Historical Audiobooks

Who Was Charles Darwin?

As a young boy, Charles Darwin hated school and was often scolded for conducting "useless" experiments. Yet his passion for the natural world was so strong that he suffered through terrible seasickness during his five-year voyage aboard The Beagle. Darwin collected new creatures from the coasts of Africa, South America, and the Galapagos Islands, and expanded his groundbreaking ideas that would change people's understanding of the natural world. This audiobook will make Darwin and his theory of evolution an exciting discovery for every young listener.

Deborah Hopkinson (Author), Kevin Pariseau (Narrator)

Audiobook

Keine Chance für Harold? - Fußball im Mittelalter: Vom Totenkopf zum runden Leder

Was nimmt man, wenn man keinen Fußball zur Hand hat? Im Mittelalter waren es Totenköpfe oder Kuhblasen - toller Roman über die Entstehung des beliebtesten Mannschaftssport der Welt. England, 13. Jahrhundert. Harold, kaum älter als elf, fiebert seinem ersten Fußballmatch entgegen, dem Spiel gegen das Nachbardorf. Sieger soll das Dorf sein, dessen Bewohner es schaffen, die mit Luft gefüllte Kuhblase in die Mitte des anderen Dorfes zu treiben - nur mit den Füßen. Ein Match mit rund hundert Spielern, das stundenlang dauern kann und von mancherlei Zufällen abhängt - wie Weidezäunen, Schafherden, einem Bach oder dem stürmischen Nordseewind ... Harolds Großmutter kann dem neuen Sport nichts abgewinnen. Es ziemt sich nicht für einen Christenmenschen, meint sie, eine mit Luft gefüllte Kuhblase mit Füßen zu treten, die inzwischen einen dänischen Totenschädel ersetzt hat. Denn so hat sich das Spiel entwickelt, weiß die Granny zu berichten: Der Totenkopf eines der verhassten dänischen Besatzer wurde mit Füßen traktiert. Der mit Spannung erwartete Wettkampf beginnt. Tatsächlich nimmt er einen unvorhergesehenen Verlauf. Nach vielen Zwischenfällen steht der wieselflinke Harold aus Hampstead kurz vor dem Höhepunkt seiner Kickerlaufbahn. Es ist ihm gelungen, die Meute der Verfolger abzuhängen, und nun keucht er, die unberechenbar hüpfende Blase vor sich hertreibend, den ersten Hütten von Woodstock entgegen. Hampstead siegt, dank Harold! Bei einem großen Fest ist er der Held des Tages. Doch jäh wird die Siegesfeier gestört: König Heinrich II., zufällig in der Nähe auf Jagd, will sich von der Zielsicherheit seiner Woodstocker Bogenschützen überzeugen. Ist es die Aufregung? Oder sind die Männer von Woodstock wirklich außer Übung? Die Schützen versagen jedenfalls kläglich: Kein einziger Pfeil trifft die Scheibe. Schuld daran kann nur dieses neue Fußballspiel sein! König Heinrich ist erzürnt. Kurzerhand verbietet er das Spiel mit der Blase, und so bleibt einem viel versprechenden Fußballtalent des 13. Jahrhunderts wieder nur das Schafehüten. Ob sich der König eines Tages nicht doch erweichen lässt?'Dieses Buch stellt den Vergleich zwischen dem Leben im Mittelalter und heute her. Da es hauptsächlich auf historisch belegten Tatsachen beruht, hat es einen spielerischen Lerneffekt für Kinder ab zehn Jahren.' -- Skatersally (https://www.amazon.de/Keine-Chance-Harold-Fu%C3%9Fball-Mittelalter/dp/3853262708)'Wer schon immer wissen wollte wo, wie und wann Fußball erfunden wurde, der muss dieses Buch lesen!' --lele 10, bookreaders.at (http://bookreaders.at/buecher/forum/Keine-Chance-fuer-Harold)-

Franz Sales Sklenitzka (Author), Julian Mehne (Narrator)

Audiobook

Katie Watson and the Painter's Plot: Book 1

"Sherlock meets Shakespeare in this time-travel mystery with a twist of magic." Visiting an old manor house is hardly Katie's idea of an adventure. But then, Otterly Manor isn't just any old house... When an enchanted painting whisks Katie back in time to Shakespeare's England, she lands in the middle of a perilous adventure beyond her wildest imagination.  With the help of Princess Sophia, Katie begins to find her feet in the world of superstitious maids and looming lords ... that is, until a mysterious murder sends Otterly Manor into mayhem.  With danger and mystery lurking around every corner, can Katiesolve the mystery of Otterly Manor and find a way home before it's too late? 

Mez Blume (Author), Mez Blume (Narrator)

Audiobook

Spy Runner

In this noir mystery middle grade from Newbery Honor author Eugene Yelchin, a boy stumbles upon a secret that jeopardizes American national security. It's 1953 and the Cold War is on. Communism threatens all that the United States stands for, and America needs every patriot to do their part. So when a Russian boarder moves into the home of twelve-year-old Jake McCauley, he's on high alert. What does the mysterious Mr. Shubin do with all that photography equipment? And why did he choose to live so close to the Air Force base? Jake's mother says that Mr. Shubin knew Jake's dad, who went missing in action during World War II. But Jake is skeptical; the facts just don't add up. And he's determined to discover the truth-no matter what he risks.

