Erin Stewart and Forrest Goodluck alternate narrating this WWII story featuring 11-year-old Billie Packer and Denny, a Marine Navajo code talker. Stewart captures Billie's spunkiness as well as the sadness she feels at her brother Leo's going off to war. Depictions of her friends, the home front, and wartime efforts add atmosphere to the story. In particular, Billie's guardian, no-nonsense Great-Aunt Doff, is one of Stewart's best creations. When Leo returns home with his friend, Denny, Goodluck's more restrained style fits his Navajo reserve. Most moving are Denny's rescue of Bear, an injured dog that Billie nurses back to health, and depictions of Bear's spirit protecting Denny on the battlefield. Only a small section focuses on the code talkers, but it's gripping to hear how their words were chosen to convey vital information and bypass enemy spies.
(Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: April 24, 2018
Duration: 4 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781338276985
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The combination of sound effects and Quinn's exaggerated character voices make this animation for the ears.
Joshua Quinn narrates this short book featuring Waffles, a friendly dog who wants a hug, and his haughty housemate, Julius the cat. Quinn gives each a fitting voice—eager and goofy for Waffles, slow and somewhat disdainful for Julius. The two interact in typical cat and dog fashion. Classic cartoon-style sound effects accompany Waffles' attempts to hug his friend. Boings, zings, cymbal crashes, howling, meowing, and more punctuate the music and narration. Julius is not interested in hugs. After a day of trying, Waffles finally settles down for a nap to the sound of a music box lullaby. A tired Julius snuggles in beside him.
The combination of sound effects and Quinn's exaggerated character voices make this animation for the ears. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 7 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250443540
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: July 7, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
Devon warmly depicts a quirky and loving family with his engaging performance.
Narrator Chris Devon returns for a bravura performance of this sweet, silly, and poignant second installment in Wood’s series. Seagull Gully and badger Septimus are busy raising their three chicks, and an already hectic household becomes that much more chaotic when a group of forest badgers comes for an extended visit. They want to dig a den where?! With his British accent and excellent pronunciation of Italian words, Devon immerses listeners in their various adventures and misadventures and conjures the many delights of the seaside town where they live. Gully’s dialogue consists exclusively of “Caw,” and Devon injects impressive variation and emotion into each utterance.
Devon warmly depicts a quirky and loving family with his engaging performance. (Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 52 mins
DD ISBN: 9798349115998
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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