Grandma Dowdel is back! She's up to her old tricks of bestowing her "gifts" upon the unsuspecting, this time her new neighbors, a young minister and his family. Peck’s story portrays life in a small American town in 1958. Ron McLarty’s pacing, cadence, and tone fit the setting and characters perfectly. McLarty saves the best for Grandma Dowdel. His rich, gravelly, no-nonsense vocalization carries her all-knowing sagacity and wry sense of humor. Once again, we fear not for our young protagonist or his family because Grandma Dowdel is there. McLarty knows we are relying on Grandma Dowdel to work her quiet magic, and his delivery reassures us that she will. Peck has treated readers to another literary gift, and McLarty reads it with aplomb.
Ages 10+Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2009
Duration: 3 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Listening Library
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
Powerful listening.
Four narrators personalize the tragedy of Houston’s 2017 Hurricane Harvey through the viewpoints of three struggling teens. Sunil Malhotra depicts Pakistani American Yasir’s many facets—his determination to succeed at soccer, his barely controlled rage about racism, his sadness about his father’s death, and his deep fear of drowning. Nikhaar Kashnani portrays South Asian American Mona. Weighed down by caring for her young brother, she loses herself in art and dreads her recurring nightmare about a flood. Josh Hurley renders Cody’s cruel, racist bullying as well as his fear of the dark, a result of being abused by his father. Christopher Salazar enthusiastically delivers interstitial news bulletins. When flooding from Harvey makes them face their worst fears, the resilient threesome’s separate stories come together and they support each other’s bravery.
Powerful listening.Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063389557
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2026
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