Jay Reum's narration captures the divided heart of 13-year-old Canyon Cress, who's holding on for dear life as he rides bulls, cares for his younger sister, and tries to contain his father's drinking and his own grief over his mother's death. Reum's slight Western accent adds to the ambiance of the story. His portrayals of minor characters give authenticity to Canyon's exuberant sister, loving grandmother, and volatile father. Reum's shifts in tone allow listeners to experience the full measure of Canyon--the "never quit cowboy" who strives to make it to the Junior World Bull Riding Championship even as he suffers dangerous concussions. Reum also depicts Canyon's upbeat feelings while playing the fiddle, seemingly demonstrating his mother's musical gift.
(Fiction. 8-13)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
Duration: 5 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781547617470
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Live Oak Media recently caught our attention with this new read-along book and cassette program. We listened first, and were so delighted we couldn't wait to get the book. The picture book made the experience even better, but the audio recordings was strong and vibrant by itself. THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart's Depression-era story of a young girl sent to live with her Uncle Jim in the city has a sweet, wistful quality with narration alone, but coupled with David Small's soft-edged pencil illustration, it's a total delight. The reading is repeated on both sides of the tape, one with and without page-turning signals.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Powerful and affirming.
Narrator Erin Tripp’s melodious voice cradles listeners of this celebration of the unbreakable ties between Indigenous families and the land they walk on. In turn, the audiobook’s young protagonist reflects on wisdom learned from grandparents, parents, little sister, and community. Nature-based metaphors and similes reinforce the reciprocal relationship between the child and the land. “You are the land,” the child learns. “You are the sea...mountains…sky.” Tripp, whose heritage is Lingít, invests each iteration of “You are” with a gentle firmness that underscores the web of connections among child, family, community, and land. Littlebird’s tribes are Atfalati Kalapuya and Clatsop Chinook, and listeners who seek out the print edition will enjoy illustrations that present the lush glory of her people’s Oregon homelands.
Powerful and affirming. (Picture book. 6-10)Pub Date: today
Duration: 4 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280407
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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