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THE HIPPO AT THE END OF THE HALL

Narrator Matthew Lloyd Davies introduces listeners to Ben, a curious and persistent English boy who's about to uncover an amazing secret about his family. Davies conjures a dreary London setting with a tempo that lulls the listener. Despite the slow pace of his surroundings, young Ben is voiced by Davies with excited notes of intrigue as he explores a long-forgotten museum and finds peculiar artifacts inside. Davies portrays a host of characters seamlessly, including Constance Garner-Gee, the museum's curator; Tara Snow, a greedy collector of curiosities; and an array of other exhibits--even a hippo and a witch--that all interact with Ben throughout the story. This well-narrated tale of determination and magic is sure to be enjoyed.

(Fantasy. 8-10)

Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2019

Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins

DD ISBN: 9781978665378

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

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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