Narrator Peter Wickham lends a necessary tone of discovery and excitement to Darwin's seminal work, in which he outlines his theory of evolution. Wickham injects the thrill of discovery into his reading, a useful counterbalance to the occasionally overwhelming lists of examples that Darwin employs to illustrate his theory. Wickham responds to the systematic and factual tone of the writing with a nuanced consideration of pace, adjusting his reading suitably to the lists included in the text, which can occasionally interrupt the otherwise conversational flow of the writing. But imbued in the text are Darwin's pioneering spirit and endearing excitement at the potential of his own research. This is a tone that Wickham rarely overlooks, and employs to great effect, allowing the listener to feel intimately involved with Darwin's South American expedition.
(Nonfiction. 13-17)Pub Date: 2016
Duration: 21 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781843799696
Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks
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: 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: 2011
Duration: 4 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307915245
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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