Health & Family Audiobooks

Extra Credit

It isn't that Abby Carson can't do her schoolwork, it's just that she doesn't like doing it. And that means she's pretty much failing sixth grade. When a warning letter is sent home, Abby realizes that all her slacking off could cause her to be held back -- for real! Unless she wants to repeat the sixth grade, she'll have to meet some specific conditions, including taking on an extra-credit project: find a pen pal in a foreign country. Simple enough (even for a girl who hates homework). Abby's first letter arrives at a small school in Afghanistan, and Sadeed Bayat is chosen to be her pen pal....Well, kind of. He is the best writer, but he is also a boy, and in his village it is not appropriate for a boy to correspond with a girl. So his younger sister dictates and signs the letter. Until Sadeed decides what his sister is telling Abby isn't what he'd like Abby to know. As letters flow back and forth between Illinois and Afghanistan, Abby and Sadeed discover that their letters are crossing more than an ocean. They are crossing a huge cultural divide and a minefield of different lifestyles and traditions. Their growing friendship is also becoming a growing problem for both communities, and some people are not happy. Suddenly things are not so simple.

Andrew Clements (Author), Gabra Zackman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Too Bright to See

A haunting ghost story about navigating grief, growing up, and growing into a new gender identity It's the summer before middle school and eleven-year-old Bug's best friend Moira has decided the two of them need to use the next few months to prepare. For Moira, this means figuring out the right clothes to wear, learning how to put on makeup, and deciding which boys are cuter in their yearbook photos than in real life. But none of this is all that appealing to Bug, who doesn't particularly want to spend more time trying to understand how to be a girl. Besides, there's something more important to worry about: A ghost is haunting Bug's eerie old house in rural Vermont...and maybe haunting Bug in particular. As Bug begins to untangle the mystery of who this ghost is and what they're trying to say, an altogether different truth comes to light--Bug is transgender.

Kyle Lukoff (Author), Jax Jackson, Kyle Lukoff (Narrator)

Audiobook

Summer on Wheels

Hector and his amigo Mando are looking for adventure as they hit the road on a leisurely bike trip from their East L.A. neighborhood to the beach in Santa Monica. They've just set out when the fun begins, as Hector literally stumbles into a starring role in a TV commercial. Then he turns out to be the one-millionth fan at a Dodger game--and is escorted to a private box and treated like a VIP! Before arriving at the beach, the boys record a rap song, paint a mural, and have a good laugh pretending to be wax figures at the Hollywood Wax Museum. But it's the people they encounter along the way who make the trip special--from nerdy cousin Bentley (whom they teach to be cool); to a girl who wants to be an Olympic star and lives in a Beverly Hills mansion complete with two tennis courts and three swimming pools; to Mando's streetwise cousin, Puppet. In a sequel to the highly praised Crazy Weekend, popular author Gary Soto combines warmth and humor in a lively story of friendship and family.

Gary Soto (Author), Anthony Perez (Narrator)

Audiobook

Words in the Dust

Zulaikha hopes. She hopes for peace, now that the Taliban have been driven from Afghanistan; a good relationship with her hard stepmother; and one day even to go to school, or to have her cleft palate fixed. Zulaikha knows all will be provided for her "Inshallah," God willing. Then she meets Meena, who offers to teach her the Afghan poetry she taught her late mother. And the Americans come to her village, promising not just new opportunities and dangers, but surgery to fix her face. These changes could mean a whole new life for Zulaikhabut can she dare to hope they'll come true?

