Born at the stroke of midnight on Friday, the thirteenth of December, 1895, Billy Creekmore was destined for a hard-luck life. His mother died within hours of his birth; his father deserted him, leaving him in the care the midwife who delivered him; and she handed Billy over to the Guardian Angels Home for Boys--in reality, a Dickensian orphanage. Steven Boyer, the voice of 10-year-old Billy, breathes life into Porter's historical novel. Billy is one of the "throw-way children" used and abused by the adults entrusted to care for them. Boyer portrays him in a voice filled with hope for the future in spite of the hopelessness of the past--and brings to life an inspiring story of human resilience and survival against all odds.
Ages 10+Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2008
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A classic story of high adventure and conflict between good and evil placed in the mythical land of Prydain, The Book of Three is read grippingly and enchantingly by Chris King. Vocal switches are mostly smooth with a few minor pronunciation slips which are quickly corrected. King's voice is clear, easy to understand and memorable, giving the listener a sense of the characters as well as a pronunciation guide to those incredible Gaelic names Alexander uses. Both the characters and the story linger in the mind's eye because of the quality of narration. This is surely a reading that can be listened to again and again and will leave the listeners asking for the entire Prydain series on tape.
AGES 8+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Posy Bates is back, this time with a dog left over from a pet show. Back also are baby Fred and her friend, Sam. But the star of the show is Posy herself, an energetic nine-year-old with a penchant for misadventure. Judy Bennett's rendering of each of the characters in this episodic family story is right on the mark. Her enunciation and impeccable timing clarify the idiomatic text so that its unusual words become another aspect of the book's pleasure. The irrepressible Posy is her greatest challenge, and Bennett gets high marks. She bubbles with enthusiasm, wails and squeals, and dies over and over again. "It's positively brilling!"
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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