Narrator Robin Miles is crisp and pliable of voice--and as upbeat sounding as the five Vanderbeeker children. These skills serve her well as she navigates the topsy-turvy, ever-changing world of the Vanderbeeker family. They may be rescuers, but they sometimes cause problems, too. When Mama's home baking business is threatened, it's the children who come up with many plans to help. Characters include the optimistic and naïve Hyacinth, the anxious twins, the sometimes impractical brother, and the quavery-voiced elders, who are a part of the extended family. Miles's portrayal of Mama Vanderbeeker is at times heartfelt and at times heartbroken. Miles brings all the characters to life with age-appropriate voices and verve.
(Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2019
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501998614
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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