Trent Reedy (Author), Ariana Delawari (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Islanders

"Storytelling for young readers at its finest—equal parts summer adventure and environmental suspense…[a] love letter to family, friendship, and the natural world." —Kwame Alexander, New York Times bestselling author of The Crossover From New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe comes a beautiful story of friendship, loss, and the healing power of nature in her first book for middle grade readers. Eleven-year-old Jake's life has just turned upside-down. His father was wounded in Afghanistan, and his mother is going to leave to care for him. That means Jake's spending the summer on tiny Dewees Island with his grandmother. The island is a nature sanctuary—no cars or paved roads, no stores or restaurants. To make matters worse, Jake's grandmother doesn't believe in cable or the internet. Which means Jake has no cell phone, no video games...and no friends. This is going to be the worst summer ever! He's barely on the island before he befriends two other kids—Macon, another "summer kid," and Lovie, know-it-all who lives there and shows both Jake and Macon the ropes of life on the island. All three are struggling with their own family issues and they quickly bond, going on adventures all over Dewees Island. Until one misadventure on an abandoned boat leads to community service. Their punishment? Mandatory duty on the Island Turtle Team. The kids must do a daily dawn patrol of the beach on the hunt for loggerhead sea turtle tracks. When a turtle nest is threatened by coyotes, the three friends must find a way to protect it. Can they save the turtle nest from predators? Can Jake's growing love for the island and its inhabitants (be they two-legged, four-legged, feathered, or finned) help to heal his father?

Mary Alice Monroe (Author), Michael Crouch (Narrator)

Audiobook

You Are a Champion: How to Be the Best You Can Be

It’s hard to know what is possible until you start. You have to be able to dream big and be prepared to work towards your dreams. I’ve achieved a lot so far, but it didn’t come in one go; big things rarely happen overnight, and good things rarely happen as if by magic . . . Marcus Rashford is famous worldwide for his skills both on and off the pitch – but before he was a Manchester United and England footballer, and long before he started his inspiring campaign to end child food poverty, he was just an average kid from Wythenshawe, South Manchester. Now, Marcus Rashford MBE wants to show YOU how to achieve your dreams, in this positive and inspiring guide for life. No matter who you are and no matter where you come from, every single person in the world has the potential to be a champion. In You Are a Champion, the nation’s favourite footballer gives you the tools you need to reach your full potential, showing you how to be the very BEST version of yourself you can be. Written with journalist Carl Anka, this empowering guide is packed full of stories from Marcus’s own life, brilliant advice and top-tips from performance psychologist Katie Warriner. Perfect for readers who need to hear that they already are champions – they just might not know it yet. It shows kids how to: - Be comfortable with who you are – you can't be a champion until you're happy being you! - Dream big - Practise like a champion – good things take hard work and time - Get out of your comfort zone and learn from your mistakes - Navigate adversity in a positive way - Find your team - Use your voice and stand up for others - Never stop learning With an afterword by Tim S. Grover.

Marcus Rashford (Author), Kenton Thomas (Narrator)

Audiobook

Trapped in a Video Game (Book 4): Return to Doom Island

Alistair Gregory, the man who figured out how to put people into video games, is not what he seems. Jesse Rigsby is sure of that. Jesse's sure of something else, too-he's being watched. To unravel the mystery, Jesse's going to have to transform himself into a superspy with serious retro-gaming skills. Can he pull it off before the bad guys catch on?

Dustin Brady (Author), Kirby Heyborne (Narrator)

Audiobook

Show Me a Sign (Unabridged edition)

