Listen to New Releases Audiobooks in Kids, Ages 8-10

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Title: George's Secret Key to the Universe

Author: Lucy Hawking, Stephen Hawking

Narrator: Hugh Dancy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-23-07

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 173 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

Stephen Hawking, author of the multi-million copy bestselling A Brief History of Time, and his daughter, Lucy, explain the universe to listeners of all ages.

George's parents, who have always been wary of technology, warn him about their new neighbors: Eric is a scientist and his daughter, Annie, seems to be following in his footsteps. But when George befriends them and Cosmos, their super-computer, he finds himself on a wildly fun adventure, while learning about physics, time, and the universe. With Cosmos' help, he can travel to other planets and a black hole. But what would happen if the wrong people got their hands on Cosmos? George, Annie, and Eric aren't about to find out, and what ensues is a funny adventure that clearly explains the mysteries of science.

Members Reviews:

My girls LOVED this book

If you could sum up George's Secret Key to the Universe in three words, what would they be?

Physics and astronomy made fun.

What does Hugh Dancy bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Hugh Dancy's use of accent, tone and inflection brings the characters to life

Any additional comments?

My girls (8 and 10) were captivated by this book. As soon as they get in the car they want me to play it and were always disapointed when we would stop and have to get out of teh car. It truely was a treat for them and they learned so much. I really enjoyed it too, it is a great little yarn. It was a great opportunity for me to share my love of physics with them.

Great Listen!

My 11 year old boy was hesitant to purchase this one...but he LOVED it...we even listened to Steven Hawking's Postlude together, he was so enthralled with the story and author's special abilities. Great job!

Fun and educational children's book!

This book seems geared for grammar school kids through young teens and the authors manage very well to make really complex scientific concepts accessible even to very young readers. The language is simple, and the characters easy to relate to. As an adult, I thought the story was cute and very educational. I enjoy reading physics written for a general audience. It's great that Stephen Hawking, as one of the most brilliant physicists ever, has made his work so accessible to general audiences and now, with the help of his daughter, to children. I think this would be a fantastic book to listen to on a road trip with kids, especially if you were on your way to an observatory or planetarium. It has some good messages to kids and parents. The narration is polished and portrays the characters and action well. Dr. Hawking discusses the more technical aspects of the science at the end himself, which is a nice bonus.

Enjoyable for the whole family

Completely captured our whole family's attention including (8 yr old boy, 9 yr old girl, Mom & Dad.) And while it was a great story it also effectively taught about the universe.

Awesome story

A Great science lesson. The reading by Hugh is perfect. The characters come alive as he reads.

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Title: The Grey King

Subtitle: Book 4 of The Dark Is Rising Sequence

Author: Susan Cooper

Narrator: Richard Mitchley

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-12-07

Publisher: Listening Library

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 323 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

There is a Welsh legend about a harp of gold, hidden within a certain hill, that will be found by a boy and a white dog with silver eyes - a dog that can see the wind. Will Stanton knew nothing of this when he traveled to Wales to recover from a severe illness. But when he met Bran, the strange boy who owned a white dog, he began to remember. For Will is the last-born of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to saving the world from the forces of evil, the Dark. And it is Will's task to wake with the golden harp the six who must be roused from their long slumber in the Welsh hills to prepare for the last battle between the Dark and the Light.

Listen to more in the

.

©2007 Susan Cooper; (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group.

Critic Reviews:

"Susan Cooper is a consummate storyteller, and Richard Mitchley is an extraordinary narrator. His voice resonates with the atmosphere of the British Isles. The power and depth of his voice as the Grey King cause the listener to cower, and his icy tones create chills as the Brenin Llwyd blows by. As Will comes to understand the eerie might of the warestones, Mitchley brings goose bumps to the listener's skin. The interplay of past and present is compelling and believable, given his masterful presentation. This is a fabulous listen!" (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

One step closer.

This was actually the first book of the sequence that I ever read. At that time I didn't know it was part of a series. This latest adventure begins when Will Stanton, last of the Old Ones, is sent to visit relatives in Whales while he recovers from a bout of Hepatitis. Soon after his arrival he meets Bran, an introverted, pale boy who seems to know something of Will's true nature and his business. It soon becomes apparent that even here the forces of the Dark, and indeed one of their most powerful lords, are at work, with the unwitting but not entirely unwilling aid of a disagreeable farmer with a grudge against Bran's father. Will the two boys be able to accomplish their mission before all is lost?

