Narrator Joel Richards perfectly introduces this charming new Christmas story. Stumpstinkle's Tree Farm is famous for large, lustrous trees, and each year the trees vie to be chosen for the farm's holiday sales. Listeners meet Calvin, the "littlest" tree, who tries his best to stretch and puff out in order to be chosen. Richards gives Calvin a chirpy voice, while older trees sound gravelly as they sometimes pick on and tease Calvin. Original music and impressive sound effects add to the mood. Sadly, on Christmas Eve, Calvin is left behind when the sales lot closes and a snowstorm strikes. But as they drive by, a boy named Raymond persuades his dad to rescue Calvin. Listeners will cheer as Calvin is planted outside Raymond's window, where he grows tall and becomes world famous.
Ages 6+Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2021
Duration: 13 mins
Publisher: Stephen G. Bowling
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
A winning dual performance makes this middle-grade novel come to life.
Helen Laser and Stephanie Németh-Parker narrate this story of 10-year-old twins desperate to reunite their estranged, holiday-hating parents for Christmas and beyond. Laser embodies Jordan, the levelheaded, practical twin, while Németh-Parker becomes Stevie, the flightier dreamer who has big plans. Unfortunately, along with big plans come big chances for things to go horribly wrong. What makes the narration extraordinary, among other things, is each narrator’s ability to match the pitch and tone of the other character when performing their own chapters. Laser and Németh-Parker both ensure that every scoff, laugh, cry, and angry thought is voiced with maximum preteen emotion.
A winning dual performance makes this middle-grade novel come to life. (Fiction. 9-11)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 38 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250472328
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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