Laura Gómez skillfully narrates this touching story of perseverance. Elena loves the garden in her family's home in Puerto Rico, especially the coquí frogs who sing there. When a hurricane nearly destroys the island, the coquíes stop singing, and Elena's beloved mango tree loses all its leaves and fruit. The storm's aftermath saddens and frightens Elena. However, through the power of community, the situation gradually improves. Music and sound effects, such as bird songs and radio static, add lighthearted touches. Gómez sings the words "Coqui, coqui. Oh, I love thee" with tenderness, perfectly conveying Elena's joy and appreciation for the natural world around her. Gómez's accent pairs perfectly with this inspiring story, and her warm tone is engaging.
(Picture book. 6-10)Pub Date: June 27, 2023
Duration: 8 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250900746
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
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
A sensitive performance.
Deepa is a precocious 12-year-old girl in remission from leukemia. Under the tutelage of her uncle, a house call doctor, she becomes involved in solving teen tennis player Taio's puzzling medical mystery. Deepa is unsure of herself, but she’s ready to get back to middle school after a year away for treatment. Narrator Soneela Nankani depicts Deepa's desire to be more than the "sick kid" while navigating her youthful insecurities and the social challenges of middle school. Nankani also ably portrays Deepa's growing confidence in herself as she uses her own experience with illness to help figure out what’s wrong with Taio.
A sensitive performance. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 32 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668182833
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 24, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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