This is the only book in the series not read by Alex Jennings. Fortunately Richard Mitchley, Jennings' stand-in, has both a good voice for storytelling and a good ear for accents and dialects. This is a fairly short book but I couldn't put it down for long.

This series starts out good but gets weird

What made the experience of listening to The Grey King the most enjoyable?

The discussion of Wales and Mitchley's excellent handling of the language and accent.

What did you like best about this story?

see above

Any additional comments?

At first I was hesitant to try a new narrator, as Alex Jennings handles the others in the series with aplomb, but after hearing Mitchley's Welsh I don't think Jennings could have done it proper justice. Both are good narrators but Mitchley was the best choice for this particular novel. An enjoyable listen, if a weird book.

The Best of the Best

This is my favorite of the Dark is Rising series. The reader captures the Welsh accent so very well, it's like being in Wales. Brilliant.

Great to listen to

It was lovely to hear all those Welsh words I've always wondered what they sounded like.

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Title: The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Author: Brian Selznick

Narrator: Jeff Woodman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-20-07

Publisher: Scholastic Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 535 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life and his most precious secret are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

©2007 Brian Selznick; (P)2006 Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved. SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.

Critic Reviews:

"It's wonderful. Take that overused word literally: Hugo Cabret evokes wonder." (New York Times Book Review)

"A true masterpiece." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"A fast-paced treat for tweens." (People Magazine)

Members Reviews:

engaging story for the whole family

Our family read the book last year when it came out, and it appealed to both my 5 year old son and 7 year old daughter. The book is VERY visual, however, with nearly 1/4 of the pages being full (and very detailed) black and white illustrations that evoke the silent film era that the book refers to. The illustrations actually move the plot of the book forward, so I was skeptical about the ability of an audiobook to do justice to the book. They solve the dilemma of several pages of wordless pictures by resorting to old-style radio sound effects, which work fairly well, and also call to mind days gone by.

The book made a car trip go by quickly for everyone, and the kids wanted to start it over again. I'd recommend the story highly, but strongly suggest that you read the book as well in order to really experience Hugo's adventure.

A wonderful quick listen

I listened to this with my nine-year-old daughter in five short sessions as she read along with the more-than-500-page printed version. Even if you do not listen with a young child, get the printed version. The hundreds of illustrations in the book are magnificent. The recorded version is also enhanced by several mood-creating sound effects which, in my opinion, really added to the enjoyment of the story. The narrator was magnificent in his renderings of all the characters, particularly Georges. If you are hesitant about using a credit for a book that is less than three hours long, make the leap with this one. I guarantee you will choose to listen to it several times because the experience is just that good.

what an intruiging story

I listened to this book during a long drive, with my mother (in her sixties), my son (six), and myself (30's). This book kept all of our interest, and we could all follow the story line. The sound effects during this reading were great, keeping it interesting and fun. The narrator did a great job, with old timie radio images popping up in my mind throughout. And the story itself shows why they would turn it in to a movie (which was also fabulous), with heart-felt emotions being felt when this poor boy's plight is made clear. I recommend it for all ages!

Dare to follow your dreams!

What made the experience of listening to The Invention of Hugo Cabret the most enjoyable?

It's a quick listen but well worth the credit.

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Title: Warriors

Subtitle: The New Prophecy 6, Sunset

Author: Erin Hunter

Narrator: Nanette Savard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-22-06

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 70 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

Before there is peace, blood will spill blood, and the lake will run red....

In Book Six: Sunset all the tensions the Clans have faced in their new home suddenly explode into battle, and a young hero faces a life-changing choice.

Members Reviews:

Love this series, Love this Author!!

When I started this entire series, with the entrance of Rusty, or Firepaw, I had my doubts about it. It took me a while to get to know all the cats and clans, but once I got a grip on the storyline, I was in love with the ideas of the four clans, their warrior codes and warrior ways of life. The stories told from the Thunder Clan cats views brought to me a wonderful new experience for my imagination, and quickly swept me away into their forests!

