[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with THE JOURNEY, SAVING SWEETNESS, and THE STRAY DOG.]--One of the joys of fall is the release of a wonderful crop of new audiobooks. All four of these selections from Live Oak Media are extremely well done--clear sound, appropriate music that enhances the telling but never becomes the focus, and perfectly cast narrators. In SAVING SWEETNESS, Tom Bodett provides just the right long, slow drawl for this Old West sheriff--not too bright but with a good heart. Bodett's fairly flat narration promotes visions of vast open desert and a slow, easygoing lifestyle. William Dufris, narrating Simont's THE STRAY DOG, also reads at a slow pace, allowing young readers time to take in the illustrations. In a story with little text, Dufris manages to convey the varied emotions the family goes through as they find, lose, then recover a charming stray dog; Dufris imbues the story with warmth and joy to accompany the exuberant illustrations. THE CHICKEN SISTERS, another silly story by Laura Numeroff, is brought to life with the slow, easy pace and wonderfully diverse voices of Barbara Rosenblat. Over soft clucking sounds in the background, Rosenblat gives each character a distinct, identifying voice. Over half the pages of THE JOURNEY have no text. Classical music pieces, perfectly suited to Hannah's moods and environment, enhance the story. Narrator Daisy Egan delightfully juxtaposes spunky Hannah's two very different worlds--her breathless excitement amid the crazy, lonely bustle of the city and her homesickness for the peaceful, supportive community of home. A wonderful choice for a one-on-one book or an independent reader, with many layers to consider for older readers.
Ages 6+Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 9 mins
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ladji’s appealing performance gives an extra spark as both girl and horse rise from those mythical ashes.
Emma Ladji brings empathy and authenticity to this tale of a kid whose life blows up when her dad cheats with her best friend’s mom. Harper and her mom move to a new town and into a teeny house next to a barn. Although Harper has no particular interest in horses, that changes when a kill truck dumps a neglected, almost-dead horse in her yard. As Harper finds a new purpose in saving her horse—whom she names Phoenix, of course—she connects with her barn neighbors. Ladji has fun creating voices for the quirky and diverse group—fiery little Emma, Puerto Rican Dante, and Night, who prefers gender-neutral pronouns.
Ladji’s appealing performance gives an extra spark as both girl and horse rise from those mythical ashes. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 3 hrs, 55 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280902
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
Gosage delivers these scientifically sound oceanic anecdotes with an easy-listening appeal.
Narrator Ellie Gosage speaks to middle-grade listeners as a friend, her tone changing with each ocean-themed topic. Gosage’s conversational narration reflects the book’s plain language. Her tone ranges from amused, as in “Blubber Blunder,” about a town’s attempt to destroy an 8-ton whale carcass with a half-ton of dynamite, to impressed, as in “The (Dog’s) Nose Knows,” about one dog’s unique ability to locate floating whale poop from a half-mile away while on a boat. (The excrement is used to capture DNA information.) In a chapter about a grieving orca, Gosage’s narration is especially soulful.
Gosage delivers these scientifically sound oceanic anecdotes with an easy-listening appeal. (10-12)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
Duration: 3 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217172764
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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