Audiobooks Narrated by Johanna Ward

Just So Stories

Drawn from the enchanting tales told to Kipling as a child in India, Just So Stories reveals the magic of the dawn of the world, when animals could talk and think like people. Cats and dogs, kangaroos and tortoises, hedgehogs and jaguars, whales and leopards, and many others are brought to life in an exotic Eastern landscape of "high and far times ago." Children will discover how the leopard got his spots, the elephant his trunk, and the camel his hump, through clever tales that subtly hint at the pitfalls of arrogance and the importance of creativity. Kipling composed these twelve stories and twelve poems to be read aloud, and their whimsical imagery and rhythmic language are sure to delight both children and adults for another hundred years. Table of Contents 1. "How the Whale Got His Throat" 2. "How the Camel Got His Hump" 3. "How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin" 4. "How the Leopard Got His Spots" 5. "The Elephant's Child" 6. "The Sing Song of Old Man Kangaroo" 7. "The Beginning of the Armadillos" 8. "How the First Letter Was Written" 9. "How the Alphabet Was Made" 10. "The Crab That Played with the Sea" 11. "The Cat That Walked by Himself" 12. "The Butterfly That Stamped"

Rudyard Kipling (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Happy Prince, and Other Stories

The Happy Prince lived in the Palace of Sans Souci, where sorrow was not allowed to enter, and only pleasure was experienced. Then, a gilded statue set on top of a high column allowed him to see all the wretchedness of the poor, the sick and the lonely who inhabited his great city. What develops is a story of sacrifice and redemption that is a parable for our time. This program includes nine of Oscar Wilde's magical and haunting fairy tales. Written for his own sons, Wilde's tales will provide equal delight for children of today. Included here are: 1. "The Happy Prince" 2. "The Selfish Giant" 3. "The Devoted Friend" 4. "The Remarkable Rocket" 5. "The Nightingale and the Rose" 6. "The Young King" 7. "The Birthday of the Infanta" 8. "The Star-Child" 9. "The Fisherman and His Soul"

Oscar Wilde (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Phoenix and the Carpet

In this follow-up to Nesbit’s classic Five Children and It, Cyril, Robert, Anthea, Jane, and the Lamb have more magical adventures in store when a mysterious egg hatches in the nursery fireplace. Out comes a flame-colored bird, the Phoenix, who, though a bit conceited, proves very helpful indeed. The bird kindly explains that the second-hand Persian carpet recently acquired for the nursery is actually a flying one. On it, they may travel to any place and time that they wish. But once again, the children find that magic does not always go as planned. They find hidden treasure in France, and with it restore the fortunes of a little boy. Meanwhile, their own house is invaded by a thousand Persian cats, a cow, and a burglar, who eventually marries the cook on an island in the South Seas. Full of wit and wonders, The Phoenix and the Carpet is a magical ride for children of all ages.

Edith Nesbit (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Magic World

These twelve magical stories contain some of the best things ever written in fairy tales. There are enchanted lands inhabited by kings and queens, princes and princesses who have to outwit wicked fairies and evil magicians. Princess Belinda is condemned to be ugly during the week and beautiful only on Sundays. Kenneth turns into a fish and has to be caught before he can transform back into a boy. Annabel opens a wardrobe and discovers an enormous railway station inside. Open the door to your own imagination-what magic world will you find? The magic, humor, and delightful characters that populate Edith Nesbit's stories will appeal to listeners of all ages. Those already familiar with the tales will be enchanted anew, and those coming to them for the first time will be captivated by the mystical world they find. "In this delightful collection of fantasies, the listener is introduced to the formal milieu of Victorian England, then whisked away to a series of fantastic worlds."-AudioFile

Edith Nesbit (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Little Princess

Sara Crewe is the brightest, richest, and most generous girl in Miss Minchin's school for girls, and her father gives her everything she might desire. But when her beloved father dies, Sara's friends and prized possessions are suddenly taken away, and she is banished to the attic and forced to work as a common drudge. Fed only crumbs, she still saves enough to feed her pet rat, and she tells wonderful stories to comfort Becky, the kitchen maid. Using her special ability to play make-believe, she transforms her hardships into an unforgettable adventure. And soon, even her wildest wishes begin to come true, as her real identity is revealed once and for all. This touching classic has been a favorite with generations of children and adults who have delighted in Sara's happiness, wept over her sorrows, and perhaps shared her need: to be recognized as someone unique and special-a little princess or prince. "A beautiful tale of courage against adversity."-Guardian (London)

Frances Hodgson Burnett (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Enchanted Castle

Jimmy, Gerald, and Cathy hope to find adventure when they set off to explore the woods, but they get far more than they bargained for when they discover the Enchanted Castle. At first, they seem to be in a fairy tale come true, until a friend turns invisible, thanks to a magic ring she can't remove. Adventure follows adventure as they seek to control the magic-but the magic has a will of its own, and it is all they can do to keep up. Faced with sleeping princesses, magic rings, and moonlit gardens filled with magic, the children must use all their courage and ingenuity to control the magic and solve the mystery surrounding the Enchanted Castle. "The popular British author's adventures of childhood have always been good read-aloud choices; the audiobook format superbly showcases them."-AudioFile

