Biography & Memoir Audiobooks

Patterns of Destiny

A wonderful collection of fully-dramatized stories about famous persons who, despite adversities, followed their vision and persevered to see their ideas and efforts succeed. Listen and experience their trials and tribulations--and ultimate joy--as they triumph, and in so doing pave the way for following generations. Some of the historical figures who are included in this album are: Joan of Arc, Albert Schweitzer, George Mueller, Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, Louis Pasteur, Dwight L. Moody, and George W. Carver. Ideal for home school, classroom, or personal enjoyment. Complete with sound effects and music. Enacted by a professional cast. Exciting, educational, and entertaining!

Your Story Hour (Author), Aunt Sue, Uncle Dan (Narrator)

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Paul Brand: Helping Hands

Watching his father perform medical procedures back in India had convinced Paul that medicine was about blood and guts and ulcers. To his amazement, he found that it was really about causes and cures, alleviating pain, and treating ill people with dignity. The son of missionary parents, Paul Brand did not plan on becoming a doctor. After training as a builder, he was called by God into medicine and spent a lifetime treating leprosy and restoring hope to thousands of sufferers. Dr. Paul Brand became the first surgeon in the world to use reconstructive surgery to correct the deformities of leprosy in the hands and feet. He strove to eliminate the stigma of the disease and rebuild the lives of those destroyed by it. A humble, brilliant servant, he influenced faith and medical communities around the world, reminding us that all men are created in the image of God.

Janet And Geoff Benge (Author), Tim Gregory (Narrator)

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Paul Bunyan: A Very Tall Tale Audiobook

Introduce children to the classic American folktale of a giant lumberjack and his companion, a blue ox named Babe. In this tall tale, Paul Bunyan and Babe travel the country cutting down trees and accidentally making some very famous landmarks. With large font and colorful, engaging illustrations, early readers will have fun while reading and following the story of Paul Bunyan and Babe the ox.

Jo Weaver (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

Audiobook

Paul: God's Courageous Apostle

He hunted down the followers of Christ and threw them into prison. However, as he made his way to Damascus to arrest more, Jesus appeared to him in a blinding light. Soon Saul the persecutor became one of Christ's boldest apostles, whom we know as Paul. God's Courageous Apostle highlights some of the dramatic events in the life of the apostle Paul, who founded many of the first "underground" congregations and spent time in prison for his witness. His story will inspire children to share Christ with the lost.

The Voice Of The Martyrs (Author), Lance Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley was the first black person in America to have a book published, opening the door for other black writers and female authors. She was kidnapped and brought to the colonies as a child and served as a slave to a family in Boston. Phillis learned to read and write at a young age.

Emily R. Smith (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

Audiobook

Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science

In 1848 Vermont, railroad foreman Phineas Gage sat above a hole, preparing to blast through some granite. A 13-pound iron rod fell from his hands into the hole, triggering the explosion and sending the rod straight through Phineas' head. Thirty minutes after this terrible accident, Phineas sat on the steps of a hotel, patiently waiting for the town doctor to arrive. He chatted with his amazed coworkers as if nothing had happened. But something terrible had happened. The rod that shot through Phineas' head like a rocket had caused great damage. Yet-incredibly-Phineas survived another 11 years. This extraordinary book tells the true story of one of the most remarkable accidents in human history. Listeners will not only be fascinated by all the gruesome details, but will also learn riveting information about how Phineas helped change the history of brain science. "Readers of this fascinating book will become acquainted with both the unbelievable tale of Phineas Gage as well as valuable information about the workings of the human brain."-Children's Literature

John Fleischman (Author), Kevin Orton (Narrator)

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Phoebe the Spy

Someone is planning to kill George Washington, and young Phoebe Fraunces is trying to save his life. Phoebe gets a job as George Washington's housekeeper, but her real job is to work as a spy. She listens and watches very carefully, and she meets her father every day to tell him what she has learned. One day Phoebe's father tells her that Washington is planning to leave town in a few days, and the person plotting against him will act before then. Phoebe is very frightened, but she is determined to figure out who is after Washington before it's too late. . . .

