What boy could resist Scieszka's stories of growing up with five brothers? With a smile in his voice, he talks about games of slaughterball, broken collarbones, and tying up the babysitter. His conversational style makes for an intimate memoir. Unfortunately, the audiobook format does not allow listeners to pore over the print book's enlightening photographs from Scieszka's childhood. And children using the production as a read-along may be confused when they encounter the print book’s references to the photos. Those concerns aside, the chapters (including a bonus audio chapter) are meticulously paced and technically clean. The author’s even delivery will allow a young audience to squeeze every ounce of pleasure out of the cheesy jokes and gross sensibility that make Scieszka every boy's hero.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Aug. 20, 2009
Duration: 2 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ken Coleman's expertise as a baseball announcer enriches this history of the Boston Red Sox since the sale of Babe Ruth to the N.Y. Yankees. He leads off with a grim account of this transaction, which started the curse that has plagued the Red Sox ever since. The sermon-like tone will amuse non-believers and comfort listeners who are certain the team is cursed. Like the ups and downs of Boston's play through the years, the narrator's voice fluctuates--exuberant and then despondent--in tone and tempo accurately reflecting the mood of any given baseball season. The narrator is very successful at conveying the emotional roller coaster ride Red Sox fans have endured as a result of the curse of the Bambino.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This production reflects both the sweep of history and the intimate resilience of one family.
A talented ensemble cast brings this fictionalized graphic memoir to life in a vivid, fully immersive listening experience. Young Carlos, voiced by Cuban American narrator Giordan Diaz, anchors the story with a performance that captures innocence, fear, and curiosity as revolution begins to shadow his childhood in Cuba. Daniel Miyares narrates in a steady, serious tone, skillfully weaving the historical context of 1950s Cuba into the family’s perilous journey toward Key West, Florida. The contrast between his grounded narration and the emotionally charged family scenes adds depth and authenticity. Cuban music and layered sound design, like rolling waves, hushed conversations, and distant protesters, create a cinematic atmosphere.
This production reflects both the sweep of history and the intimate resilience of one family. (Graphic memoir. 8-12)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 1 hr, 27 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217346066
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: March 10, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: yesterday
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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