“This whole book’s a poem,” Lonnie says. And it is. Jacqueline Woodson’s poetry unfolds in the story of Lonnie Collins Motion (Locomotion). Lonnie is in fifth grade. His teacher, Ms. Marcus, tells him he has a “poet’s heart.” In a series of haiku, sonnets, epistles, and occasion poems, Lonnie’s poetry remembers the smell of his mother’s honeysuckle talc, shells clicking in a pretty girl’s braids, and yellow curtains on his sister’s window. Narrator JD Jackson is splendid reading Lonnie’s unself-conscious, revealing poems. Jackson creates a believable 11-year-old whose innocence is tinged with too much knowing. The terrible loss of Lonnie’s parents, his deep love for his little sister, and his growing awareness of racial inequity are all enhanced by Jackson’s performance. Woodson’s novel-in-verse is well worth hearing.
(Fiction. 9-13)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2003
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth.
Kestrel and her mother leave the home in California they share with Kestrel's grandfather, a pastor, to stay at a wildlife conservation institute in Montana. Narrator Mirai's youthful voice is a natural fit for this story of a young girl who at first resents being tricked into leaving California, but who later comes to realize that moving away from their strict home life was the right choice. Mirai employs distinctive voices for the adults, like Kestrel's stern grandfather and her uncertain mother, who begins gaining confidence. An author's note at the end discusses emotional abuse and how to find help.
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth. (Verse fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 42 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668175507
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: July 18, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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