The books are easy to read once you understand who and where every clan cat lives/belongs. The Thunder Clan, River Clan, Wind Clan, and Shadow Clan's ways of life will imediately capture the heart of anyone of any age. I am going on 30 this year, and my imagination and love for reading keeps me hungering for more wonderfully written stories such as these. I totally intend to share these books with my children once they've learned how to read as to help their imagination grow even further.

There is some violence in the series, and it is very descriptive, but I wouldn't keep anyone from reading it! I'm hooked, and I hope everyone has a chance to read this series, no matter your age! Happy reading!

Thank you Erin Hunter, I love you books and look forward to sharing them with my friends and family!!

The Warrior Books are Truly Amazing!

When I first started reading the Warrior books they were just so good , the wild side of books. I was so excited to read Twilight the 5th book of this series and to be honest I love to hear the book but I understand it better when I can read the book. It's just hard to stay on focus and I wander a bit. But I got the free trial and I had to deal with it. But I do advice to listen to this , and I only heard 3 chapters and I already love it!

Great!

I have the book, but listening to it makes me feel like I'm actually there. It's amazing!

Great story

Erin Hunter a amazing group of authors

Narrator annoying at first but nice after a little bit

Good story

Well written good characters interesting ending for this series. This is a good book. I recommend it to young readers who like animals and fun to follow along stories. Has a realistic and fantasy which is a nice combination.

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Title: Scorpia

Subtitle: An Alex Rider Adventure

Author: Anthony Horowitz

Narrator: Simon Prebble

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-13-05

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 172 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

Best-selling author Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider adventure novels are a worldwide sensation. In Scorpia Alex must confront the legacy of the father he never knew. It turns out his father may have worked for Scorpia, a deadly terrorist organization. Now that Scorpia wants Alex on their team, the teenaged hero must face the hardest decision of his life.

©2005 Anthony Horowitz; (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic Reviews:

"Alex Rider saves the day, but not without psychological mind gaming and fighting that will bring readers to the edge of their seats and keep them there until the final page." (School Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

9/10

great read for when u want to feel like ur in an action movie! I definatly recomend!

Awesome book!

Where does Scorpia rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

At the top.

What did you like best about this story?

High adventure

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, too much for one setting.

Any additional comments?

My student's love Anthony Horowitz's books! Having them as audio books lets those students with reading difficulties access high interest books.

Great

This book was filled with excitement and surprises great book for all ages

HAVE A GOOD TIME READING!!!!!

a good addiation

i an a huge fan of the series and this is one of my favorts once again anthony horowitiz delivers many twist and turnd and surprizing detatiled acount well writen enought to belive it but exicting enought to get swept up in the story

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Title: Taran Wanderer

Subtitle: The Prydain Chronicles, Book 4

Author: Lloyd Alexander

Narrator: James Langton

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-21-05

Publisher: Listening Library

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 364 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

Taran, the assistant pig-keeper who wants to be a hero, goes questing for knowledge of his parentage, hoping that his journey will ennoble him in the eyes of Eilonwy, the princess with the red-gold hair. Accompanied by several loyal friends, Taran begins his search when three wily enchantresses of the Marshes of Morva send him to consult the Mirror of Llunet for the answers he is seeking, cryptically promising that "the finding takes no more than the looking". During his adventures he meets Craddoc, the shepherd, and the common people of Prydain, whom he comes to respect and admire. With their help, he continues his mission to learn the secret of the Mirror and the truth about himself.

Don't miss the rest of Lloyd Alexander's

.

©1967 Lloyd Alexander; (P)2004 Random House, Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic Reviews:

"James Langton's narration is outstanding. The earnestness of Taran in both joy and anguish, as well the liveliness of the supporting characters, is memorable." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Best of the Series

The Prydain Chronicles was one of my favorite fantasy series as a child. I decided to listen to it again largely out of nostalgia. The story incorporates many old Welsh myths to weave an exciting fantasy world that centers on a boy who dreams of accomplishing big deeds but learns both humanity and courage.

