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SMILE!

A photographer named "Flash" finds himself in a remote desert after a plane crash. All he has is an instant camera when children rescue him and take him to their home. The villagers are instantly entranced. They call him a magician and think the photographs are paintings. Narrator Richard Morant beautifully and deliberately tells this imaginative story. As the number of pictures Flash can take dwindles, he must decide who and what to photograph. Listeners learn about different concepts of beauty as the story asks the question: does one want to be remembered as young and vibrant or old and accomplished? The surprise ending is perfect for this unique tale.

Ages 8+

Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2005

Duration: 1 hr, 15 mins

Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America

Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026

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    THE BOOK OF THREE

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    A classic story of high adventure and conflict between good and evil placed in the mythical land of Prydain, The Book of Three is read grippingly and enchantingly by Chris King. Vocal switches are mostly smooth with a few minor pronunciation slips which are quickly corrected. King's voice is clear, easy to understand and memorable, giving the listener a sense of the characters as well as a pronunciation guide to those incredible Gaelic names Alexander uses. Both the characters and the story linger in the mind's eye because of the quality of narration. This is surely a reading that can be listened to again and again and will leave the listeners asking for the entire Prydain series on tape.

    AGES 8+

    Pub Date: N/A

    Duration: 5 hrs

    Publisher: Listening Library

    Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026

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      POSY BATES, AGAIN

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      Posy Bates is back, this time with a dog left over from a pet show. Back also are baby Fred and her friend, Sam. But the star of the show is Posy herself, an energetic nine-year-old with a penchant for misadventure. Judy Bennett's rendering of each of the characters in this episodic family story is right on the mark. Her enunciation and impeccable timing clarify the idiomatic text so that its unusual words become another aspect of the book's pleasure. The irrepressible Posy is her greatest challenge, and Bennett gets high marks. She bubbles with enthusiasm, wails and squeals, and dies over and over again. "It's positively brilling!"

      Pub Date: N/A

      Duration: 1 hr

      Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers

      Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026

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