Narrator Abby Craden's vocal gravitas works well with this sobering audiobook about preparing children for 21st-century adulthood. Beyond her intuitive connection with every phrase and sentence, Craden's performance expresses Madeline Levine's altruism as faithfully as her desire to wake up parents who have fallen into bad habits or are unsure about what good parenting is. A psychologist and educator best known for her arguments against overparenting, Levine offers big-picture observations and suggestions that may seem overly intellectual at first. But Craden's performance softens the writing and helps listeners absorb the core message: Children benefit when parents are less anxious, less quick to protect them, and more accepting of their child's priorities.
Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2020
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062984692
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An impassioned and inspiring manifesto on telling good stories.
In an unadorned but sincere and appealing performance, Barnett’s enthusiasm for children’s literature comes through loud and clear. The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature makes a convincing case for the importance of children’s literature as an art form, and the importance of recognizing kids as creative, imaginative, discerning readers in their own right. As anyone who has read or listened to Barnett’s books for children knows, he’s funny, and that humor adds to the listening experience, especially when he shares personal stories or interrupts himself to deliver frequent footnotes. A couple of small changes from the print book make the production specific to audiobook listeners.
An impassioned and inspiring manifesto on telling good stories.Pub Date: today
Duration: 2 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668657096
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Perceptive and thoughtful, this journey becomes both a search for old friends and a moving act of self-discovery.
McCarthy entices listeners with this charming blend of travel writing and an exploration of aging and male friendship. On a sprawling road trip across America to reconnect with five friends who shaped his life, McCarthy encounters people who deepen his contemplation of how friendships evolve over time, especially for men. McCarthy is an easygoing storyteller and his congenial narration matches his writing style. His engaging voice, playful and warm, captures the rich personalities of the people he meets as well as the character of the iconic and obscure places he passes along the way.
Perceptive and thoughtful, this journey becomes both a search for old friends and a moving act of self-discovery.Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 2 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668653906
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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