This is my favorite book in the series. Taran has to discover himself through taking on new challenges ranging from farming to blacksmithing to weaving. In the process, he learns more about himself and the value of other people--even those that aren't great heroes.

This book might be a bit scary for very young children but most ages 7 and up will enjoy the magic and adventure.

These Books are classics!

Would you consider the audio edition of Taran Wanderer to be better than the print version?

Not sure. I loved both. And this audio addition is very well done

What did you like best about this story?

Characters .... nobel characters

Which character as performed by James Langton was your favorite?

Couldn't tell you .... he was excellent at all of them

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

From one part to the next the whole thing is well developed. The challenges are realistic, and the characters are all pushed to develop themselves

Harry Potter, Percy Jackson Fans This Is For You!

I highly recommend all the Chronicles of Prydain and Taran Wanderer in particular. If you love great adventures, well drawn lovable characters, and profound life lessons, you will love Taran Wanderer. Lloyd Alexander creates the world of Prydain loosely based on Welsh mythology. This is the 4th book in the Chronicles of Prydain, and I recommend reading them in order. The last chapter is wonderful. We listened to it several times. LOVE the advice given to Taran: "trust to luck, but don't forget to put out your nets." Excellent! For those who have listened to Harry Potter, James Langton does as good a job as Jim Dale. It was wonderful to listen to him bring Taran and his friends to life. This is a book written for younger readers (middle school and late elementary) but high schoolers and adults will take much from it also. Do yourself a favor--read these books!

Marvelous!

Classic coming of age tale told by a master storyteller.

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Title: The Princess and Curdie

Author: George MacDonald

Narrator: Ian Whitcomb

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-30-04

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 139 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

She then sends him on a quest, accompanied by a peculiar doglike creature named Lina, who was once a human. However, Curdie must resolve his own skepticism before he can use the powers granted to him to defeat the evil that is threatening the future of the kingdom.

Members Reviews:

Another wonderful George MacDonald book

After reading The Princess and the Goblin, I couldn't wait to listen to this one. It was just as good as The Princess and the Goblin. Again, the narrator was excellent.

George McDonald is now one of our favorites

After listening to The Princess and the Goblin which was a literature requirement in our home school, we wanted to follow the characters on our own so we bought this book. We listened only in the car and my kids ages 5-13 did not want to get our of the car when we arrived at our destinations. We were sad to finish this book.

One of our very favorites.

An Enduring Favorite

I've loved this book since I was a child. The tale centers on being honorable, choosing to do right, and learning to have faith in what you believe in--presented in the most delightful Victorian style prose which demands that you think and pay attention to the narrative. I'm sure I will listen to this audiobook at least as many times as I have read the book--which is a great many times indeed.

Good, but not as good as Goblins

It is entirely enjoyable, but as a sequel to The Princess and the Goblins, it is noticeably stodgier. It lacks the fast paced unfolding of the story, with many long detailed digressions into descriptive imagery. However, it is still very rich in narrative detail and good fun to listen to. It is also a bit heavier on the moralism, and consequently less interesting than the Goblins.

Fabulous story

Would you consider the audio edition of The Princess and Curdie to be better than the print version?

Yes, the audio version comes alive in a way that, for me, improves upon the print version.

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Title: Sarah, Plain and Tall Audio Collection

Author: Patricia MacLachlan

Narrator: Glenn Close

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-30-04

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 125 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

"I will come by train. I will wear a yellow bonnet. I am plain and tall," Sarah writes Papa. And so begins the journey for Sarah, Papa, Anna, and Caleb in Patricia MacLachlan's masterpiece, Sarah, Plain and Tall.

In Skylark, a drought turns the land dry and brown and Sarah takes Anna and Caleb back to the city as Papa stays behind. Will the family ever be reunited?

Caleb's Story continues the saga of Sarah and her family on the prairie. All the beloved characters return for another important episode in their lives, this time narrated by Caleb, offering a new perspective.

Critic Reviews:

Newbery Medal Winner, 1986

Members Reviews:

Missing Skylark, but still excellent

The 4 hours and 22 minutes includes Sarah, Plain and Tall and Caleb's Story, and an interview with the author. But there was no Skylark.

