Janet Metzger exuberantly introduces life at Dickory Dock Harbor, its (mostly) likable residents, and their quirky lifestyles. Listeners meet young New Jersey visitor Frankie, who is spending the summer there. Since she's on probation, she must send her judge a weekly essay on what she's learned. It's a pleasure to hear her reflections. Frankie befriends realistically portrayed Flip, who is on the spectrum and is technologically savvy. Adding to the excitement, Frankie joins a pitching competition on reality TV. Metzger vibrantly renders the story's wordplay, as well as Frankie's sincere quotations from a book about body language. The most fun is bossy Margie, a fading TV star who's comical every time she speaks. The delightful story and chatty characters guarantee satisfaction for listeners for all ages.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798212894104
Publisher: Spoken Realms
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Lemony Snicket, who became known for challenging listeners’ vocabularies in his Series of Unfortunate Events, chooses 13 seemingly random words and arranges them into the story of a “despondent” bird and a dog who tries to cheer his friend by visiting a “haberdashery” to buy a hat with “panache.” Michael Emerson’s intonations and phrasing allow listeners to picture characters and settings even without Maira Kalman's illustrations. He encourages listeners to savor the sounds of words as the author intended. Who wouldn’t buy a hat from a breathy sales-baby who describes “panache” as “a kind of verve or swagger”? In an amazing artistic interpretation, Snicket’s final word, “mezzo-soprano,” becomes an opera of the book, created by real-life composer Nico Muhly.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2010
Duration: 6 mins
DD ISBN: 9781443404433
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Author and narrator Enrique Flores-Galbis is a master of duality in this nuanced story of the Cuban revolution. His writing and narration are superb. In both, his humble style of storytelling is arresting. When revolution comes to Cuba, Julian is just a boy. He doesn’t even know what a revolution is. In leaving Cuba and losing his family, Julian finds new ways in which he’s both vulnerable and strong. Flores-Galbis’s voice embodies the contradictions of Julian’s experience. We hear that vulnerability in a soft, almost hesitant, voice; underneath is a quiet confidence. The pacing ebbs and flows as naturally as the tide between Havana and Miami as Julian figures out what is right and determines to do his part to help.
Ages 10+Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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