Haunting music begins and ends this account of Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator Uri Shulevitz's childhood. His story is fittingly narrated with unhurried restraint by Fred Berman. Four-year-old Shulevitz and his family fled Warsaw for the Soviet Union when it became clear that Poland was no longer safe for Jews. Thus began a harrowing childhood spent running from one untenable place to another during WWII and after. Berman's Yiddish, sprinkled throughout the story, is convincing, and his clear, somber tones and measured cadence keep the terrors faced by Shulevitz from overwhelming young listeners. The episodic nature of the narrative makes it a good choice for family and classroom listening and discussion, especially at a time when education is needed regarding events of the Holocaust.
(Memoir. 10-14)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2020
Duration: 3 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250759931
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Vega’s performance conveys strength and pride befitting this ode to the island and its people.
Jenyvette Vega narrates these poems, which chronicle Puerto Rico's struggle for self-determination. She shifts seamlessly between Spanish and English as listeners learn about the history of the flag and what it represents to the Puerto Rican people, as well as about key events in Puerto Rican history and the Puerto Rican diaspora. Vega reads at a gentle pace appropriate for young listeners. A preface provides background on Puerto Rico's relationship with the United States, and an included PDF details the history of the people and events portrayed in the poems.
Vega’s performance conveys strength and pride befitting this ode to the island and its people. (Picture book/poetry. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
Duration: 33 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063577176
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2026
Chock-full of historical trivia—but the sheer quantity and the accompanying sound effects prove to be disorienting.
This audiobook collects a huge array of random historical anecdotes. Jaunty music opens the recording before Australian narrator Rebecca Ho presents the widely varying historical curiosities, with subjects ranging from royals to festivals to apparel and much more. The anecdotes are organized under eight broader sections, such as Culture, Exploration, and Food, but they’re not presented in any particular order. Paired with the narration is a bevy of continuous, distracting sound effects—goofy music, raucous laughter, whinnying horses, and buzzing flies, to name just a few.
Chock-full of historical trivia—but the sheer quantity and the accompanying sound effects prove to be disorienting. (Nonfiction. 9-12)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 37 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250462596
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2026
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