Eugene Yelchin (Author), Jonathan Todd Ross (Narrator)

Audiobook

How I Became a Spy

From the award-winning author of The Great Trouble comes a story of espionage, survival, and friendship during World War II. Bertie Bradshaw never set out to become a spy. He never imagined traipsing around war-torn London, solving ciphers, practicing surveillance, and searching for a traitor to the Allied forces. He certainly never expected that a strong-willed American girl named Eleanor would play Watson to his Holmes (or Holmes to his Watson, depending on who you ask). But when a young woman goes missing, leaving behind a coded notebook, Bertie is determined to solve the mystery. With the help of Eleanor and his friend David, a Jewish refugee--and, of course, his trusty pup, Little Roo--Bertie must decipher the notebook in time to stop a double agent from spilling the biggest secret of all to the Nazis. From the author of The Great Trouble, this suspenseful WWII adventure reminds us that times of war call for bravery, brains and teamwork from even the most unlikely heroes.

Deborah Hopkinson (Author), John Keating (Narrator)

Audiobook

Bessie Coleman

Bessie Coleman became the first African American female pilot. This book tells about Coleman's life.

Linda Barr (Author), Highlights For Children (Narrator)

Audiobook

Oberlin

John J. Shipherd and Philo P. Stewart built the town and college of Oberlin, Ohio, based on the idea that they could make a difference. The town was established in 1833, and the college was revolutionary, letting women and African Americans attend.

Tamera Bryant (Author), Highlights For Children (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Silver Sword: A BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation

A BBC radio full-cast dramatisation of Ian Serraillier's classic wartime story. When the Germans march into Poland in 1941, the Balickis' happy family life is shattered. With their parents taken away by Nazis, Ruth, Edek and Bronia are forced to fend for themselves in the dangerous, war-ravaged city of Warsaw. When Edek is captured too, the girls are desperate. Then they meet orphaned street urchin Jan, who carries with him a talisman of hope: a silver sword paperknife that they recognise as having belonged to their mother. Realising that their parents may still be alive, Ruth and Bronia set off on an epic journey to Switzerland to search for them. With Jan by their side, they are determined to reunite the family - and their first step is to find Edek. But the road ahead is full of danger and hardship, and they will facemany challenges along the way... This moving story of friendship, courage and solidarity brings to life the reality of a Europe laid waste by war. Cast: Ruth - Sarah McDonald Hughes Edek - Stephen Hoyle Bronia - Hester Cox Jan - Aqib Khan Margaret/Irka/Mrs Wolff - Maggie Fox Joseph/German 1/Mr Wolff - Malcolm Raeburn Ivan - David Fleeshman Soldier/American GI - Andrew Blake Doctor - Lloyd Peters Cook/Mrs Borowicz - Szilvi Naray Davey The Burgomaster/Captain Malinowski - Jonathan Keeble Adapted by Chris Wallis. Produced and directed by Charlotte Riches.

Ian Serraillier (Author), Hester Cox, Sarah Mcdonald Hughes, Stephen Hoyle (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Call of the Wild: A BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation

A BBC radio full-cast dramatisation of this much-loved classic adventure about a dog named Buck. In Yukon, Canada during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, strong sled dogs were in high demand. Buck is stolen from his comfortable home in California and sold into service as a sled dog in Alaska. He becomes progressively feral in the harsh environment, where he is forced to fight to survive and dominate other dogs. Sold to a group of inexperienced gold hunters, he is eventually saved by John Thornton, with whom he forms a deep bond. Exciting and action-packed, The Call of the Wild explores the timeless relationship between man and dog, and the draw of primitive instincts that pull Buck away from humanity towards the wilderness. Starring Robert Jack, Finn Den Hertog, Robin Lane, Nick Underwood and Melody Grove.

Jack London (Author), , Finn Den Hertog, Melody Grove, Nick Underwood, Robert Jack, Robin Lane (Narrator)

Audiobook

I am Gandhi

Gandhi's peaceful revolution is the focus of this audiobook, part of the inspiring New York Times bestselling biography series about heroes. As a young man in India, Gandhi saw firsthand how people were treated unfairly. Refusing to accept injustice, he came up with a brilliant way to fight back through quiet, peaceful protest. He took his methods with him from South Africa back to India, where he led a nonviolent revolution that freed his country from British rule. Through his calm, steady heroism, Gandhi changed everything for India and inspired civil rights movements all over the world, proving that the smallest of us can be the most powerful. This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great-the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of one of America's icons in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest children and that always includes the hero's childhood influences.

Brad Meltzer (Author), , Rajiv Surendra, Various (Narrator)

Audiobook

I am Abraham Lincoln

We can all be heroes. That's the inspiring message of this lively biography series from New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer.   "Kids always search for heroes, so we might as well have a say in it," Brad Meltzer realized, and so he envisioned this friendly, fun approach to biography - for his own kids, and for yours. Each audiobook tells the story of one of America's icons in an entertaining, conversational way that works well for the youngest children, those who aren't quite ready for the Who Was series. Each entry focuses on a particular character trait that made that role model heroic. For example, Abraham Lincoln always spoke up about fairness, and thus he led the country to abolish slavery. This audiobook follows him from childhood to the presidency, including the Civil War and his legendary Gettysburg Address.   This engaging series is the perfect way to bring American history to life for young children, and to inspire them to strive and dream.

Brad Meltzer (Author), , Oliver Wyman, Various (Narrator)

Audiobook

I am Martin Luther King, Jr.

We can all be heroes. That's the inspiring message of this New York Times Bestselling biography series from historian and author Brad Meltzer.   Even as a child, Martin Luther King, Jr. was shocked by the terrible and unfair way African-American people were treated. When he grew up, he decided to do something about it-peacefully, with powerful words. He helped gather people together for nonviolent protests and marches, and he always spoke up about loving other human beings and doing what's right. He spoke about the dream of a kinder future, and bravely led the way toward racial equality in America. This lively, New York Times Bestselling biography series inspires kids to dream big, one great role model at a time. You'll want to collect each audiobook.

Brad Meltzer (Author), , Donte Bonner, Various (Narrator)

Audiobook