Narrator Angela Dawe conjures the joy of dancing in this enchanting fantasy. At St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theater in 1892, human dancers are preparing to debut Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker ballet. Behind the scenes, the Russian Mouse Ballet Company wonders how they can possibly re-create a ballet in which mice are the enemy. Dawe brings spirit and sweetness to the roles of Esmeralda, the Mouse Ballet's irrepressible new dancer, and Irina, the human girl who discovers a dancing mouse and longs to know more about her. The villains sound appropriately scary, especially the terrifying Gherkin, who plans to rid the theater of mice. Dawe's spot-on pronunciation of French ballet terms and Russian proper names makes this audiobook accessible to young listeners, but the appeal is universal.
(Animal fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Oct. 24, 2017
Duration: 4 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781536685435
Publisher: Brilliance Audio/ Candlewick
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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