Audiobooks Narrated by Dominique Franceschi

Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School!

It's the first day of school and Little Tortoise is worried. Can she get there on time? It's the first day of school and Little Tortoise is ready with a backpack filled with new school supplies. Little Tortoise can't wait to get to school and tries very hard not to be the last student there. But soon Cheetah, Llama, and even a snail on a scooter, overtake her. And then when she gets stuck in the gutter of the book, she's sure she'll be the last pupil to arrive! But the timely arrival of Mr. Sloth, her new teacher, changes everything. Gentle reassuring language full of wordplay, and bold and bright art by an up and coming artist offer students a comforting story about this new experience. Here's a fresh way to encourage reluctant students to be on their way.

Carrie Finison (Author), Dominique Franceschi (Narrator)

Audiobook

First Phone: A Child's Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Etiquette

A fun and informative illustrated kids' guide, adapted for audio, to safely and productively navigating the digital landscape. Cellphones have become a fact of life, with children as young as eight (yes, eight!) getting their very own "devices." Such boundless access means our kids are in nearly constant contact with technology that was designed specifically for adults. And they're doing so without any type of road map. Enter First Phone: the essential audiobook that apprehensive parents can confidently hand to their kids to listen to as they begin their journey into the digital world.   In First Phone, Catherine Pearlman-licensed clinical social worker and parenting expert-speaks directly to eight- to twelve-year-old children about digital safety in a manner that is playful, engaging, and age-appropriate. With insights and strategies supported by the latest research, First Phone offers:     •  guidance on privacy, boundaries, social media, and even sexting (yes, young children need to learn about sexting before it happens!)    •  best digital hygiene and self-care practices, including when to put the darn phone down, when to turn off notifications, and where to charge   •  how to be a kind and compassionate upstander in a digital world   An essential companion when your child receives their first phone, this audiobook provides kids the tools and information they need while giving their parents peace of mind.

Catherine Pearlman (Author), Catherine Pearlman, Dominique Franceschi, Elena Rey, Keylor Leigh, Michael Crouch, Tara Sands (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Retake

"A book about a time-traveling app? I'm in! Jen Calonita strikes again with a coming-of-age middle grade full of wit and a little bit of magic. " -Sarah Mlynowski, New York Times bestselling author of the Whatever After and Upside Down Magic series 'A brilliant friendship story that champions kindness, resilience and the courage to challenge long held expectations - both of others and of yourself.' --Lauren Myracle, co-author of the New York Times best-selling Upside-Down Magic series You can retake your photos...but what if could redo moments in your life too? With one magical app, Zoe is able to do just that! A smart and funny twist on time travel from New York Times bestselling author Jen Calonita, for fans for Disney's Zapped and The Swap.  Zoe knows that the only thing harder than middle school is losing a best friend. She and Laura used to do everything together from taking silly selfies, to joining all the same clubs together and even throwing surprise birthday parties for one another. But lately things have been weird between them. Now Laura will post a photo of her hanging out with other girls before responding to Zoe's simple text. She doesn't even want to sit with her at lunch anymore. Zoe is heartbroken--all she wants is for things to go back to normal. But then a magical app downloads on her phone...and things get even weirder! Suddenly Zoe can travel back in time to moments where her and Laura started drifting apart. It is like a dream come true. A chance for Zoe to mend their friendship. But as Zoe goes back to moments of middle school drama--sleepover games gone wrong, field trips with cliques and crushes, and school projects that bring on more-than-awkward encounters--she realizes that second chances don't always go as planned and that sometimes you need to trust the magic of new beginnings. The Retake is a picture-perfect look at tween friendship, that also explores more serious themes of social media pressure, bullying and what it means to be yourself. 'Jen Calonita puts a magical spin on all-to-real middle school drama. Warm, witty and wise, The Retakeis for anyone who has broken up with a best friend and wished they could go back to the way it used to be.'-Megan McCaferty, author of True to Your Selfie and Jessica Darling's It List series 'As addictive as your favorite app, you won't be able to put it down.' - Stacy McAnulty, the author of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl

Jen Calonita (Author), Dominique Franceschi (Narrator)

Audiobook

What Are Castles and Knights?

Go back to the thrilling time of warring knights who were prepared to give their life in order to protect their lord and his castle. Castles may conjure up a romantic fairy tale world; however, in real life, during the Middle Ages, castles were fortresses, providing shelter and protection for the lord as well as for the peasants who lived on his land. For an army, a lord depended on young soldiers in armor called knights who spent years at the castle learning the skills of warfare. Author Sarah Fabiny dives into the history of castles and how they grew from simple wood structures to mighty fortresses in stone. She also explains who could become a knight and what their lives were like off of the battlefield, enjoying feasts, courting their lady loves, and showing off in tournaments. Listeners will be excited to listen to this latest addition to Who HQ!

Sarah Fabiny (Author), Dominique Franceschi (Narrator)

Audiobook