Fans of celebrated author/illustrator Peter Reynolds will be delighted with this imaginative audio/picture-book production of his modern-day fable. In an engaging style, Reynolds introduces young listeners to Violet, a little girl who loves spending time with her family--especially those precious moments when they are making memories together around their table. When the distractions of technology cause family members to drift apart and the beloved table disappears, it is Violet who must devise a clever plan to bring them all back together. Reynolds enhances his story's evocative imagery through his use of color in simple, expressive illustrations. A playful musical score and subtle sound effects add depth and set the tone for this gentle reminder to prioritize what matters most in our busy lives. S.A.A. 2023 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
(Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2022
Duration: 10 mins
Publisher: Weston Woods Studios
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
A sensitive performance.
Deepa is a precocious 12-year-old girl in remission from leukemia. Under the tutelage of her uncle, a house call doctor, she becomes involved in solving teen tennis player Taio's puzzling medical mystery. Deepa is unsure of herself, but she’s ready to get back to middle school after a year away for treatment. Narrator Soneela Nankani depicts Deepa's desire to be more than the "sick kid" while navigating her youthful insecurities and the social challenges of middle school. Nankani also ably portrays Deepa's growing confidence in herself as she uses her own experience with illness to help figure out what’s wrong with Taio.
A sensitive performance. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 32 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668182833
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 24, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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