This scholarly biography, aimed at middle school students, puts Marian Anderson's story in the context of the Civil Rights movement. Sharon Washington reads about Anderson's accomplishments as a Civil Rights pioneer in a flat voice that will not keep the interest of young students. Most disappointing is that, in spite of the audio format, listeners do not get to experience much of Anderson's beautiful contralto voice. Although Washington sings "America," from the 1939 Lincoln Memorial concert, it does not come near to letting listeners experience Anderson's powerful "voice of the century." References to the extensive bibliography and discography that are part of the book are also lacking.
Ages 10+Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2005
Duration: 2 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ken Coleman's expertise as a baseball announcer enriches this history of the Boston Red Sox since the sale of Babe Ruth to the N.Y. Yankees. He leads off with a grim account of this transaction, which started the curse that has plagued the Red Sox ever since. The sermon-like tone will amuse non-believers and comfort listeners who are certain the team is cursed. Like the ups and downs of Boston's play through the years, the narrator's voice fluctuates--exuberant and then despondent--in tone and tempo accurately reflecting the mood of any given baseball season. The narrator is very successful at conveying the emotional roller coaster ride Red Sox fans have endured as a result of the curse of the Bambino.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This is a very brief introduction to the 6,888th Central Postal Directory Battalion of WWII. Jade Wheeler narrates with crisp enunciation, slow pacing, and buoyant admiration for the work of the Black women serving in the newly desegregated U.S. Army. Letters from home were a great morale builder for the troops. The Six Triple Eight was deployed in the U.S. and overseas to manage the sorting and delivery of millions of pieces of backlogged mail. Although more than 850 women served, 6 individual service members are named during the story. Wheeler delivers their names in a tone of respect. The credits are accompanied by 1940s-style jazz music. The PDF included contains a timeline, a glossary, and further reading.
(Informational picture book. 6-9)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
Duration: 11 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063459748
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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