The day Bert Brown finds that the fluttering in his chest isn't a heart attack but the wings of a small angel is the start of something wonderful. Bert and his wife, Nancy, take in Angelino, the angel, and Nancy enrolls him at the school where she works. Author David Almond's narration is the highlight of a story demonstrating that all people can grow and learn to love when they encounter a true and caring soul. Almond provides a variety of accents for the characters, who include villainous pupils and potentially dastardly teachers. In particular, he makes the most of Professor Smellie's lisp, a mannerism that perfectly offsets the teacher's grandiose claims. Almond's audiobook, which is reminiscent of Roald Dahl's works in tone, will appeal to children and families.
(Fantasy. 7-10)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2018
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781543687934
Publisher: Brilliance Audio/ Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Liam Aiken narrates this prequel to the Series of Unfortunate Events in a somber, deadpan tone that heightens its dark humor. As a teenaged Lemony Snicket investigates a series of arsons in a town called Stain’d-by-the-Sea, Aiken creates voices that delineate character and help keep clear the large cast of Snicket’s associates, enemies, and enemies that turn out to be associates. Aiken’s tone of quiet urgency will keep listeners hooked through wordplay, mysteries, good meals, romance, and the appearance of a new villain named Hangfire, who hoodwinks adults, frames a librarian, and kidnaps all the children in town. This smart and funny listen will please Snicket fans and create new ones.
(Mystery. 8-14)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2014
Duration: 6 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781478955733
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
While narrator Liam Aiken evokes the wistful, dolorous tone of Snicket’s second mystery in his All the Wrong Questions series, he fails to deliver Snicket’s signature snark with appropriate vigor. In this episode, the main character, 12-year-old Lemony Snicket, continues the investigations that began in STAIN’D BY THE SEA with the case of the missing chemist, Cleo Knight. As Aiken delivers Snicket’s declarative sentences in a deadpan voice, his remote reading keeps listeners distant from the story. Furthermore, Aiken does not always play up the quirks of the town’s eccentric characters. When he does use individualized voicings, the story shakes off its languidness to some degree. Aiken’s melancholy narration echoes Snicket’s loneliness but doesn’t enliven the recording for young listeners. An attached PDF file includes the character Seth’s illustrations.
(Mystery. 8-14)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2013
Duration: 4 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781478924845
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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