Health & Family Audiobooks

Dark Waters

New York Times bestselling author Katherine Arden returns with another creepy, spine-tingling adventure in this follow-up to the critically acclaimed Small Spaces and Dead Voices. Until next time. That was chilling promise made to Ollie, Coco and Brian after they outsmarted the smiling man at Mount Hemlock Resort. And as the trio knows, the smiling man always keeps his promises. So when the lights flicker on and off at Brian's family's inn and a boom sounds at the door, there's just one visitor it could be. Only, there's no one there, just a cryptic note left outside signed simply as --S. The smiling man loves his games and it seems a new one is under way. But first, the three friends will have to survive a group trip to Lake Champlain where it's said Vermont's very own Loch Ness monster lives. Brian is thrilled. He hasn't sailed since visiting his family in Jamaica and even the looming threat of the smiling man can't put a damper on what is guaranteed to finally be a day of fun--even if it is awkward being stuck on a boat with both his old best friend, Phil and his new best friends, Coco and Ollie. But when a misstep from Phil causes a tragedy onboard and leaves them shipwrecked on an island haunted by a monster on both land and sea, Brian's survival instincts kick in and it's up to him to help everyone work together and find a way to escape. One thing is for sure, the smiling man is back and he wants a rematch. And this time Brian is ready to play.

Katherine Arden (Author), Renee Dorian (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dead Wednesday

Can playing dead bring you back to life? Maybe only on Dead Wednesday… On this day the worlds of a shy boy and a gone girl collide, and the connection they make will change them both forever. A brilliant new novel from the Newbery Medal winner and author of the New York Times bestseller Stargirl.   'Jerry Spinelli has created another middle grade masterpiece.' -BookPage, starred review   On Dead Wednesday, every eighth grader in Amber Springs is assigned the name and identity of a teenager who died a preventable death in the past year. The kids don black shirts and for the whole day everyone in town pretends they're invisible-as if they weren't even there. The adults think it will make them contemplate their mortality. The kids know it's a free pass to get away with anything.   Worm Tarnauer feels invisible every day. He's perfectly happy being the unnoticed sidekick of his friend Eddie. So he's not expecting Dead Wednesday to feel that different. But he didn't count on being assigned Becca Finch (17, car crash). And he certainly didn't count on Becca showing up to boss him around! Letting this girl into his head is about to change everything.   This is the story of the unexpected, heartbreaking, hilarious, truly epic day when Worm Tarnauer discovers his own life.

Jerry Spinelli (Author), Kirby Heyborne (Narrator)

Audiobook

J.D. and the Family Business

Eight-year-old kid barber J.D. joins forces with his sister, who has beauty shop dreams, in this hilarious chapter book series. J.D. is a barber battle champion. He's graduated from home haircuts to having a regular chair at the neighborhood shop, Hart and Son, and he's making enough money to keep his candy jar stocked and his comic book collection growing. And yet, J.D. knows it's time for his next challenge. He doesn't just want to be the best barber in Meridian, Mississippi-he wants to be the best barber in the state . . . and maybe the country! When his older sister, Vanessa, starts to gain a following online for her hair tutorials, the kids decide that to truly level up, they must join forces. How do two siblings with big personalities, big ambitions, and competitive spirits work together (or not) to take over the hair world? Check out the other chapter books in the J.D. the Kid Barber series: J.D. and the Great Barber Battle J.D. and the Hair Show Showdown

J. Dillard (Author), Tivia Lynnell (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Elephant in the Room

It's been almost a year since Sila's mum travelled halfway around the world to Turkey, hoping to secure the immigration paperwork that would allow her to return to her family in the United States. The long separation is almost impossible for Sila to bear. But things change when Sila accompanies her father (who is a mechanic) outside their Oregon town to fix a truck. There, behind an enormous stone wall, she meets a grandfatherly man who only months before won the state lottery. Their new alliance leads to the rescue of a circus elephant named Veda, and then to a friendship with a unique boy named Mateo, proving that comfort and hope come in the most unlikely of places. A moving story of family separation and the importance of the connection between animals and humans, this novel has the enormous heart and uplifting humour that readers have come to expect from the beloved author of Counting by 7s.

