Classics Audiobooks

That Shakespeare Kid

Middle school students Emma and Peter are assigned Act I of Romeo and Juliet to read for homework. Peter wants to get a better copy than his tattered paperback. So he climbs up onto a chair in his mother’s study to retrieve her heavy Riverside Shakespeare. Just as he tugs on it, the chair moves and the book hits him on the head. When Peter regains consciousness, he can speak only in lines from Shakespeare. So instead of saying a simple 'hello,' he might say something like, 'How dost thou?' or instead of a simple 'goodbye' he might say, 'Parting is such sweet sorrow.' Emma Malcolm narrates this appealing young adult fantasy. She describes herself and her neighbor Peter Marlowe as “happy nerds.” Yet when Peter suddenly becomes unable to speak modern English, everything changes. As hard as Peter tries to speak for himself, his words come out as Shakespeare’s own. His strange speech irritates Emma at the school bus stop and embarrasses her in the baseball stadium. Emma thinks so, too, but she soon realizes that he cannot help himself. However, when he discovers that he can text and instant message in modern English, Emma becomes his translator. English is Peter’s favorite class, and Ms. Hastings is his favorite teacher. Ms. Hastings decides to guide the class even further into Shakespeare’s world. She determines to help them put on the 30-Minute version of Romeo and Juliet. Peter and Emma will be the leads, the play’s star-crossed lovers—after all, Romeo and Juliet were about their age. Emma has never kissed a boy, and she realizes that she is about to experience her first kiss in front of the whole school. This engaging comedy introduces Shakespeare’s language gracefully, making it part of a light and charming fantasy about language and first love.

Michael Lomonico (Author), Arielle Swan (Narrator)

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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Unabridged)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. A young girl named Alice falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatures. It is seen as an example of the literary nonsense genre. One of the best-known works of Victorian literature, its narrative, structure, characters and imagery have had huge influence on popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre. The book has never been out of print and has been translated into 174 languages. Its legacy covers adaptations for screen, radio, art, ballet, opera, musicals, theme parks, board games and video games. Carroll published a sequel in 1871 entitled Through the Looking-Glass and a shortened version for young children, The Nursery 'Alice', in 1890. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was inspired when, on 4 July 1862, Lewis Carroll and Reverend Robinson Duckworth rowed up The Isis in a boat with three young girls. The three girls were the daughters of scholar Henry Liddell: Lorina Charlotte Liddell (aged 13; 'Prima' in the book's prefatory verse); Alice Pleasance Liddell (aged 10; 'Secunda' in the verse); and Edith Mary Liddell (aged 8; 'Tertia' in the verse). The journey began at Folly Bridge, Oxford, and ended 5 miles (8.0 km) away in Godstow, Oxfordshire. During the trip Carroll told the girls a story that he described in his diary as 'Alice's Adventures Under Ground' and which his journal says he 'undertook to write out for Alice'.

Lewis Carroll (Author), Algy Pug, Arielle Lipshaw, David Goldfarb, Elizabeth Klett, Heather Phillips, Kara Shallenberg, Lucy Perry, Miss Avarice, Ruth Golding, Terence Taylor (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Wind in the Willows

This shortened version of Kenneth Grahame’s original 1908 book uses only his original words, just fewer of them. Originally created for a one-man performance, this version is ideal for enjoying in just a few sittings A classic tale for kids and big kids alike, The Wind in the Willows is a whirlwind ride through the seasons as Ratty, Mole and Badger follow the impulsive Toad on his hapless misadventures.

Kenneth Grahame (Author), Mathew Jones (Narrator)

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Merry Christmas from The Very Hungry Caterpillar

This gorgeous little gift book from The Very Hungry Caterpillar is the perfect way to say 'Merry Christmas!'      Join The Very Hungry Caterpillar for a celebration of all that is festive during the holiday season. This beautiful book features Eric Carle's bright, colorful artwork of Christmas delights-from presents to snowflakes and even Santa Claus-with The Very Hungry Caterpillar making an appearance alongside each one. This sweet little book is the perfect Christmas present for readers young and old.

Eric Carle (Author), Kevin R. Free (Narrator)

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[Portuguese] - Alice no País das Maravilhas

Escrita em 1862, fruto da imaginação extraordinária de Lewis Carroll, esta obra transporta o leitor a uma viagem psicodélica e repleta de disparates. Tudo começa quando Alice se depara com um coelho branco que passa por ela correndo, apressado, e decide segui-lo até sua toca. A partir daí, um novo mundo se descortina diante dessa garotinha curiosa, que vai viver fantásticas aventuras repletas de acontecimentos absurdos ao lado de personagens excêntricos como o Chapeleiro Maluco, a Rainha de Copas, a Tartaruga Falsa e o Gato de Cheshire. Uma obra dinâmica, carregada de simbolismos e que, há mais de 150 anos, vem encantando leitores de todas as idades.

Lewis Carroll (Author), Lais Helena (Narrator)

Audiobook

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is a novel of manners by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The story follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education, and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of the British Regency. Elizabeth is the second of five daughters of a country gentleman living near the fictional town of Meryton in Hertfordshire, near London.Page 2 of a letter from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra (11 June 1799) in which she first mentions Pride and Prejudice, using its working title First Impressions.Set in England in the early 19th century, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of Mr and Mrs Bennet's five unmarried daughters after the rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, have moved into their neighbourhood. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane, Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and repeatedly clashes with the second-eldest Bennet daughter, Elizabeth.Though Austen set the story at the turn of the 19th century, it retains a fascination for modern readers, continuing near the top of lists of 'most loved books.' It has become one of the most popular novels in English literature, selling over 20 million copies, and receives considerable attention from literary scholars. Modern interest in the book has resulted in a number of dramatic adaptations and an abundance of novels and stories imitating Austen's memorable characters or themes.

Jane Austen (Author), Sheryl Baker (Narrator)

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