“Snow in Vermont is as common as snowflakes.” So said all of Wilson Bentley’s neighbors, and they scorned his passion for observing and photographing snow. Yet, with the passage of time, Bentley’s “gift to the world” became crystal clear, and Jericho, Vermont, took pride in the magnificent accomplishments of Snowflake Bentley. This gentle production reflects the gentle man portrayed. Sean Astin’s voice is quiet, calm, and focused as he describes the determination and precision with which Bentley worked winter after winter for a lifetime. Musical snow “falls” lightly in the background. The recording offers options for listening both with and without the book. It’s a credit to the production that both versions flow meaningfully. An additional treasure is artist Mary Azarian’s woodcuts, for which she won a Caldecott Medal.
Ages 4-6Pub Date: 2003
Duration: 15 mins
Publisher: Weston Woods Studios
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Playful music and Emma Lysy's cheerful narration animate this brief but thoroughly enchanting audiobook for young listeners. The whimsical story unfolds as Little Star can't resist slipping out of bed every night to nibble on the delicious mooncake that her mother baked and hung in the sky to cool. In a story reminiscent of trickster folklore, Little Star's mischievous nibbling slowly diminishes the big, round mooncake in an imaginative allegory of the phases of the waning moon. Lysy's lively delivery enhances the growing sense of anticipation as Little Star wonders whether her mother notices the changes with each passing night. This is a delightful listening experience, and Grace Lin's Caldecott Honor award-winning picture-book illustrations can provide a stunning visual complement.
(Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: 2020
Duration: 4 mins
DD ISBN: 9781549104497
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Shy, unpopular Code is miserable when his grandfather disappears. His life goes from bad to bizarre when, on a school field trip, he trips over a hole and winds up in Mek Mound—once an ancient Okalahoman pyramid, now a land of metallic robots that threaten Earth. David Ackroyd’s narration is solid and precise. He gives a human sound to a myriad of robot personalities—a windy-voiced curmudgeon of an inventor, Code’s chatty robot buddy, and their threatening nemesis, Immortalis. Ackroyd delivers Code’s fears and hopes, as well as moments of humor, as he searches for a way to free his grandfather and vanquish the mechanical villains.
Ages 8+Pub Date: 2011
Duration: 4 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307915245
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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