Holly Goldberg Sloan (Author), Gail Shalan (Narrator)

Audiobook

Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood

Celebrate the joys of Black boyhood with stories from seventeen bestselling, critically acclaimed Black authors--including Jason Reynolds (the Track series), Jerry Craft (New Kid), and Kwame Mbalia (the Tristan Strong series)! Black boy joy is…   Picking out a fresh first-day-of-school outfit. Saving the universe in an epic intergalactic race. Finding your voice-and your rhymes-during tough times. Flying on your skateboard like nobody's watching.   And more! From seventeen acclaimed Black male and non-binary authors comes a vibrant collection of stories and poems about the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood. Contributors include: B. B. Alston, Dean Atta, P. Djèlí Clark, Jay Coles, Jerry Craft, Lamar Giles, Don P. Hooper, George M. Johnson, Varian Johnson, Kwame Mbalia, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Tochi Onyebuchi, Julian Randall, Jason Reynolds, Justin Reynolds, DaVaun Sanders, and Julian Winters Cover illustration by Kadir Nelson

Kwame Mbalia, Tba (Author), Amir Abdullah, Taj Leahy (Narrator)

Audiobook

Sky Pirates: The Dragon's Gold

Embark on another swashbuckling SKY PIRATES adventure in The Dragon's Gold, perfect for 8+ explorers and fans of Abi Elphinstone, Peter Bunzl and Vashti Hardy.   Echo Quickthorn has been reunited with her sky-pirate mother, Indigo Lil, and is now a fully-fledged member of the Black Sky Wolves. So when Lil is summoned to the Alliance of the Seven Skies, Echo decides to sneak along with her friend Horace. There, Horace is captured by the dastardly Thunder Sharks, a rival pirate clan, who present Echo with an ultimatum: they'll release her friend in exchange for the legendary dragon's gold ... Echo must journey - through underwater libraries and active volcanoes - to the inhospitable Dragonlands, in order to find the dragon's lair. But can she find the treasure and prove herself to be a true-sky pirate? Praise for SKY PIRATES: Echo Quickthorn and the Great Beyond: "Strap yourselves in for an exhilarating ride!" - Daily Mail  "Fizzes with magic and wonder" - Abi Elphinstone, author of SKY SONG  "A charmingly madcap adventure, with endearing friendships, sparkling wit, and a swashbuckling journey across pirate-infested skies. I loved it. Perfect for fans of Nevermoor and Cogheart." - Hana Tooke, author of THE UNADOPTABLES   "A spirited protagonist, a charming side-kick and a believable villain come together in this tightly plotted, visual, treat for the senses. I want to soar over the rainbow rooftops of Port Tourbillon and the toadstooled forests of Tyrian in my very own airship." - Nizrana Farook, author of THE GIRL WHO STOLE AN ELEPHANT   "Sky Pirates is a fast-moving adventure story full of intrepid explorers, ingenious inventors, stolen treasure and mysterious undiscovered lands. If you like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (and who doesn't?) you'll love Sky Pirates too!" - Kirsty Applebaum, author of THE MIDDLER "From the very first page, I felt as if I'd been grabbed by the hand by a best friend and taken on the journey of a lifetime. Pacey, thrilling and endearing too. If I was ever to encounter sky pirates, I can think of no one I'd want by my side more than clever, brave Echo." - Joanna Nadin, author of the RACHEL RILEY series "A breath-taking adventure and a wonderfully imagined story of friendship and danger in strange places." - Claire Fayers, author of THE VOYAGE TO MAGICAL NORTH "An incredible adventure, brimming with friendship and danger" - The Bookseller

Alex English (Author), Nicky Diss (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Sky

Rayla, Callum, and Ezran have their work cut out for them now that they have to take care of Zym, the newly hatched Dragon Prince. Things get even more complicated when Claudia and Soren finally track down the wayward princes, forcing Callum to pick a side -- should he trust Rayla or his old friends? All the while the High Mage Lord Viren plots and schemes, gaining shadowy new allies. The trio races toward Xadia with the threat of a war between the humans and the dragons looming large. But as fiery battles erupt and hidden truths come to light, friendships are tested, plans are set into motion, and tough choices must be made. Written by Aaron Ehasz (co-creator of The Dragon Prince and head writer of Avatar: The Last Airbender) and Melanie McGanney Ehasz, this second canon novel based on the Netflix original series finally gives fans the full story.

