Listeners were first introduced to Bartimaeus, the wisecracking djinni, in THE AMULET OF SAMARKAND. In this prequel, set in ancient Israel, the cynical and outspoken Bartimaeus is forced into servitude to King Solomon. The king has risen to greatness due to the power of a magical ring. After the Queen of Sheba rejects Solomon’s proposal of marriage, Bartimaeus teams up with Ashmira, the loyal captain of Sheba’s guards, to defeat Solomon before he destroys her kingdom. Narrator Simon Jones gives distinct voices to the multitude of characters, each with a unique tone and attitude. Bartimaeus, with his posh British accent, is both lovable and egotistical. Jones’s sense of timing for both humor and intrigue contributes to a spirited performance.
Ages 10+Pub Date: Nov. 9, 2010
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307738622
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A classic story of high adventure and conflict between good and evil placed in the mythical land of Prydain, The Book of Three is read grippingly and enchantingly by Chris King. Vocal switches are mostly smooth with a few minor pronunciation slips which are quickly corrected. King's voice is clear, easy to understand and memorable, giving the listener a sense of the characters as well as a pronunciation guide to those incredible Gaelic names Alexander uses. Both the characters and the story linger in the mind's eye because of the quality of narration. This is surely a reading that can be listened to again and again and will leave the listeners asking for the entire Prydain series on tape.
AGES 8+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Posy Bates is back, this time with a dog left over from a pet show. Back also are baby Fred and her friend, Sam. But the star of the show is Posy herself, an energetic nine-year-old with a penchant for misadventure. Judy Bennett's rendering of each of the characters in this episodic family story is right on the mark. Her enunciation and impeccable timing clarify the idiomatic text so that its unusual words become another aspect of the book's pleasure. The irrepressible Posy is her greatest challenge, and Bennett gets high marks. She bubbles with enthusiasm, wails and squeals, and dies over and over again. "It's positively brilling!"
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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