Narrator Jayne Entwistle elegantly portrays an adventuring rockhopper penguin and her companions--animal and human. Freya, the penguin, is inspired to travel by her avid reading of HINTS TO LADY TRAVELLERS AT HOME AND ABROAD (a real book). She settles into the basket of a hot air balloon that three 1897 Swedish explorers are hoping to land at the North Pole (a real historical event). Soon, Freya discovers that a vagabond mouse from London has also stowed away. With a studied cadence and precise enunciation, Entwistle lets the story unfold. Her British accent is perfect for Zoose, the mouse. She gives each character subtle personality traits and allows the listener to chuckle at humorous turns of phrase and ponder the many twists of the expedition.
(Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: 2019
Duration: 4 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781984832962
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Robb Moreira summons a mythic tone for this original spinoff of the Aztec creation story. In Higuera's story, the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl's lesser-known brother, Xolotl, recounts "what really happened." Xolo has a dog's head, paws, and, most importantly, a love of humankind. Moreira's declamatory tones suit the epic nature of the story but also sometimes flatten the nuances of Higuera's characterizations. Listeners who don't seek out the print edition to accompany the audiobook will miss illustrator Mariana Ruiz Johnson's strikingly stylized figures, colorfully lush design, and critical narrative detail that's often communicated only in the illustrations. Those who do read and listen will occasionally find themselves zooming past wordless sequences that demand close attention. Both otherworldly and sweet--and perhaps best enjoyed in print.
(Mythology. 7-10)Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 1 hr
DD ISBN: 9798899735035
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Tara Novie's youthful voice reflects a sense of wonder for the topic of this audiobook: whales. While her bright delivery contrasts with the somberness of those majestic animals that were pushed out of former habitats by human expansion, she does convey a sense of hope as the Hudson River flows clear again and the whales return. In the second part of the audiobook, Novie's tone becomes more grounded as she details historical and environmental insights relating to the Hudson Highlands River's troubled past and activism that led to the 1972 Clean Water Act. Novie conveys the urgency of this environmental issue and humanity's role in shaping an optimistic future.
(Informational picture book. 6-9)Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 22 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250386755
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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