Aaron Ehasz, Melanie Mcganney Ehasz (Author), Adrian Petriw (Narrator)

Audiobook

Being You: A First Conversation About Gender

Based on the research that race, gender, consent, and body positivity should be discussed with toddlers on up, this read-aloud board book series, adapted for audio, offers adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way. Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, this topic-driven audiobook offers clear, concrete language and beautiful imagery that young children can grasp and adults can leverage for further discussion. While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about issues like race and gender from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice. This second book in the series begins the conversation on gender, with a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult.

Jessica Ralli, Megan Madison (Author), L Morgan Lee (Narrator)

Audiobook

Max Einstein: World Champions!

Brought to you by Penguin. Max finally meets her hero, Albert Einstein, as she dashes across glaciers, visits the Great Barrier Reef, and flies a solar-powered jet in a race to stop global warming - before it's too late for planet earth. So far, Max and her team of genius friends have solved problems that no one else could, including: bringing solar energy to remote locations, producing clean drinking water across the globe, and ending world hunger. No easy task, even for a genius! But now Max and her friends must take on their biggest challenge yet, something that affects every living creature on the planet. Max must figure out how to prevent climate change from destroying the earth. But sinister forces want to keep Max from succeeding, and this time, even the very foundation of the Change Makers Institute is threatened. Now Max must not only save herself and her friends, but the entire planet, too. © James Patterson 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

James Patterson (Author), Andrea Emmes (Narrator)

Audiobook

Love From Joy

For readers aged 9+ comes the second book in a sparkling new series about family, friends and finding the joy in life! From the mind of  Guardian award-winning author Jenny Valentine, this is the perfect series for fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Cath Howe and Lara Williamson! Hi! My name is Joy Applebloom and I'm ten years old.  People say I am a 'glass half full' kind of person, which basically means I see the good in everything. And right now I'm going to need all my powers of positive thinking to fix a really tricky situation . . .  My new best friend Benny just hasn't been himself lately. I have to find out what's going on and bring back Benny's special smile for good… A heart-warming and positive story about family, friends and the importance of kindness with gorgeous illustrations from Claire Lefevre.  Praise for A Girl Called Joy: 'This book [. . .] is a delight for its warmth and humour, but principally because the writing is alive and stunning.' The Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week. 

Jenny Valentine (Author), Aysha Kala (Narrator)

Audiobook

Phantom Stallion: Gift Horse

When Samantha rescues a beautiful draft horse from an auction, she's sure he'll be perfect to groom for resale. The giant horse – named Tinkerbell! – is so big, Sam can barely saddle him. He's great at jumping--over pasture fences. Will he be helpful at a ranch, or too much to handle?  Then disaster strikes River Bend, and it's Sam who needs help. And just in time to save the day, Tinkerbell's true strength is revealed. 

Terri Farley (Author), Natalie Budig (Narrator)

Audiobook

Elfie Unperfect

Perfectionist Elfie Oster learns the value of 'unperfection,' in this funny look at middle school life from the author of Annie's Life in Lists Elfie Oster was sure that Hampshire Academy was going to be the perfect school for her. She was sure about it right up to the minute she got expelled. On her first day. It was all a terrible misunderstanding, but until she can find a way to fix things, Elfie has to go back to Cottonwood Elementary for fifth grade. Where she's never really fit in. Or had friends. It is not a perfect situation. And then it gets worse. Her babysitter gets really sick. Her aunt and uncle aren't speaking. She's forced to do a group project involving an egg. . . . But sometimes when everything goes spectacularly wrong, you figure out what truly matters--and what doesn't. So really, this terrible, horrible, surprisingly hilarious year may just be the best thing that's ever happened to Elfie.

Kristin Mahoney (Author), Tara Sands (Narrator)

Audiobook