Four loosely related kids share different combinations of absent mothers and fathers as they quite capably raise themselves on the beach of a desert island. Narrator Caitlin Kelly enthusiastically recounts their adventures and misadventures as they try to find a house to replace the too small car they’ve been living in. Kim, Kimo, Peppa, and Toby each are given unique voices that mirror their personalities. Kelly’s delivery is full of energy and expert pacing, adding nuance to the humor and giving the listener plenty of reasons to cheer for these quick-witted, resilient kids. The PDF file of a map and illustrations enhances the listening experience, letting listeners fully enter the world of the amazing Fitzgerald-Trout family.
. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: May 10, 2016
Duration: 4 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781478909347
Publisher: Hachette Audio
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 listening.
Four narrators personalize the tragedy of Houston’s 2017 Hurricane Harvey through the viewpoints of three struggling teens. Sunil Malhotra depicts Pakistani American Yasir’s many facets—his determination to succeed at soccer, his barely controlled rage about racism, his sadness about his father’s death, and his deep fear of drowning. Nikhaar Kashnani portrays South Asian American Mona. Weighed down by caring for her young brother, she loses herself in art and dreads her recurring nightmare about a flood. Josh Hurley renders Cody’s cruel, racist bullying as well as his fear of the dark, a result of being abused by his father. Christopher Salazar enthusiastically delivers interstitial news bulletins. When flooding from Harvey makes them face their worst fears, the resilient threesome’s separate stories come together and they support each other’s bravery.
Powerful listening.Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063389557
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2026
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