Jack Prelutsky, our country's first Children's Poet Laureate, has conceived 16 different species of creatures such as stardines, magpipes, and jollyfish to delight a young audience. His clever wordplay and humor are ideal to capture even those unaccustomed to poetry. Prelutsky's spirited narration adds to the joy. Listeners will learn that plandas plan but never do anything; they just keep making plans. Subtle lessons emerge as tattlesnakes, described as nosy, mean, and annoying: "You don't mind your business, and we don't like your style." Most charming are the fountain lions, who are not predatory but must drink and drink to keep a fountain in the pink. Pronunciation is clear and conducive to vocabulary building, and the zestful presentation keeps listeners attentive.
. (Picture book/poetry. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 26, 2013
Duration: 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062224552
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrators John Lithgow and Kate Mulgrew alternately share poems and songs created by Fred Rogers for his long-standing television show. Rogers's messages affirm children and give voice to the myriad feelings, good and bad, that all people feel from time to time. Wonder, joy, questions, exploration, outsides and insides, a new baby, one-of-a-kindness, needs emotional and material are examples of the breadth of Rogers's words. Lithgow's voice has its own richness, reminiscent of Rogers's own. His tone is firm and straightforward. When his voice expresses the anger of a poem, for example, he soon becomes calm as the anger fades. Kate Mulgrew is equally genuine and sets a pace for children's consideration of each message.
(Poetry. 3-8)Pub Date: March 19, 2019
Duration: 1 hr, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781683691808
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Updike’s 12 poems celebrate the changing seasons with images that might catch a child’s eye. His verses, some of which are very lovely, focus on changes in the natural world (from snow to mud to crocuses) and on celebrations that accompany these changes (Christmas, Valentine's, Fourth of July). Each verse ends with a sound image that connects to the month’s poem (such as the sound of fireworks or baseball heard on TV). Updike’s presentation is earnest. While he sometimes overemphasizes line breaks in his poems, he has a kind voice and reads carefully, allowing time for children to enjoy the lovely gem-like illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.
Ages 4-6Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2004
Duration: 13 mins
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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