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
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth.
Kestrel and her mother leave the home in California they share with Kestrel's grandfather, a pastor, to stay at a wildlife conservation institute in Montana. Narrator Mirai's youthful voice is a natural fit for this story of a young girl who at first resents being tricked into leaving California, but who later comes to realize that moving away from their strict home life was the right choice. Mirai employs distinctive voices for the adults, like Kestrel's stern grandfather and her uncertain mother, who begins gaining confidence. An author's note at the end discusses emotional abuse and how to find help.
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth. (Verse fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 42 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668175507
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2026
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