When Nurk, an unadventurous shrew, inadvertently receives a plea for help addressed to his warrior-like grandmother, he attempts to return the letter to its sender, a response that ultimately sends him on the adventure of his timid little life. This full-cast audio production chronicles how Nurk faces down his many fears and is able to provide help. Bill Knowlton, a tirelessly enthusiastic reader, sets up the cast's voices well. Everyone’s willingness to enjoy this small story does much to enhance the listener's pleasure in it. Younger listeners will be engaged by the vocal variety demonstrated, though others may wonder at some choices, such as why a hummingbird's voice is so guttural and tough, or why the grandmother’s is that of a little girl.
Ages 8+Pub Date: May 1, 2009
Duration: 3 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Full Cast Audio
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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