Dramatic music and appropriate sound effects set the scene for this Revolutionary War biography of the fearless Patriot spy Anna Smith Strong. Narrator Heather Lind's serious tone adds gravitas to the story of Strong's dangerous exploits as she spied on British soldiers from her Long Island estate. As the only woman in the Culper Spy Ring, Strong was less suspicious than male spies, who were often imprisoned or executed. She used this to her advantage by hanging laundry outside in a deliberately coded way that spies could "read." In addition to the author's research notes, the production also includes instructions for making invisible ink, page-turn chimes, and an artist's note that may make listeners want to see the illustrations for themselves.
(Picture book/biography. 6-9)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2020
Duration: 25 mins
DD ISBN: 1645551288
Publisher: Dreamscape
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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