Narrator Stina Nielsen's light Southern accent gently draws listeners into a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Annie P. Logan's mother left the family years ago. Ever since then, unasked questions and fading memories have nurtured Annie's belief that her life is unlucky. Feeling ignored and misunderstood by her dad and her brother, Annie escapes into drawing and daydreaming. Then, she makes a foolish decision that changes everything. A tangle of unexpected events involving an elderly woman and her beloved dog teaches Annie how to look beyond "luck" and discover what defines who a person truly is. Nielsen's nuanced first-person narration captures Annie's expressive personality and enhances the other character portrayals, as well.
(Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2021
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: N/A
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
Edwards gives a soulful performance.
Young Juniper visits her grandmother's house, where Grandma tells her about their ancestors from Africa and their practice of hoodoo. Together, Juniper and Grandma tend to the garden, go for walks in the woods, attend church, create herb-filled mojo bags, and visit the cemetery to place offerings for their ancestors, whom Grandma says are always with them. Narrator Janina Edwards conveys Grandma’s wisdom with an earthy and relaxed narration, expressing a clear connection with the natural world, a refuge for both of them. Edwards also handily portrays Juniper's sense of wonder as she navigates this spiritual connection, inspiring listeners to pay attention to the world around them.
Edwards gives a soulful performance. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Duration: 13 mins
DD ISBN: 9798349168703
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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