Christine Lakin's enthusiasm and authenticity lure the listener into the world of beavers. Author Leila Philip casts a wide net as she delves into their cultural significance for some North American tribes, stresses how vitally important beaver dams are to clean water even today, and recounts how John Jacob Astor became rich from trading beaver skins. Lakin clearly conveys the respect and empathy that Philip has for trappers, fur traders, and environmentalists alike, despite their being on different sides of the political spectrum. Lakin captures the lighter moments, too. She sounds as weirdly fascinated as we are by the "beaver lady" who let more than a dozen beavers live in her home even though they sometimes chewed the legs off her furniture.
Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781549162848
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
While Tapper is a hortatory narrator of his own work, his audiobook deserves to be heard.
Tapper’s hopeful tone separates this audiobook from gloomier environmental writing. According to Tapper, forests can be managed, species can be saved, and we can embrace the wonders that remain. While recognizing the loss of species and habitats and threats to the environment due to climate change and other factors, he points out how resilient trees and animals are. And he knows what he’s talking about. A longtime professional forester, Tapper is also a dedicated birder who restored 175 desolate acres in Vermont. He dubbed it Bear Island, and it’s now a thriving forest with an emerging orchard.
While Tapper is a hortatory narrator of his own work, his audiobook deserves to be heard.Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 22 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668660348
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2026
This gentle work celebrates the butterflies of Denmark and the beauty that is the natural world.
Like the subjects themselves, this catalog of Danish butterflies is a delicate and vocally colorful experience. Listeners expecting a kind of field guide to butterflies need to be prepared for much more. The author writes about the 64 species native to her home country of Denmark and her quest to see them all in one year, but the real focus is almost a love song to the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Ela Lee’s narration exactly suits the material. She keeps her voice soft but not somnolent. Her pace and tone allow the author’s words and emotions to sink in. A welcome addition to this audiobook would have been a PDF of the 64 hand-drawn illustrations of the butterflies themselves.
This gentle work celebrates the butterflies of Denmark and the beauty that is the natural world.Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 41 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217406722
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
