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. (Nonfiction. 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
A thoughtful and surprisingly exciting real-life adventure tale about survival and community.
In June 2023, an unknown person abandoned four pet rabbits in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Heights Park. Over the following weeks, neighbors of all ages came together to track and trap the bunnies. Narrator Amy Jensen seamlessly blends humor with a more serious tone as she guides listeners through the extensive rescue operation as well as the origins of the park, the history of rabbit domestication, and the backgrounds of the folks who spent long, tiring days crawling through ivy and scrub to bring the rabbits to safety. Jensen’s cheerful, child-friendly tones are informative and straightforward, including when she details the highs and lows of animal rescue beyond the immediate thrill of success.
A thoughtful and surprisingly exciting real-life adventure tale about survival and community. (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
Duration: 3 hrs, 20 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668659199
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 24, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
Wilson has listeners rooting for two lost souls, dog and human, to find each other amid great loss.
Mara Wilson brings her acting chops to her narration of this middle-grade novel about a stray dog and a frightened boy searching for each other. Following a devastating fire, Wombat the dog, who is afraid of humans, follows her intuition to find the one human waiting for her. Henry, frightened of dogs, finds his way to a family shelter where Wombat awaits. Can Wombat help Henry conquer his fears of dogs, fire, and insecurity? Wilson tackles tough emotions like fear, loss, grief, and uncertainty in a comforting, inviting tone, whether she’s voicing Wombat or Henry. Even the darkest moments hold notes of hope and encouragement.
Wilson has listeners rooting for two lost souls, dog and human, to find each other amid great loss. (Verse fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 11 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063221208
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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