What was there was excellent, both the story and the narration. My six year old and nine year old listened raptly, as did I. I liked that it had a complicated family (mail order bride becomes a step mother), and complicated emotions, painted against a prairie farm back drop. It feels true.

great story

This is in the vain of Little House on the Prairie but more grown up. There were real emotions shared with the characters

Wonderful story and performance

A story of family of a different time in history. A story of love, blended families , relationships and the importance of forgiveness. Recommend for any age.

My favorite audio book,because it appeals to all ages.A lovely story of brave people who work and enjoy each other..Its narrated

It's beautifully narrated by Glen Close and a love story that shows h ow one family survives when the odds are against them.

Awesome

Loved it. It was a great audible book. It reminded me of the movies. Thank you.

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Title: Mattimeo

Subtitle: Redwall, Book 3

Author: Brian Jacques

Narrator: Brian Jacques, Full Cast

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-29-04

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 362 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

Mattimeo should have been named "trouble". Always getting into mischief and quick to lose his temper, the young mouse seems an unlikely candidate to take up the great sword once wielded by the legendary Martin to defend Redwall Abbey's peaceful way of life. But when Mattimeo and his friends are kidnapped by the fierce fox Slagar the Cruel, the bold little mouse learns that there is far more to becoming a true warrior than simply brandishing a sword.

Don't miss any of Brian Jacques'

series.

© The Redwall La Dita Co., Ltd.; (P) Recorded Books, LLC

Members Reviews:

i love the books

i love Brian Jacques the chicters are vary well voiced the story is perdictable but vary good this is the 3rd red wall book where is the rest of the series here it jumpes from the 5th book to book 13 so far the series is 17 books long so where are the rest of the books

Nice tale of adventure

This was an enjoyable entry into the series. It was nice that there were multiple stories happening at once, and basically all of the characters of Redwall got their moment to shine. I am not sure why the book is called Mattimeo, as he was not even the central character in the story, just the one who kicks off the journey. Overall solidly done, great performance by all of the actors as well

love it

love it. great narrator. great story. would recommend to anyone to read/listen to. you can really get into the action and imagine you are there in the story.

Redwall sequel not to be missed!

If you love the original Redwall novel, you owe it to yourself to give this a listen. Brilliant novels rarely have worthy sequels, but this is one of them. The whole cast does a terrific job. Can't recommend these recordings highly enough.

Another enjoyable story in a great series!

Any additional comments?

Good clean adventure for the young and young at heart. Great performance by the cast! I can easily recommend this book and any book from this series to any person that enjoys a good story.

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Title: The Mystery at Lilac Inn

Subtitle: Nancy Drew Mystery Stories 4

Author: Carolyn Keene

Narrator: Laura Linney

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-26-04

Publisher: Listening Library

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 218 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

Nancy finds herself in danger when she tries to solve the mystery of the old inn, believed to be jinxed.

Hear more

mystery stories.

©1989, 1961, 1930 Simon & Schuster, Inc.; (P)2002 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic Reviews:

"Laura Linney does an admirable job reading this 1930 mystery....The story is a good one, filled with surprising lore about lilacs, and the action is punctuated by mood music and sound effects." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Good, but not great.

This is one of those Nancy Drew books that I only read once so when I saw the audio version, I decided to give it a listen because I couldn't really remember the storyline or any other details. The narrator, Laura Linney, is just great (I wish she would narrate all of the ND books) so no complaints there. Unfortunately, though, the storyline of this book just didn't capture my attention very much. Perhaps it was because Bess & George were nowhere to be seen? Yes, I think that's probably what it was. I also had a bit of a harder time visualizing what was being read to me which is normally not the case with other Nancy Drew books. But go on, give it a listen...you might like it more than I did!

Love Lilacs

With a pure heart Nancy helps all those around her. Lounge chair book even for the older set.

love this book!!!

i loved it but couldn't wait till the end it was the best book ever!

Love it listen all the time

I love to listen to this story over and over, love the narrator Laura Linney

Out of date?

When I played Nancy Drew audiobooks in the car for my (up-to-date Disney network) Granddaughters, I thought they were going to balk at them for being to out of date. Not so, they are enjoying them - go figure!