Don't miss the companion book, Set Me Free CRITICS ARE RAVING ABOUT SHOW ME A SIGN Winner of the 2021 Schneider Family Book Award * NPR Best Books of 2020 * Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2020 * School Library Journal Best Books of 2020 * New York Public Library Best Books of 2020 * Chicago Public Library Best Books of 2020 * 2020 Jane Addams Children's Book Award Finalist * 2020 New England Independent Booksellers Award Finalist Deaf author Ann Clare LeZotte weaves a riveting story inspired by the true history of a thriving deaf community on Martha's Vineyard in the early 19th century. This piercing exploration of ableism, racism, and colonialism will inspire readers to examine core beliefs and question what is considered normal. * 'A must-read.' -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review 'More than just a page-turner. Well researched and spare... sensitive... relevant.' -- Newbery Medalist, Meg Medina for the New York Times 'A triumph.' -- Brian Selznick, creator of Wonderstruck and the Caldecott Award winner, The Invention of Hugo Cabret * 'Will enthrall readers, but her internal journey...profound.' -- The Horn Book, starred review * 'Expertly crafted...exceptionally written.' -- School Library Journal, starred review * 'Engrossing.' -- Publishers Weekly, starred review 'This book blew me away.' -- Alex Gino, Stonewall Award-winning author of George 'Spend time in Mary's world. You'll be better for it.' -- Erin Entrada Kelly, author of the Newbery Award Winner, Hello, Universe Mary Lambert has always felt safe and protected on her beloved island of Martha's Vineyard. Her great-great-grandfather was an early English settler and the first deaf islander. Now, over a hundred years later, many people there -- including Mary -- are deaf, and nearly everyone can communicate in sign language. Mary has never felt isolated. She is proud of her lineage. But recent events have delivered winds of change. Mary's brother died, leaving her family shattered. Tensions over land disputes are mounting between English settlers and the Wampanoag people. And a cunning young scientist has arrived, hoping to discover the origin of the island's prevalent deafness. His maniacal drive to find answers soon renders Mary a 'live specimen' in a cruel experiment. Her struggle to save herself is at the core of this penetrating and poignant novel that probes our perceptions of ability and disability.

Ann Clare Lezotte (Author), Nora Hunter (Narrator)

Audiobook

Marmalade: The Orange Panda

Cuddle up and laugh with this heart-warming and funny new children’s picture book from number-one bestselling author David Walliams! One morning, deep in the forest, a beautiful baby panda was born. The panda was different to all the others, as he had dazzling orange fur. “I will call you Marmalade,” his mummy whispered. . . Meet Marmalade, the little panda who goes on a big adventure as he sets off to explore the forest one day to find where he belongs. Along the way, he meets all sorts of animals . . . until he sees he has come full circle and is back home with his mum, which is where he always did belong, of course! This gorgeous and endearing story is a celebration of family love, being yourself and finding your place in the world. It is the perfect story to share with your special someone – big or little.

David Walliams (Author), David Walliams (Narrator)

Audiobook

Witch & Wizard

YOUR BOOKS, MUSIC, AND ART--BANNED BY THE NEW ORDER! Everything is about to change. The government has seized control of every aspect of society, and this is the astonishing testimonial of Wisty and Whit Allgood, a sister and brother who were torn from their family in the middle of the night, slammed into prison, and accused of being a witch and a wizard. Thousands of young people have been kidnapped; some have been accused; many others remain missing. Their fate is unknown, and the worst is feared--for the ruling regime will stop at nothing to suppress life and liberty, music and books, art and magic . . . and the pursuit of being a normal teenager.

Gabrielle Charbonnet, James Patterson (Author), Elijah Wood, Spencer Locke (Narrator)

Audiobook

Fang

Angel says that Fang will be the first to die, and Angel is never wrong. Maximum Ride is used to living desperately on the run from evil forces sabotaging her quest to save the world--but nothing has ever come as close to destroying her as this horrifying prophetic message. Fang is Max's best friend, her soul mate, her partner in the leadership of her flock of winged children. A life without Fang is a life unimaginable. When a newly created winged boy, the magnificent Dylan, is introduced into the flock, their world is upended yet again. Raised in a lab like the others, Dylan exists for only one reason: he was designed to be Max's perfect other half. Thus unfolds a battle of perfection versus passion that terrifies, twists, and turns . . . and meanwhile, the apocalypse is coming.

James Patterson (Author), Jill Apple (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

A true classic, a search for America's soul is given the reading of a lifetime by one of America's finest actors -- two-time Academy Award winner Jack Lemmon. Floating on a raft down the Mississippi with Jim, an escaping slave, Lemmon's Huck finds adventure, danger and a cast of characters who are both menacing and hilarious. Produced in a simple manner that allows imaginations to soar, Mark Twain's marvelous, enduring wit will charm the entire family. Destined to become an instant classic, this audiobook will help introduce your entire family to the unique pleasure of classic literature.

Mark Twain (Author), Jack Lemmon (Narrator)

Audiobook