THE TWITS is the ultimate story of tit for tat. With antics including a glass eye on the loose and a frog-bedecked pillow, Mr. and Mrs. Twit vie to outdo each other with nastiness. But it's the Muggle-Wumps, with help from the Roly-Poly Bird, who have the last, topsy-turvy, say. From the opening description of Mr. Twit's food-encrusted beard, the listener knows that Simon Callow delights in portraying this detestable being and his wife. The drool of the tongue and the slurps of the wormy spaghetti will bring chuckles of pleasure and disgust, as will Callow's animated description of "the shrinks." He personalizes the Muggle-Wumps with relish. His lilt and cadence for the Roly-Poly Bird evoke its origins. Whether young listeners are attracted or repulsed by the Twits, the presentation is marvelous.
Ages 6+Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2006
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: Harper Audio
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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