In a compelling audiovisual production of their Caldecott Medal-winning picture book, the Indigenous author/narrator and illustrator team of Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade encourage young listeners to become stewards of the Earth. “Water is sacred.” An Indigenous child takes her grandmother’s words to heart as she boldly encounters the “black snake” that threatens her community’s water resources and fragile connections with nature. A captivating musical score and natural sound effects such as flowing water complement Lindstrom’s narration. Pauses for page-turns allow listeners time to admire Goade’s stunning illustrations. However, significantly more time is needed to appreciate these magical watercolors fully. The artwork provides an essential visual context for the narrative, dramatically enhancing the overall experience. Back matter includes author and illustrator notes and the Earth Steward and Water Protector Pledge.
(Picture book. 5-12)Pub Date: June 22, 2021
Duration: 11 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250834096
Publisher: Weston Woods Studios
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Playful music and Emma Lysy's cheerful narration animate this brief but thoroughly enchanting audiobook for young listeners. The whimsical story unfolds as Little Star can't resist slipping out of bed every night to nibble on the delicious mooncake that her mother baked and hung in the sky to cool. In a story reminiscent of trickster folklore, Little Star's mischievous nibbling slowly diminishes the big, round mooncake in an imaginative allegory of the phases of the waning moon. Lysy's lively delivery enhances the growing sense of anticipation as Little Star wonders whether her mother notices the changes with each passing night. This is a delightful listening experience, and Grace Lin's Caldecott Honor award-winning picture-book illustrations can provide a stunning visual complement.
(Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Dec. 29, 2020
Duration: 4 mins
DD ISBN: 9781549104497
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Shy, unpopular Code is miserable when his grandfather disappears. His life goes from bad to bizarre when, on a school field trip, he trips over a hole and winds up in Mek Mound—once an ancient Okalahoman pyramid, now a land of metallic robots that threaten Earth. David Ackroyd’s narration is solid and precise. He gives a human sound to a myriad of robot personalities—a windy-voiced curmudgeon of an inventor, Code’s chatty robot buddy, and their threatening nemesis, Immortalis. Ackroyd delivers Code’s fears and hopes, as well as moments of humor, as he searches for a way to free his grandfather and vanquish the mechanical villains.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Jan. 11, 2011
Duration: 4 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307915245
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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