LeBron James's mother, Gloria James, gives authenticity to this audiobook by the NBA champion and cultural icon. In a rich, clear voice, she narrates his upbeat, motivational "I Promise" pledge, which encourages kids to be resilient, respectful, imaginative, hardworking, persistent, and true to themselves. James uses Black vernacular pronunciations throughout (for example, "ax" instead of "ask"). While this brings a sense of warmth and realness to the narration, James's performance lacks dramatic power. The rhyming cadence can sound repetitive without pauses or vocal variation to signal emphasis. Nevertheless, even without the illustrations, the words will inspire kids to think about their own futures and strive for greatness. A closing note helps listeners develop their own promises to themselves and their communities.
(Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 11, 2020
Duration: 4 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063026841
Publisher: Harper Audio
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
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth.
Kestrel and her mother leave the home in California they share with Kestrel's grandfather, a pastor, to stay at a wildlife conservation institute in Montana. Narrator Mirai's youthful voice is a natural fit for this story of a young girl who at first resents being tricked into leaving California, but who later comes to realize that moving away from their strict home life was the right choice. Mirai employs distinctive voices for the adults, like Kestrel's stern grandfather and her uncertain mother, who begins gaining confidence. An author's note at the end discusses emotional abuse and how to find help.
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth. (Verse fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 42 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668175507
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2026
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