In a future when an environmental disaster has changed life as we know it, 12-year-old Yolanda Cicerón and her older sister, Camila, live alone on a struggling strawberry farm in the Valley. Narrator Kyla Garcia aptly captures their shifting sibling dynamics of caretaking, bickering, and keeping and sharing secrets, and she switches seamlessly between the mix of English and Spanish that Yoly and Cami use. The action ramps up quickly--everyone is connected to an internet-like network, but can the technology be trusted? And why is their abuelita's shed filled with research about honeybees? While the fast-moving plot sometimes challenges the listener's suspension of disbelief, the messages about protecting the natural world, resisting oppression, and working together as a community are compelling and inspiring.
(Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: July 12, 2022
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063007048
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In her clear, expressive voice, bilingual narrator M.L. Sanchez tells the exciting story of mouse siblings Vida and Máximo. The town of Moustepec was once happy, but the threat of a cat forces residents to stay home. There are no more fiestas, no more fireworks, and no more music. When a scary encounter with the cat results in Vida's dream about a fantastical creature called an alebrije, it inspires a plan to get rid of the cat once and for all with the help of the whole town. An extensive author's note offers a history of the Mexican tradition of the alebrije; another note reveals the story's inspiration. Sanchez's pacing adds to this enjoyable adventure for young listeners.
(Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2025
Duration: 12 mins
DD ISBN: 9798349108686
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Robb Moreira summons a mythic tone for this original spinoff of the Aztec creation story. In Higuera's story, the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl's lesser-known brother, Xolotl, recounts "what really happened." Xolo has a dog's head, paws, and, most importantly, a love of humankind. Moreira's declamatory tones suit the epic nature of the story but also sometimes flatten the nuances of Higuera's characterizations. Listeners who don't seek out the print edition to accompany the audiobook will miss illustrator Mariana Ruiz Johnson's strikingly stylized figures, colorfully lush design, and critical narrative detail that's often communicated only in the illustrations. Those who do read and listen will occasionally find themselves zooming past wordless sequences that demand close attention. Both otherworldly and sweet--and perhaps best enjoyed in print.
(Mythology. 7-10)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
Duration: 1 hr
DD ISBN: 9798899735035
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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