Great music, sound effects--particularly of appreciative onlookers--and Marilyn Singer's spirited narration will have even the most confirmed non-dancer getting up to move to this music! Lively poems capture the beat of the dances described, inspiring beginners and more seasoned hoofers alike. Singer's lovely pronunciation adds atmosphere as she takes listeners to each dance's country of origin. Original music by Jonathon Roberts is the perfect addition to performances that range from hip-hop to the waltz, the square dance, and Bhangra. Singer closes with informative notes on the accompanying instruments and the traditions associated with each dance. For example, the hora is for Jewish celebrations, including bar and bat mitzvahs. Listeners will find her exuberant manner of counting beats delightful.
(Picture book/poetry. 6-11)Pub Date: March 7, 2017
Duration: 12 mins
DD ISBN: 9781524777173
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Robinson makes listeners squirm with her performance of young campers facing a dystopian future.
Rioghnach Robinson channels middle school energy to narrate this story of Anna-Jane, who is excited to be returning to summer camp with friends. But this year will be different: News of a rapidly spreading virus is reported right before people outside camp start disappearing and mutated animals start appearing. The campers soon realize that no rescue is coming, and they must work together to survive while waiting out the virus. Robinson beautifully captures the emotional arc of the tweens, from delighted campers to terrified children to determined survivors. She conveys the thrill of young love and the volatility of friendship and believably characterizes both bullies and a science nerd.
Robinson makes listeners squirm with her performance of young campers facing a dystopian future. (Verse apocalyptic adventure. 9-13)Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 21 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217172788
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: April 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
A disappointment.
Narrator JJ Hawkins gives voice to the hurt and anger eighth grader Jasper, an autistic trans boy, feels when his older brother goes off to college while Jasper channels his emotions into digging for fossils in the backyard. It can’t be possible…but then a saber-toothed tiger speaks telepathically to Jasper from beneath the earth. What could be cooler? Unfortunately, Gow’s free verse poems emphasize Jasper’s roiling emotions over plotting and pacing, with the result that listeners spend more time hearing how Jasper feels than they do experiencing the suspense of discovery and the excitement that ensues. Hawkins does his best to lend Jasper some nuance, but his efforts can go only so far with a character who is written as an exposed raw nerve.
A disappointment. (Verse fiction. 11-14)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798349108426
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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