Author and narrator Bill Harley knows fourth-grader Charlie Bumpers inside and out! Now that the Halloween season has arrived, Charlie has many quandaries. How will he create his rabid bat costume for the school contest? Can he talk his parents into letting him attend a sleepover Halloween party? Who will trick-or-treat with kid sister Mabel? And, most of all, how can he get over his fear of all things Halloween, especially scary masks and movies? Harley's comfort with his characters brings listeners into the action. He uses speed, emphasis, pause, and tone to portray a sympathetic classmate, button-pushing older brother, patronizing school administrator, contrite sister, or an ever thinking and worrying Charlie. An interview with the author concludes the production.
(Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2014
Duration: 2 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Stephen Fry delivers a heartwarming and spirited performance in this fresh production on the origins of Christmas rituals. Fry's dynamic narration brings out the humor as well as the heartache in young protagonist Nikolas, who sets off on an adventure to find his father and stumbles upon a mystical elf kingdom. Fry's hearty range of voices expresses not only Nikolas's quiet bravery, anguish, and joy during his journey but also a myriad of animated human and nonhuman characters, including a humorous troll and a sweet elf. Fry's delightful storytelling weaves heartfelt emotion with the magic of elves and the power of goodness, making it easy to believe in Christmas.
(Fantasy. 6-13)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2016
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780735207806
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Charles Dickens loved to read his own words to his audiences. Since he can't do that now, he would possibly settle for someone else doing the narration, and he'd be hard-pressed to find a reader more able than Miriam Margolyes. Her rendering of everyone's wintertime favorite, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, is masterfully done, with a remarkable range of vocal talent capturing this tale of Scrooge and his redemption from a miserly existence. She excels at Marley and the three ghosts, making each of them distinctive according to his role in the proceedings as Scrooge visits his past, present, and future. Margolyes is drama personified, loud, soft, plaintive, frightened, annoyed, sorrowful and, finally, rejoicing. Top marks for this one; Dickens would be delighted.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1999
Duration: 3 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: AudioGo
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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