"Easy Readers," books written for children just beginning to read, are among the most difficult books to record successfully. But leave it to seasoned reader Christina Moore to find a way! Moore overcomes the inherent textual limitations of short sentences, simple constructions and repetitive vocabulary to produce a collection of excellent audiobooks that will appeal equally to the emergent reader following along in a book and to the sibling or parent listening for pleasure. Moore's pacing and expression enhance and enliven the simple texts. Subtle vocal differentiation allows the listener to distinguish between best friends Pinky and Rex, while the exaggerated, often whiny, voice of Pinky's younger sister offers a fine counterpoint. High on emotion, the tone and emphasis in all dialogue are appropriate and authentic. Every library serving young children should clear a space for the entire Pinky and Rex audiobook collection!
Ages 8+Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1997
Duration: 15 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
While narrator Liam Aiken evokes the wistful, dolorous tone of Snicket’s second mystery in his All the Wrong Questions series, he fails to deliver Snicket’s signature snark with appropriate vigor. In this episode, the main character, 12-year-old Lemony Snicket, continues the investigations that began in STAIN’D BY THE SEA with the case of the missing chemist, Cleo Knight. As Aiken delivers Snicket’s declarative sentences in a deadpan voice, his remote reading keeps listeners distant from the story. Furthermore, Aiken does not always play up the quirks of the town’s eccentric characters. When he does use individualized voicings, the story shakes off its languidness to some degree. Aiken’s melancholy narration echoes Snicket’s loneliness but doesn’t enliven the recording for young listeners. An attached PDF file includes the character Seth’s illustrations.
(Mystery. 8-14)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2013
Duration: 4 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781478924845
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Jeff Harding voices the many impactful moments of 1919 in this engaging nonfiction audiobook. From women activists fighting for the right to vote to the Red Scare and civil rights riots, Sandler draws parallels to today's social issues. Harding matches 1919's cadence with a forward-moving pace. He uses different accents for quotations, though the women and people of color might have been better served with a diverse cast. The asides and timelines that appear in the text also are in the audio. Full of fascinating stories put into a modern context, this audiobook offers much to learn about an eventful year and ponders the big questions of our current time.
(Nonfiction. 11-16)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2020
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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