Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson have collaborated on a farcical story of a third-rate power that aims to bring the U.S. to its knees by infiltrating a middle school science fair. Hubble Middle School is located in suburban Maryland, within shouting distance of the nation’s capital. Phil Gigante does an admirable job bringing this comedy of the absurd to life. He navigates the minefield of vowel-challenged proper nouns common to the fictional country of Kprshyskan, giving President Gradankl the Strong and his four brothers/vice presidents the middle European accents one would expect of Kprshyskanians. At the same time, he captures a middle school environment peopled with bullies, victims, and clueless adults, bringing this hilarious story to life.
Ages 10+Pub Date: Oct. 14, 2008
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A classic story of high adventure and conflict between good and evil placed in the mythical land of Prydain, The Book of Three is read grippingly and enchantingly by Chris King. Vocal switches are mostly smooth with a few minor pronunciation slips which are quickly corrected. King's voice is clear, easy to understand and memorable, giving the listener a sense of the characters as well as a pronunciation guide to those incredible Gaelic names Alexander uses. Both the characters and the story linger in the mind's eye because of the quality of narration. This is surely a reading that can be listened to again and again and will leave the listeners asking for the entire Prydain series on tape.
AGES 8+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Posy Bates is back, this time with a dog left over from a pet show. Back also are baby Fred and her friend, Sam. But the star of the show is Posy herself, an energetic nine-year-old with a penchant for misadventure. Judy Bennett's rendering of each of the characters in this episodic family story is right on the mark. Her enunciation and impeccable timing clarify the idiomatic text so that its unusual words become another aspect of the book's pleasure. The irrepressible Posy is her greatest challenge, and Bennett gets high marks. She bubbles with enthusiasm, wails and squeals, and dies over and over again. "It's positively brilling!"
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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