Sox since the sale of Babe Ruth to the N.Y. Yankees. He leads off with a grim account of this transaction, which started the curse that has plagued the Red Sox ever since. The sermon-like tone will amuse non-believers and comfort listeners who are certain the team is cursed. Like the ups and downs of Boston's play through the years, the narrator's voice fluctuates--exuberant and then despondent--in tone and tempo accurately reflecting the mood of any given baseball season. The narrator is very successful at conveying the emotional roller coaster ride Red Sox fans have endured as a result of the curse of the Bambino.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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by Jacqueline Woodson ; read by Denée Benton , Marley Dias , Dominique Fishback , Big Freedia , Montego Glover , Nicole Ari Parker , Tika Sumpter , Lena Waithe & Jacqueline Woodson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 12, 2026
A fresh, dynamic interpretation of Woodson's poetry.
Awards & Accolades
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Woodson originally narrated her memoir in 2014, and this updated production features a lively chorus of voices, a new bonus chapter, and testimonies about the legacy of Brown Girl Dreaming. The audiobook opens with spare guitar music, and Woodson narrates her new, emotion-filled introduction. The chorus—Denée Benton, Marley Dias, Dominique Fishback, Big Freedia, Montego Glover, Nicole Ari Parker, Tika Sumpter, and Lena Waithe—then jumps in, each contributor delivering one poem and passing the mic to another voice for the next. The variety of voices adds a little spice, as their narration styles are very different from one another. Snappy musical interludes by Toshi Reagon feature before each section.
A fresh, dynamic interpretation of Woodson's poetry. (Memoir/poetry. 8-12)Pub Date: May 12, 2026
Duration: 4 hrs, 11 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217175611
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: May 22, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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