Poor Daisy . . . she's a middle child in a talkative family, and nobody ever listens to a word she says. In fact, everyone in her African-American family speaks for her—from her know-it-all big sister to her kindly but preoccupied parents. Robin Miles does a fine job conveying the frustrations of the soft-spoken child, as well as portraying Daisy's transformation from a quietly unheard child to a more confident one who claims her space in the world. Miles characterizes the personalities and emotions of the people who populate Daisy's noisy, colorful world. Her dramatization of the moment when Daisy finally gets her family's attention is perfect. Children will enjoy Pat Cummings's illustrations, which add much to this small but poignant tale.
Ages 4-6Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2008
Duration: 8 mins
Publisher: Live Oak Media
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
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth.
Kestrel and her mother leave the home in California they share with Kestrel's grandfather, a pastor, to stay at a wildlife conservation institute in Montana. Narrator Mirai's youthful voice is a natural fit for this story of a young girl who at first resents being tricked into leaving California, but who later comes to realize that moving away from their strict home life was the right choice. Mirai employs distinctive voices for the adults, like Kestrel's stern grandfather and her uncertain mother, who begins gaining confidence. An author's note at the end discusses emotional abuse and how to find help.
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth. (Verse fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 42 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668175507
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: today
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