Health & Family Audiobooks

Twelve Days of Kindness

Inspired by 'The Twelve Days of Christmas,' this picture book, adapted for audio, presents the many different forms that kindness can take, from veteran picture book author Irene Latham. On the first day of kindness, I will give to you a hug that's warm and true. There are many ways to be kind. Follow one girl as she expresses gratitude through kind deeds all her own-a smile or encouraging word or even shared snacks-and discovers one act of kindness inspires another. In this heartwarming lyrical text, twelve acts of everyday kindness are set to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." This joyous listen celebrates how small acts of kindness can be practiced at any age.

Irene Latham (Author), Erin Moon (Narrator)

Audiobook

Rosa's Song

In this diverse picture book, a young immigrant from South Korea finds community and friendship in an apartment house filled with other newly arrived kids. When Jae looks out the window of his new home, he wishes he could still see his old village, his old house, and his old friends. But his new apartment feels empty and nothing outside is familiar. Jae just arrived from South Korea and doesn't even speak the new language. Yet, making friends is the same wherever you go and he soon meets a girl with a colorful bird perched on her shoulder. Rosa knows just how Jae feels and the two become fast friends. Not only does Rosa show Jae his new neighborhood but she shows him how his imagination can bring back memories of his old home. Then Rosa leaves unexpectedly one night but leaves her parrot for Jae. He thinks about the song that Rosa would sing: "When I fly away, my heart stays here." And when Jae meets two other newly arrived kids, he teaches them Rosa's song and becomes their guide to this new world. From the creators of the highly acclaimed The Paper Kingdom, comes a new book about the importance of community and demonstrates how a simple act of kindness can be passed along to others.

Helena Ku Rhee (Author), Cherie B. Tay (Narrator)

Audiobook

Stanley the Dog: The First Day of School

From the award-winning radio and TV personality and beloved two-time New York Times bestselling author Bobby Bones, Stanley the Dog: The First Day of School is a hilarious and heartfelt new book about a bulldog pup named Stanley and his adventures on the first day of school. Today is Stanley’s first day of school—and he really doesn’t want to go. Stanley would rather dawdle in bed and dither over which collar to wear than get on the school bus. With his stomach turning into tighter knots by the minute, Stanley’s worried whether a bulldog like him will ever fit in with the other pups at school. For one thing, Stanley doesn’t know any of the school rules. He rolls when he’s supposed to sit. Barks when he’s supposed to stay. And worst of all, he doesn’t know how to make friends. But when disaster strikes, maybe all Stanley needs to do is be himself in order save the day? Inspired by Bobby Bones’s own real-life bulldog puppy, Stanley the Dog: The First Day of School will remind every reader about the challenges of trying new things and the value of staying true to yourself.

Bobby Bones (Author), Bobby Bones (Narrator)

Audiobook

Never Grow Up

Brought to you by Puffin. A brand new audiobook inspired by Roald Dahl. It's rotten when you're very small, You hardly get a say at all. It's 'No!' and 'Quiet!' and 'That's enough!' By golly, life - it can be tough . . . Inspired by the work of the world's number 1 storyteller, this audiobook is a guide to growing up the Roald Dahl way; a celebration of all the tremendous things children have in store - from adventure to inventions, chocolate cakes to rhino poo. Along with a reminder that the VERY best grown ups are those who hold on tight to the chiddler inside. © The Estate of Roald Dahl 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Roald Dahl (Author), Mel Giedroyc (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Shelterlings

A group of magical misfit animals learns to appreciate their seemingly useless powers—and themselves—when they work together to thwart a villain’s attempt to steal their magic. Holly, a grey squirrel, and her animal friends have accepted that they will never be wizards’ familiars. Though they are each magical, their powers are so offbeat—Holly herself can conjure pastries (and only pastries)—that no professional magic-worker would choose any of them as a companion for noble quests. So instead of going on adventures, they languish at the Shelter for Rejected Familiars, where they are known as “shelterlings.” When an old friend appears with a plan for curing the shelterlings’ defective magic, everyone is on board to help him locate and retrieve the ingredients for a powerful spell. But when they learn that his offer is not what it seems, Holly and the shelterlings must fight to defend their magic, discovering in the process that their unorthodox skills may just be what is needed to save the day.

Sarah Beth Durst (Author), Imani Parks (Narrator)

Audiobook

Giant

From critically acclaimed author Nicola Skinner comes her most brilliant book yet – a daring, thrilling, darkly comic story about staying true to yourself, and to the people you love, even if that means tearing everything down . . . There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Minnie’s island. Nothing, that is, apart from the earthquakes, which pull buildings and schools and houses down on a regular basis. Luckily, the island’s inhabitants have found a way to fix their crumbling walls: giants. Giants look after human children, like eleven-year-old Minnie. When Minnie turns twelve, she’ll kiss her giant, turning her into a stone statue forever. The stone will be used to repair buildings. And there’s nothing wrong with that either . . . or so Minnie thinks. But when a dreadful earthquake strikes, Minnie realises she’s not quite ready to say goodbye to her giant – not forever – not yet. So Minnie goes on the run, betraying her parents and everyone she knows. The secrets she uncovers on her journey threaten to pull everything down: and so begins a desperate race against time in which she will confront the truth about her island, her giant . . . and ultimately herself.

Nicola Skinner (Author), Jessica Tomlinson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Golden Ticket

Eleven-year-old Ash McNulty is one of the “gifted and talented” kids at her school, spending most of her day in a special class with a few other advanced students. As the end of fifth grade rolls around, she should be on top of the world. According to everyone, she’s going to rock junior high! But Ash has a secret: She can’t keep up with her advanced classmates anymore. The minute she asks for help though, everyone will know she’s not who they think she is. She’s not so smart. She might not even be that special. And her parents will be crushed to discover the truth. If Ash can win the Quiz Bowl, though, that will show everyone that she is still on top. If she gets a lucky break ahead of time, all the better. Except that “lucky break” backfires … And Ash is left to question everything she thought she knew about school, friends, and success.

