Alison McGhee is a talented writer, but these skills haven't transitioned well to her narration of this co-authored audiobook. The alternating human and animal stories--character driven and and slow paced--require a gifted narrator to engage listeners. McGhee's reading is self-conscious, often stilted and sentimental. The protagonist of the human story is Jules, who grieves the sudden, shocking death of her sister, Sylvie. McGhee voices this sensitive plot with a breathy rhythm that may express grief but doesn't do Jules's strong emotions justice. The secondary story follows a growing fox cub, and listeners must suspend disbelief to trust the authors' magical realism and enjoy the lyrical words that connect the two stories. Perhaps this audio would have had better success with a more accomplished narrator.
(Fantasy. 9-13)Pub Date: March 8, 2016
Duration: 4 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781442394360
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In her clear, expressive voice, bilingual narrator M.L. Sanchez tells the exciting story of mouse siblings Vida and Máximo. The town of Moustepec was once happy, but the threat of a cat forces residents to stay home. There are no more fiestas, no more fireworks, and no more music. When a scary encounter with the cat results in Vida's dream about a fantastical creature called an alebrije, it inspires a plan to get rid of the cat once and for all with the help of the whole town. An extensive author's note offers a history of the Mexican tradition of the alebrije; another note reveals the story's inspiration. Sanchez's pacing adds to this enjoyable adventure for young listeners.
(Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2025
Duration: 12 mins
DD ISBN: 9798349108686
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Robb Moreira summons a mythic tone for this original spinoff of the Aztec creation story. In Higuera's story, the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl's lesser-known brother, Xolotl, recounts "what really happened." Xolo has a dog's head, paws, and, most importantly, a love of humankind. Moreira's declamatory tones suit the epic nature of the story but also sometimes flatten the nuances of Higuera's characterizations. Listeners who don't seek out the print edition to accompany the audiobook will miss illustrator Mariana Ruiz Johnson's strikingly stylized figures, colorfully lush design, and critical narrative detail that's often communicated only in the illustrations. Those who do read and listen will occasionally find themselves zooming past wordless sequences that demand close attention. Both otherworldly and sweet--and perhaps best enjoyed in print.
(Mythology. 7-10)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
Duration: 1 hr
DD ISBN: 9798899735035
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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