Kudos to Lorna Raver for knowing her characters and narrating them to a tee. In this third of the Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Baby Lincoln, who is actually a gray-haired lady, walks out the door, having packed a suitcase to set off on a “necessary journey.” Raver’s pacing mirrors the deliberateness of each character’s speech and actions. Her Baby Lincoln is understated, kindly, and resolved. As Baby's bossy older sister, Eugenia, Raver is cantankerous and feisty. Without melodrama or exaggeration, Raver underscores the joys of dreaming, friendship, and sisterly love. On her train ride, Baby encounters a spot-on train conductor, a forthright young woman who shares jellybeans, a fearful boy traveling alone, and a fur-coated gentleman, all of whom in their own special way boost Baby’s confidence. Raver’s presentation of DiCamillo’s nuanced language invites multiple listenings.
(Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016
Duration: 1 hr
DD ISBN: 9780553396133
Publisher: Listening Library
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
Author Daniel Nayeri voices his story of a grandmother who is guiding her grandchild through the steps of weaving a traditional Persian rug. The eager child tells the story with an eye toward creating the perfect rug, but Grandma encourages her young assistant to recognize that perfection is not the goal. Instead, the rug needs to be right for its purpose. Young listeners unfamiliar with Persian rug designs who read the print edition alongside this audiobook will benefit from seeing its vivid watercolor illustrations. But all listeners will hear what Nayeri's warm tones clearly convey. This sweet family story is told with Nayeri's affection for his culture and its intergenerational traditions.
(Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 25, 2025
Duration: 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217156924
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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