Biography & Memoir Audiobooks

Never Fall Down: A Boy Soldier's Story of Survival

When soldiers arrive at his hometown in Cambodia, Arn is just a kid, dancing to rock 'n' roll, hustling for spare change, and selling ice cream with his brother. But after the soldiers march the entire population into the countryside, his life is changed forever. Arn is separated from his family and assigned to a labor camp: working in the rice paddies under a blazing sun, he sees the other children, weak from hunger, malaria, or sheer exhaustion, dying before his eyes. He sees prisoners marched to a nearby mango grove, never to return. And he learns to be invisible to the sadistic Khmer Rouge, who can give or take away life on a whim. One day, the soldiers ask if any of the kids can play an instrument. Arn's never played a note in his life, but he volunteers. In order to survive, he must quickly master the strange revolutionary songs the soldiers demand-and steal food to keep the other kids alive. This decision will save his life, but it will pull him into the very center of what we know today as the Killing Fields. And just as the country is about to be liberated from the Khmer Rouge, Arn is handed a gun and forced to become a soldier. He lives by the simple credo: Over and over I tell myself one thing: never fall down. Based on the true story of Arn Chorn-Pond, this is an achingly raw and powerful novel about a child of war who becomes a man of peace, from National Book Award finalist Patricia McCormick.

Patricia McCormick (Author), Ramon de Ocampo (Narrator)

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Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World

When Temple Grandin was born, her parents knew that she was different. It wasn't until years later that she was diagnosed with autism, a brain disorder that makes communication difficult. Today, Dr. Temple Grandin is a brilliant scientist and professor of animal science at Colorado State University. Her world-changing career has revolutionized the livestock industry-each year, half the cattle in the United States are handled in cruelty-free facilities she has designed. She is also a passionate advocate for autism, using her experience to prove that people with this disorder can have "normal" lives. To achieve this unprecedented success, Temple used a unique ability: she thinks visually, the same way animals do. Because she thinks in pictures, she can see the world as a cow, or a dog, or a pig might see it. And so she knows that animals raised for food deserve good lives and should be treated with respect. Now she gives them their voices.

Sy Montgomery (Author), Meredith Mitchell (Narrator)

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Amos Fortune: Free Man

The Newbery Award winner, based on a true story! Captured by slave traders when only fifteen, At-mun never forgot his roots as a prince. Nor did he ever lose his princely dignity and the courage to hold his head high. Sold at auction in America and haunted by the memory of his young sister left behind in Africa, At-mun, now Amos, began his long march to freedom. He dreamed of being free and of buying the freedom of his closest friends. By the time he was sixty years old, Amos Fortune began to see those dreams come true. "It does a man no good to be free until he learns how to live," he often said, and he left a legacy of freedom for himself and others that has immortalized his touching story for us all. Recommended for Grades 3 and up.

Elizabeth Yates (Author), Ray Childs (Narrator)

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Dolley Madison: First Lady of the United States: Primary Source Readers Focus on Women in U.S. Histo

Dolley Madison was married to James Madison, the fourth President of the United States. Dolley was known for her kind heart and gracious hospitality. She was an intelligent woman who helped not only her husband, but also President Thomas Jefferson. Dolley was a woman with great courage. Her strong will and unique personality helped her become one of the most honored First Ladies in history.

Melissa Carosella (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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Frederick Douglass: Leader of the Abolitionist Movement

Explore the extraordinary life of Frederick Douglass and his transition from slave to freed man. Born as a slave in 1818, Douglass endured many hardships, including being separated from his family when he was a young child. Throughout his life, Douglass struggled to become a freed man and risked his life to fight for equality for all people. He worked hard to become literate and eventually published his own autobiography. Douglass became friends with influential people, like President Lincoln, who helped Douglass work to achieve freedom for slaves. After the Civil War, Douglass continued to fight for the equality of women and immigrants. Today, Douglass is remembered as a famous orator, author, editor, and statesman who made America a better place for all people.

Melissa Carosella (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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Hillary Rodham Clinton: First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton started her life as a little girl listening to her parents. They told her to work hard and help other people. Clinton did just that. She worked hard to graduate from college and then law school. She used her law degree to help children. She also helped her husband campaign for the presidency. When her husband was elected president of the United States, Clinton moved into the White House and became First Lady. But, she did not stop there. Clinton went on to become a New York Senator and then Secretary of State for President Obama.

Melissa Carosella (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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Langston Hughes: Harlem Renaissance Writer

After the Civil War, African Americans were still experiencing discrimination and segregation. Many people chose to move North in search of equality and freedom. Langston Hughes was one of these migrants. He moved to New York City to attend college at Columbia University. He settled in Harlem, a thriving city full of jazz and blues music, art, and culture. Hughes became the “Voice of the Harlem Renaissance” and opened a window into African American culture. He was a gifted man who inspired many people with his poetry, plays, short stories, and autobiographies. Eventually more African Americans banded together and formed groups like the NAACP, which led to the Civil Rights Movement. They organized boycotts, marches, and other peaceful demonstrations to fight to end segregation. After 10 years of protests, President Kennedy passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Many people today believe that Hughes’s literature and poetry inspired people to take the action needed to end segregation.

David Anthony, Stephanie Kuligowski (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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George Washington: Primary Source Readers

George Washington helped form the United States into what it is today by making wise decisions. After becoming a war hero in the French and Indian War, he went on to lead a fight against the British in the American Revolution. He continued his legacy by becoming the first president of the United States.

Christi E. Parker (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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Barack Obama: President of the United States

On November 4, 2008, Americans elected their 44th president named Barack Obama. He was the first African American to be elected president of the United States. This represented a significant change in America. He lives in the White House with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha and their dog Bo. President Obama has a unique life story. Obama's experience as a multi-racial American helps him relate to many people. Obama worked hard in school to get a good education. He became a community organizer, a lawyer, a university professor, and a senator before being elected as president. When Obama became president, there were many challenges in America. The economy was in a crisis and the nation was in the middle of two wars. President Obama is currently working hard to unite Americans to find solutions to these challenges.

Blaine Conklin (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton: Early Suffragists

When the United States became a country, women had very few rights. Women could not own property or go to some colleges. Women were not allowed to vote. The fight to allow women to vote was called the Suffrage Movement. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were two leaders of the Suffrage Movement. They gave speeches and wrote articles about giving the right to vote to other people, especially women. Stanton and Anthony were close friends and made a great team. They organized groups, wrote petitions, gave speeches, and stood firm in the face of opposition. These two brave women paved the way for future suffragists and helped start the movement that would end with the Nineteenth Amendment and voting rights for women.

Melissa Carosella (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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Winston Churchill

When Adolf Hitler began raising his army, one of the first people who sounded the alarm was Winston Churchill. After France fell to Hitler, Churchill held strong and worked to build up his army. Time and time again, Hitler offered a peace deal to Churchill in hopes that Churchill would leave him alone and back out of the war. Each time Churchill refused, knowing that it was a danger to let Hitler take over Europe.

Wendy Conklin (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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Pocahontas

Marie Patterson (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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