André Santana's endearing voice delivers this relatable coming-of-age story. Listeners meet 11-year-old Coop, whose mother left him at a safe-haven hospital when he was a day old. Coop's happy with his adoptive family, especially wise and understanding G-Pop, who is terrifically rendered. Coop's summer plans change after he falls from a tree, breaking his arm, while watching a baby mockingbird. When he discovers it has only one wing, he decides to "adopt" it. He names it Hop. It's heartbreaking when he learns it's illegal to keep him. Santana flawlessly captures Coop's realization that giving up the bird for a better life is what his own mother did for him. This magical listen, including the author's heartbreaking note sharing that she had a similar childhood, will inspire listeners of all ages.
(Fiction. 10-13)Pub Date: May 14, 2024
Duration: 2 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593867075
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In her clear, expressive voice, bilingual narrator M.L. Sanchez tells the exciting story of mouse siblings Vida and Máximo. The town of Moustepec was once happy, but the threat of a cat forces residents to stay home. There are no more fiestas, no more fireworks, and no more music. When a scary encounter with the cat results in Vida's dream about a fantastical creature called an alebrije, it inspires a plan to get rid of the cat once and for all with the help of the whole town. An extensive author's note offers a history of the Mexican tradition of the alebrije; another note reveals the story's inspiration. Sanchez's pacing adds to this enjoyable adventure for young listeners.
(Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2025
Duration: 12 mins
DD ISBN: 9798349108686
Publisher: Dreamscape
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: Nov. 4, 2025
Duration: 1 hr
DD ISBN: 9798899735035
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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