Narrator Jenna Lamia emphasizes sixth-grader Chirp's eagerness and naïveté as her concerns turn from spotting a red-throated loon to coping with her mother's recent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Lamia captures the flat exhaustion in Chirp's mother's voice, the strain in her father's, and the fluctuating emotions in her teenage sister's. The story's Cape Cod setting provides opportunities to create vivid voices for the tight-knit group of locals, including a few Boston accents for regional flair. Lamia's vivid performance contributes to the characterizations, particularly Chirp's emotional journey, without sacrificing intimacy. Set in the early 1970s, this is technically historical fiction, but it will appeal to any listener who enjoys realistic portrayals of family life.
(Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: March 3, 2015
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101925539
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Nayeri has done a stellar job of adapting his own unique work to the audiobook format.
Nayeri narrates this hero’s journey from Nothing to purpose. Ing (short for Nothing) heeds the advice of his friend, Nana, and sets out with his dog, Pöppy, and the wise mouse, mOmO, to find his name, parents, and purpose. Among Ing’s adventures, he traverses the Land of the Dead and aids the questing Wander Prince. Background music and sounds, like Pöppy’s bell ringing and echo effects in the Land of the Dead, stand in for the artistically arrayed text of the print version. Nayeri’s narration is crisp and matter of fact, presenting sorrow, joy, and even death with a reassuring pragmatism. The exception is his characterization of Pöppy as joyfully silly and distracted.
Nayeri has done a stellar job of adapting his own unique work to the audiobook format. (Adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2026
Duration: 1 hr, 47 mins
DD ISBN: 9781628864595
Publisher: Sourcebooks Audio
Review Posted Online: Nov. 11, 2026
An energetic performance brings this world to life.
Narrator Elizabeth Knowelden beautifully captures the whimsy of Millie Fleur’s world as well as her frustrations, or “morgenmuffels,” as she tries to navigate “the worst day ever.” Knowelden establishes a youthful, high-pitched voice for Millie as she prepares for Butterbloom Fest, which is the most exciting day of the year in Garden Glen, her new hometown. The lively background voices and sounds give the audience a sense of busyness and heightened emotion as Millie’s cake and plant for the competition don’t turn out as well as she hoped. Knowelden creates unique voices for the many friends that come to Millie’s rescue in her time of distress.
An energetic performance brings this world to life. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 28 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225080907
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Review Posted Online: Nov. 11, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