Edith Nesbit (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

Five Children and It

Curious to see if people on the other side of the globe walk upside down, Robert, Anthea, Cyril, Jane, and their baby brother start digging a hole to Australia. They don't get too far, however, before they dig up a furry brown creature with bat's ears. It is a Psammead, an ancient Sand-fairy. The Sammyadd, as the children call it, grumpily tells them that he is obliged to grant their wishes, because making people's wishes come true is what Sand-fairies do. However, there is one catch: the wishes come undone at sunset. No matter how carefully the children plan, their wishes keep backfiring, and they realize that you have to be careful what you wish for'you may get it. '[Nesbit is] the children's writer with whom I most identify.''J. K. Rowling, in O, The Oprah Magazine

Edith Nesbit (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Secret Garden

Mary Lennox, a spoiled, ill-tempered, and unhealthy child, comes to live with her reclusive uncle in Misselthwaite Manor after the death of her parents. There she meets a hearty housekeeper and her spirited brother, a dour gardener, a cheerful robin, and her willful, hysterical, and sickly cousin, Master Colin. With the help of the robin, Mary finds the door to a secret garden, neglected and hidden for years. When she decides to restore the garden in secret, the story becomes a charming journey into the places of the heart, where faith restores health, flowers refresh the spirit, and the magic of the garden, coming to life anew, brings health to Colin; and to Mary, happiness. "It will rapt most children away, for after fifty years its spell is still as strong; a blend of power, beauty, vivid interest and honest goodness. Yes, if this is magic, it is good magic."-"-New York Times Book Review

Frances Hodgson Burnett (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Railway Children

Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis were quite happy living in their ordinary red-brick house located in the suburbs. But when their father was called away, the children and their mother were compelled to move to a dark, shabby cottage in the country, and their lives changed more then they ever could have imagined.At first the country seemed lonely and dull. Then one afternoon, a walk led them to a railway tunnel. There they met Perks, the porter, made friends with the kind Station Master, and waved to the Green Dragon train as it went by. Soon every day became filled with the excitement and fascination of the railway, and they became railway children. Since its first publication in 1906, The Railway Children has been one of the most popular and beloved children's books, and it is sure to charm many generations to come.

Edith Nesbit (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

Little Lord Fauntleroy

"The best version of the Cinderella story in modern idiom that exists" is how Marghanita Laski describes Frances Hodgson Burnett's Little Lord Fauntleroy. It is the charming story of a seven-year-old American boy, Ceddie Errol, who lives on the edge of poverty in New York. One day he is visited by a gruff lawyer at the tiny house he shares with his widowed mother, and his life is never to be the same: for waiting in England is Dorincourt Castle, where Ceddie is to reside as the sole living heir to the irascible, proud, and selfish Earl of Dorincourt. It will be up to this virtuous boy to capture and warm the Earl's heart and transform him into a doting grandfather and responsible landlord.

Frances Hodgson Burnett (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

Outcast

When a Roman ship is wrecked on the coast of Britain, Beric, the infant son of a Roman soldier, is the only survivor. Beric grows up with a Briton tribe, but to his foster people he remained an alien, one of the Red Crests. So when bad times come, the tribe holds him responsible and casts him out. Rejected by the only life he knew, the boy turns to his own people, but Rome too rejects him. Lost, bewildered, a captive in his father's land, he escaped from slavery only to be captured again and condemned to labor on the rowing benches of a galley of the Rhenus Fleet. Will Beric ever find ultimate happiness? Rosemary Sutcliff provides a fine and exciting story with a background of Roman Britain that rings true from the first page to the last. "Outcast comes to life under Johanna Ward's smooth reading..."-Reviewer's Bookwatch

Rosemary Sutcliff (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Silver Branch

In The Eagle of the Ninth, Marcus Flavius Aquila ventured into the wilds of Caledonia to retrieve the lost Eagle of his father's dishonored Ninth Legion. In this new story of Roman Britain, the mutilated standard is found again by Flavius, a descendant of Marcus, and his cousin Justin, a young surgeon in the Roman army. It is found at a time when conflicting loyalties, violence, and intrigue are undermining Roman rule in Britain. Justin and Flavius are accidentally caught up in this power struggle when they discover a plot to overthrow the Emperor. A series of adventures carries them across England and down again to the South, where they become secret agents of Rome. But when the time comes for open revolt, they are ready with a band of loyalists to carry the Eagle of the Ninth into the thick of battle to win new honor for the Eagle and for Rome. "Rosemary Sutcliff brings this distant period in world history to life, giving her characters color, texture, and vivid personalities....Johanna Ward gives each character a rich and meaningful individuality so that the listener has no difficulty 'seeing' Justin, Flavius, their friends, and their enemies."-Looking Glass Children's Book Review

Rosemary Sutcliff (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook