Atkinson has adapted his adult book THE GUNS AT LAST LIGHT for young readers, and narrator Jason Culp's authoritative tone works well for this audience. It's no easy task to cover the events critical to the end of WWII. The story of the Normandy Invasion has an extensive cast--from Churchill to Rommel--a plethora of dramatic events transpiring in multiple countries, and astounding statistics like the 301,000 Allied vehicles gathered for the invasion and the 3,000 tons of maps. Culp assumes accents successfully and reads dramatically. Atkinson's research is thorough, his writing suspenseful. Still, covering each event fully creates a narrative so jam-packed with details that, despite the best efforts of author and narrator, the audio is sometimes overwhelming. It may work better on the page, where pictures provide relief and chapters give more clarity.
(Nonfiction. 11-13)Pub Date: May 6, 2014
Duration: 3 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781427251367
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Jeff Harding voices the many impactful moments of 1919 in this engaging nonfiction audiobook. From women activists fighting for the right to vote to the Red Scare and civil rights riots, Sandler draws parallels to today's social issues. Harding matches 1919's cadence with a forward-moving pace. He uses different accents for quotations, though the women and people of color might have been better served with a diverse cast. The asides and timelines that appear in the text also are in the audio. Full of fascinating stories put into a modern context, this audiobook offers much to learn about an eventful year and ponders the big questions of our current time.
(Nonfiction. 11-16)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2020
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Orchestral music filled with the chirping of birds fades into the background as narrator John Pruden begins the story of Central Park in New York City. The two winners of the 1858 design contest, Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted, set out their vision on a ten-foot-long schematic of the new park they called The Greensward. Bubbling fountains, a myriad of bridges, and a skating park were on display, followed by the ungroomed Ramble, and, finally, the children's section. Pruden sets a brisk clip and in unassuming voice lets the story speak for itself. The rumbles of construction, excited voices, and additional orchestration provide background for young listeners. The production concludes with further information about Central Park and its creators.
(Informational picture book. 7-10)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2019
Duration: 23 mins
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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