There are so few children's fantasy books with urban African-American characters. Ron Butler's narration enhances this welcome and refreshing option for fantasy audiobook fans. When 9-year-old Jaxon is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he is shocked to find out she's a witch. She needs his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world, but a glitchy transporter sends Ma to the Mesozoic era, while Jaxon is returned to Brooklyn to protect the baby dragons alone. Butler hilariously conveys the bewildered amazement of Jaxon, and the raspy bark of the gruff, no-nonsense Ma. Unique voices for an assortment of Ma's eccentric friends in Brooklyn round out this entertaining listen.
(Fantasy. 6-10)Pub Date: Oct. 23, 2018
Duration: 3 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780525636083
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Sorcha Groundsell brings to life 11-year-old Gwen MacKinnon, who is sent to spend several weeks with her Great-Uncle Matthew, sparing her a stay with her inattentive dad. There, she's delighted to make friends with his dog, Pumpkin, who accompanies her to the town library. Groundsell's tone imbues this story with intrigue, also fostering listener interest with her well-timed delivery. Her American accents are a bit exaggerated in contrast to the accents of the Scottish characters in the story. Scottish elements include a thoughtfully rendered girl who is leaving her small town in Scotland for Massachusetts in 1866, Clan MacKinnon, and the Lahdukan, small magical winged creatures in the library whom Gwen can see.
(Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593915691
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Elena Rey ably voices a bustling cast of humans and monsters in this sequel to THE SCHOOL FOR INVISIBLE BOYS. Here, 12-year-old Kairos agent Sam Osborne takes center stage when he's assigned to find the papers of a deceased operative. Embedding in Seattle with his family, Sam assumes the identity of a Texas cousin, a device that allows Rey to slip nimbly between accents. She's particularly adept with her characterizations of children, especially Sam's target's earnest grandson, his word-loving best friend, and the teenage son of the family next door--none of whom are what they seem. Author Hutchinson opens his aperture considerably in this second series outing, but he provides enough backstory to orient new listeners as Rey confidently carries them forward.
(Supernatural. 9-12)Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217015627
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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