The author of SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL addresses new baby jealousy in her trademark forthright, yet sensitive, manner when Cassie refuses to acknowledge that her beloved mother, Sarah, is pregnant. Mingled with the story of Cassie learning to share are the sights and sounds of nineteenth-century farm life, making for a full-hearted rural tale. MacLachlan's writing has a sincere sweetness that Glenn Close's narration emphasizes. An adult may find the result slightly cloying, but it captivates young lis-teners. It's gentle and exquisitely articulated, and the pacing is superb, pausing at the right emotional moments, speeding up when Cassie is flustered. Very nicely done. A.C.S. 2005 ALA Notable Recording (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
Ages 8+Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2004
Duration: 1 hr
DD ISBN: 006081831X
Publisher: Harper Audio
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
Author Daniel Nayeri voices his story of a grandmother who is guiding her grandchild through the steps of weaving a traditional Persian rug. The eager child tells the story with an eye toward creating the perfect rug, but Grandma encourages her young assistant to recognize that perfection is not the goal. Instead, the rug needs to be right for its purpose. Young listeners unfamiliar with Persian rug designs who read the print edition alongside this audiobook will benefit from seeing its vivid watercolor illustrations. But all listeners will hear what Nayeri's warm tones clearly convey. This sweet family story is told with Nayeri's affection for his culture and its intergenerational traditions.
(Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 25, 2025
Duration: 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217156924
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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