Marissa Czyz is the voice of the Mars rover CURIOSITY, ambling across the surface of the red planet. She shares information about how it spends its days and even sings its "Happy Birthday to Me" song. Czyz is an unobtrusive narrator, letting the novelty of the birthday celebrant steal the show. Specifically, listeners hear how it celebrates its birthday--stirring up a dust cloud in its hurry to send a picture back to Earth and to share conversations with Earth. Czyz adds emphasis to the notion that humans should be as curious as CURIOSITY is. Additional facts about Mars--home to rovers since 1997--and a shout-out to the newest rover, INSIGHT, which will examine Mars below the surface, complete the production.
(Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2019
Duration: 4 mins
DD ISBN: 9781980051763
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
While holiday books for children abound, there seem to be too few that have an audio component. The seven-day festival of Kwanzaa, celebrated in December, lends itself to the read-along format with the Pinkneys' appealing picture book. Alfre Woodard introduces the African-American holiday and reads the story by Andrea Davis Pinkney. Clearly enunciating the African words for the foods, gifts and elements of the celebration, Woodard projects a welcoming tone that any listener can share. Traditional African music accompanies the tape--one side with page-turn signals, one without--but remains appropriately in the background. The vivid colors and contrasts of the illustrations make the picture book a standout, but the recording is nicely effective alone.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 11 mins
Publisher: Weston Woods Studios
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ho’s charming portrayal of this family and their unique Halloween party is sure to get listeners into the autumnal...
Narrator Rebecca Ho creates a youthful voice for Lilly as she describes her grandpa’s love of Halloween. Since moving to America from China, Lao Ye has embraced all holidays, but he finds Halloween to be the “kindest,” and this year he plans to make it extra special by having a pancake party. Ho captures this joy as she describes kids getting to dress up however they like, neighbors giving out candy to one another, and a general sense of togetherness. Musical interludes and background noises of kids having fun add to the listening experience, and Lao Ye’s pancake recipe is even included.
Ho’s charming portrayal of this family and their unique Halloween party is sure to get listeners into the autumnal spirit. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 7, 2026
Duration: 7 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250441669
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 24, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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