Kate Egan (Author), Sandy Rustin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Not Starring Zadie Louise

Zadie loves Tae Kwon Do, comic books, and outer space. She also loves visiting the community theater that her mom runs, especially the lighting grid over the stage and the stage manager's booth, which is filled with levers and buttons like a spaceship control panel. So when the family's finances suffer a blow and Zadie has to give up her usual activities to spend the summer at the theater, she doesn't mind too much. After all, she's always wanted to tech a show. She knows she'd be great at it, but her mom and the new stage manager are totally opposed to the idea of having a kid do tech. Instead, Zadie's stuck handing out snacks and folding flyers. But the future of the theater rides on this show, and Zadie is determined to help. She's going to make Spinderella the hit of the season-unless she accidentally turns it into a disaster.

Joy Mccullough (Author), Stacy Gonzalez (Narrator)

Audiobook

Amanda Commander: The Pinky Promise

When Amanda and her friends make a pinky-promise to run together in the Cross-Country race at school, Amanda needs to make a choice. Should she keep her promise or win the race. It’s OPERATION CROSS COUNTRY! Even though she is competitive, Amanda learns it is more important to show kindness to others than win.

Coral Vass (Author), Coco Hannah (Narrator)

Audiobook

Mi buena mala suerte

¡Ruth Behar recibió el premio de autor Pura Belpré 2018 por Mi buena mala suerte! 'Un libro para cualquiera que se recupere de las heridas de la infancia'. -  Sandra Cisneros, autora de La casa en Mango Street En esta inolvidable narrativa multicultural sobre la mayoría de edad, basada en la infancia del autor en la década de 1960, una joven inmigrante cubano-judía se está adaptando a su nueva vida en la ciudad de Nueva York cuando su sueño americano se descarrila repentinamente. La difícil situación de Ruthie intrigará a los lectores, y su poderosa historia de fuerza y ​​resistencia, llena de color, luz y conmoción, permanecerá con ellos durante mucho tiempo.  Ruthie Mizrahi y su familia emigraron recientemente de la Cuba de Castro a la ciudad de Nueva York. Justo cuando finalmente comienza a ganar confianza en su dominio del inglés y disfruta de su reinado como la reina de la rayuela de su vecindario, un horrible accidente automovilístico la deja enyesada y la confina en su cama para una larga recuperación. A medida que el mundo de Ruthie se encoge debido a su incapacidad para moverse, su poder de observación y su corazón se hacen más grandes y llega a comprender cuán frágil es la vida, cuán vulnerables somos todos como seres humanos y cuán amigos, vecinos y el poder del las artes pueden endulzar incluso los peores momentos. Otros reconocimientos para Mi buena mala suerte    • Honor from the Américas Book Award    • Junior Library Guild Selection    • ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) Notable Book    • Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People    • Notable Books for a Global Society    • Finalist for National Jewish Book Award in Children's Literature (2017) ENGLISH DESCRIPTION Winner of the 2018 Pura Belpre Award! "A book for anyone mending from childhood wounds."-Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street In this unforgettable multicultural coming-of-age narrative-based on the author's childhood in the 1960s-a young Cuban-Jewish immigrant girl is adjusting to her new life in New York City when her American dream is suddenly derailed. Ruthie's plight will intrigue readers, and her powerful story of strength and resilience, full of color, light, and poignancy, will stay with them for a long time.   Ruthie Mizrahi and her family recently emigrated from Castro's Cuba to New York City. Just when she's finally beginning to gain confidence in her mastery of English-and enjoying her reign as her neighborhood's hopscotch queen-a horrific car accident leaves her in a body cast and confined her to her bed for a long recovery. As Ruthie's world shrinks because of her inability to move, her powers of observation and her heart grow larger and she comes to understand how fragile life is, how vulnerable we all are as human beings, and how friends, neighbors, and the power of the arts can sweeten even the worst of times.

Ruth Behar (Author), Tatiana Flores Infante (Narrator)

Audiobook

It Feels Good to be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity

A warm book that introduces the concept of gender identity to the youngest listener from writer Theresa Thorn. Some people are boys. Some people are girls. Some people are both, neither, or somewhere in between. This sweet, straightforward exploration of gender identity will give children a fuller understanding of themselves and others. With child-friendly language, It Feels Good to Be Yourself provides young listeners and parents alike with the vocabulary to discuss this important topic with sensitivity.

Theresa Thorn (Author), Avi Roque (Narrator)

Audiobook

Shy and Mighty: Your Shyness is a Superpower

Our noisy world sometimes feels like it's not made for shy people. This book will help children understand shyness and find their inner voice. Shyness is often misunderstood. It's not a personality flaw, it's a complex trait with many positive aspects. However, shyness means many kids struggle to speak up in class, get involved in activities, make friends, put themselves forward, and compete. As a result they can miss out on exciting opportunities, and are often overlooked, ignored, and sidelined... but it doesn't have to be this way. Shy And Mighty offers a new way of looking at the subject that will comfort and reassure shy children and help them overcome the aspects of their shyness that are holding them back, without pretending to be something they're not. Packed with simple tools and ideas to help children take small steps to get more involved, share their ideas, and make friends, Shy and Mighty also explores the science behind shyness, the potential costs of shyness, and more. Combining personal experience with extensive research and feedback from parents and children, Shy and Mighty will help kids go from invisible, to invincible! © 2022 Nadia Finer © 2022 DK Audio

Nadia Finer (Author), Laura Brydon (Narrator)

Audiobook