"Please look after this bear." Thus begins the classic children's story, written in 1958, of a bear from darkest Peru, picked up by the Brown family at Paddington Station. Michael Bond's story is indubitably British, and Stephen Fry's Paddington is delightfully grave and proper, earnestly well-meaning in spite of his frequent misadventures both domestic and around London. Fry is facile with myriad British accents from Cockney cabbies to Portobello Road shopkeepers, and his comic timing and subtle delivery accentuate the book's sly humor. A welcome bonus: CD tracks are clearly marked, making it easy to resume where one leaves off or to locate a favorite chapter. Settle in with a cuppa and sometoast and marmalade and queue up the CD player for perfect family listening. J.M.D. 2006 Audie Award Finalist© AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
Ages 6+Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2005
Duration: 2 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 006084065X
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Reader Michael Prichard delivers a convincing rendition of Archie Goodwin, the burly right hand of the portly Nero Wolfe, world-renowned gourmand and detective. Prichard preserves the 1970s setting and 1950s origins of the story, bringing listeners a well-paced narration of murder and politics--a combination of elements that usually guarantees an exciting listen. This audio entertainment is as well formed and fragrant as one of Wolfe's hothouse orchids (the stout sleuth cultivates them by the hundreds in his town house greenhouse) as Goodwin walks us through an explosive murder investigation and political wheeling and dealing in a tough yet intelligent read.
Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2006
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Partners
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This collection of eight short stories contains gentle tales of fantasy and magic--not the magic of wizards and wands, but of wishing mats and enormous cats and gifts brought by the winds. In a lovely English accent, Lizza Aiken quietly narrates these stories in which magic and good fortune often come to those who deserve it. Although her pitch changes little, she registers a range of emotions--from the sadness of a girl whose necklace of raindrops has been stolen to the joy of a child who moves from a hard life and a ramshackle trailer to a happy home amid the clouds. A NECKLACE OF RAINDROPS would make a soothing choice for a family car trip after a long day.
Ages 6+Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
Duration: 1 hr, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101915721
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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