Judith Griffin (Author), Allyson Johnson (Narrator)

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Pirate Queen: A Story of Zheng Yi Sao

The most powerful pirate in history was a woman who was born into poverty in Guangzhou, China, in the late eighteenth century. When pirates attacked Zheng Yi Saos town and the captain took a liking to her, she saw a way out. She agreed to marry him only if she got an equal share of his business. When her husband died, she took command of the fleet. On land and sea, Zheng Yi Saos power rivaled that of the emperor himself. Over the next decade, the pirate queen built a fleet of more than 1,800 ships and 70,000 men. Time and again, her ships triumphed over the emperors ships. When she was ready to retire, the pirate queen surrendered on her own terms, of course. Zheng Yi Saos story is told in lyrical prose by award-winning author Helaine Becker. Liz Wongs colorful, engaging illustrations capture the courage and grit of this remarkable woman. An authors note provides historical context and outlines the challenges of researching a figure about whom little is known.

Helaine Becker (Author), Catherine Ho (Narrator)

Audiobook

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré

This inspiring biography tells the story of New York City's first Puerto Rican librarian, a woman who championed bilingual literature.When she came to America in 1921, Pura Belpré carried the cuentos folklóricos of her Puerto Rican homeland. Finding a new home at the New York Public Library as a bilingual assistant, she turned her popular retellings into libros and spread story seeds across the land. Today, these seeds have grown into a lush landscape as generations of children and storytellers continue to share her tales and celebrate Pura's legacy.Brought to life by Anika Aldamuy Denise's lyrical text, this gorgeous story is perfect for the pioneers in your life.

Anika Aldamuy Denise (Author), Adriana Sananes (Narrator)

Audiobook

Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma

The New York Times bestselling author of Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, Joanna Ho, delivers a poignant biography about the musician Yo-Yo Ma, immigration, and using music to build bridges. “Everyone can benefit from Ho’s message of music bringing calm and peace to the world.” —Booklist  Joanna Ho’s lyrical writing tells an inspiring story of Yo-Yo Ma, who challenges conventions, expectations, and beliefs in order to build bridges to unite communities, people, and cultures. A beautiful biography to enjoy and share in the home and the classroom. Before Yo-Yo Ma became one of the most renowned and celebrated cellists, he wanted to play the double bass. But it was too big for his four-year-old hands. Over time, Ma honed his amazing talent, and his music became a reflection of his own life between borders, cultures, disciplines, and generations. Since then, he has recorded over a hundred albums, won nineteen Grammy Awards, performed for eight American presidents, and received the National Medal of the Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, just to name a few accomplishments. Staying true to himself, Yo-Yo Ma performed at the US-Mexico border at the Rio Grande on April 13, 2019, as part of his multi-continent “Bach Project” tour to prove a point—through music, we can build bridges rather than walls between different cultures.

Joanna Ho (Author), Kevin Shen (Narrator)

Audiobook

Playwrights and Authors: Ladybird Audio Adventures

Brought to you by Ladybird. Follow our fearless adventurers Cassandra (and Missy, the smartest bird in the universe) as they set out on their next action-packed Ladybird Audio Adventure! On this adventure we're going to meet literary legends throughout history! These audiobooks help children learn about their environment on a journey of discovery with narrators Ben Bailey Smith (a.k.a. Doc Brown, rapper, comedian, and writer) and Sophie Aldred (best known for her role as Ace in Doctor Who). Ladybird Audio Adventures is an award-winning original series for three to seven-year-olds; an entertaining and engaging way for children to learn about the world around them. Special stories written exclusively for audio so little ones can become their own adventurers with fun sound and musical effects that are perfect for listening at home, before bed and on long journeys. Have you listened to all our Ladybird Audio Adventures? Dinosaur Times The Human Body Outer Space Deep Sea Dive The Animal Kingdom Ancient Egypt Ancient Rome Incredible Inventors Lake, Lochs, and Rivers Volcanoes This Ladybird story was written by Donna David. (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Tbd (Author), Sophie Aldred (Narrator)

Audiobook

Pocahontas

Pocahontas was the daughter of the great Chief Powhatan. Pocahontas was instrumental in helping Jamestown settlers survive a difficult winter and literally keeping peace between two diverse cultures.

Marie Patterson (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

Audiobook