Narrator Lizan Mitchell brings a graceful rhythm and lyrical lilt to this story poem about an African father, Dinga, a blacksmith, and his beloved son, Musafa. When Musafa is taken by slave traders, each of the Mother Elements who have helped to raise Musafa--Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind--attempts to locate him and offer some solace for Dinga's misery. Mitchell's voice is complex--rich yet gentle. She sounds playful and animated as young Musafa and the Mother Elements share time together. In the poignant moments, she varies her pacing and inflection, especially when the Mother Elements tell what they saw when they searched for their "beloved son." Mitchell's trailing-off phrases and long silences underscore the theme of the love and loss that families endure.
(Picture book/poetry. 7-12)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2012
Duration: 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781470334802
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Live Oak Media recently caught our attention with this new read-along book and cassette program. We listened first, and were so delighted we couldn't wait to get the book. The picture book made the experience even better, but the audio recordings was strong and vibrant by itself. THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart's Depression-era story of a young girl sent to live with her Uncle Jim in the city has a sweet, wistful quality with narration alone, but coupled with David Small's soft-edged pencil illustration, it's a total delight. The reading is repeated on both sides of the tape, one with and without page-turning signals.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The plot, performances, and production are funny and engaging and make Pedro’s world feel vibrant and full.
This full cast audio rendition of a graphic memoir conveys the energy and brightness of that visual medium. The story recounts Pedro’s challenging but hopeful and humorous childhood as a migrant farmworker in the U.S., growing up with dreams of a life in the arts. Sound effects and musical interludes punctuate the narrative. Plates rattle as an earthquake shakes a restaurant, and birds sing in the bushes on a berry farm as Pedro’s family works. The animated performances by this large cast, especially the boyish voice of Oscar Emmanuel Fabela as Pedro, are perfect to hook preteen listeners—and adults, too.
The plot, performances, and production are funny and engaging and make Pedro’s world feel vibrant and full. (Graphic memoir. 10-16)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
Duration: 3 hrs, 38 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217349708
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Sept. 22, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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