Narrator Kate Coventry creates an energetic and high-pitched voice for the witch Evelyn, who, much to her initial disappointment, has only enough money to get a mystery pet, rather than the pet of her choice. What's more, the pet is inside an egg--so she doesn't know what it is. Coventry captures Evelyn's frustration as she struggles to wait patiently for her egg to hatch. She tries every spell to hatch her mystery pet, but each attempt fails. Exciting music and sound effects, such as coins jingling, add fun and whimsy to this story. When the pet is finally revealed, the music reflects the excitement. Pet-loving and fantasy fans alike will be impressed by Evelyn's determination to discover the identity of her new companion and eager to learn the egg's contents.
(Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 8 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250395382
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
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: 2025
Duration: 1 hr
DD ISBN: 9798899735035
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Tara Novie's youthful voice reflects a sense of wonder for the topic of this audiobook: whales. While her bright delivery contrasts with the somberness of those majestic animals that were pushed out of former habitats by human expansion, she does convey a sense of hope as the Hudson River flows clear again and the whales return. In the second part of the audiobook, Novie's tone becomes more grounded as she details historical and environmental insights relating to the Hudson Highlands River's troubled past and activism that led to the 1972 Clean Water Act. Novie conveys the urgency of this environmental issue and humanity's role in shaping an optimistic future.
(Informational picture book. 6-9)Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 22 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250386755
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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