Acclaimed author Jason Reynolds nimbly narrates his celebration of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes. Based on a picture of a real party in Hughes's honor at the Schomburg Center, this loving tribute is alive with rhythm. As Reynolds describes how Hughes excelled at making words dance to his tune, he makes his own words dance. He creates an irresistible feedback loop between the poet and the poetry that will have listeners tapping their toes to the beat. In spare but evocative language, Reynolds describes writers Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, and countless others who were inspired by Hughes. The audio production mirrors the picture book's clever use of typeset words to create the pictures themselves.
(Informational picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2023
Duration: 6 mins
DD ISBN: 9798890594921
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Orchestral music filled with the chirping of birds fades into the background as narrator John Pruden begins the story of Central Park in New York City. The two winners of the 1858 design contest, Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted, set out their vision on a ten-foot-long schematic of the new park they called The Greensward. Bubbling fountains, a myriad of bridges, and a skating park were on display, followed by the ungroomed Ramble, and, finally, the children's section. Pruden sets a brisk clip and in unassuming voice lets the story speak for itself. The rumbles of construction, excited voices, and additional orchestration provide background for young listeners. The production concludes with further information about Central Park and its creators.
(Informational picture book. 7-10)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2019
Duration: 23 mins
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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