Health & Family Audiobooks

I Just Want to Say Good Night

A delightful bedtime tale by Caldecott Honor-winner Rachel Isadora, set on the African plains.   The sun has set and the moon is rising, and that means it's bedtime. But not if Lala has a say-because she's not ready to go to sleep! First she needs to say good night to the cat. And the goat. And the chickens. And, and, and . . . Lala's adorable stalling strategy will ring true for all parents whose little ones aren't ready to say goodbye to the day-and all will appreciate the wonderful culmination to the bedtime ritual.

Rachel Isadora (Author), Nene Nwoko (Narrator)

Audiobook

North Wind Acres #6

Set in Detroit, Michigan, the sixth book in the American Horse Tale series follows the story of a young girl who has to learn to juggle her social life and horse-riding ambitions with her responsibilities as a working student. Even though she can only afford to take lessons once a week, Daija's increasing talents are on full display whenever she is riding at North Wind Acres--a prestigious (and expensive) equestrian center in her city. So when her trainer offers her a working student position, she quickly accepts. Now she'll be able to pay for extra weekly lessons and join the show team! But Daija soon learns how difficult it can be to balance her responsibilities with her desire to hang out with the wealthy friends she's made at the center. North Wind Acres is part of a series of books written by several authors highlighting the unique relationships between young girls and their horses.

Shaquilla Blake (Author), Kamali Minter (Narrator)

Audiobook

Manatee Summer

In this poignant middle grade contemporary debut that New York Times bestselling author Katherine Applegate calls “by turns heartbreaking and heart-healing,” Evan Griffith beautifully captures all the tenderness and uncertainty that come with caring for family, friends, and the natural world. Peter and his best friend, Tommy, have a goal for their last summer before middle school: finish their Discovery Journal, a catalog of the wildlife around their Florida town. When they spot a manatee in a canal, Peter knows they’ve found something special—and when the manatee is injured by a boat, something to protect! As Peter joins the fight to save Florida manatees, he also finds himself taking care of his ailing grandfather and facing an unwelcome surprise that jeopardizes his friendship with Tommy. Soon Peter is adrift, navigating shifting tides and realizing that he has as much to discover about himself as he does about the world around him.

Evan Griffith (Author), Mark Turetsky (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Hurricanes of Weakerville

Middle grade star author Chris Rylander brings his signature sense of humor, a compelling and original baseball story, and tons of heart to the story of the Hurricanes of Weakerville. All his life, Alex Weakerman has had one passion: baseball. Specifically, the Hurricanes of Weakerville, Iowa—the scrappy independent-league team owned by his Grandpa Ira. Even as team and the town have fallen on tough times, there's no place Alex would rather be than at the ballpark—a hot dog in one hand, a pencil and scorebook in the other, keeping track of each and every statistic. Alex has never been all that great at playing baseball, but that doesn’t matter. For someone as painfully awkward as Alex, being a fan—and a wiz with baseball stats—is all he needs. When Grandpa Ira passes away, though, Alex is crushed. He's lost his best friend, and he doesn’t see any way that the team will survive. But Ira, it seems, has one last trick up his sleeve: his will names Alex the new manager of the Hurricanes. Alex is as excited as he is terrified at the chance to finally put some of his fantasy baseball genius to use. But as he sets to work trying to win over the players, he soon learns that leading them to victory is about more than just stats. Will he be able to save his team, his hometown, and his family legacy? From the author of The Fourth Stall, a SCBWI Sid Fleischman Humor Award winner and multiple state-award favorite, The Hurricanes of Weakerville is sure to appeal to middle grade readers looking for a funny book about real kids.

Chris Rylander (Author), Kirby Heyborne (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Wills and the Won'ts

Dr. Seuss's The Sneetches and Other Stories meets The Wall in the Middle of the Book in this pitch perfect, rhyming story about breaking down barriers and embracing our differences. An angry old Won't and a cheerless young Will lived next to each other, on top of a hill. They squabbled and quarrelled, did nothing but fight. If one said, 'It's day,' said the other, 'It's night.' 'Your dog wrecked my roses!' 'Your trees are too tall!' 'There's one way to end this: WE'RE BUILDING A WALL!' The Wills and the Won'ts can't seem to agree on anything, so they build a wall to keep the other out. Until a hopeful young May realizes that perhaps they can find some common ground, if only they work together. A fantastically timely and timeless read-aloud with the bouncing rhyme of Dr. Seuss and a message that will resonate with readers of all ages: Tolerance and togetherness put us all on the same side.

Angela Woolfe (Author), Sean Patrick Hopkins (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Last Beekeeper

Facing a world dually altered by climate change and those who profit from it, Yolanda Cicerón will have to fight to save the last known beehive from extinction in this stirring new adventure by award-winning author Pablo Cartaya. In a future shaken by climate disasters, Yolanda Cicerón knows that nature is something to be feared. While life in the Valley is brutal and harsh, Yoly dreams of leaving her farm to live in Silo—the most advanced town for miles around. But first, Yoly will need to prove she belongs in a place where only the smartest and most useful are welcomed. Between her razor-sharp smarts and sheer determination, Yoly is well on her way until she discovers her family can no longer afford her schooling. When forced to take matters into her own hands, the closer she gets to securing her future, the more she uncovers the dangers lying inside Silo’s walls—ones that threaten the entire Valley.  As she cracks long-guarded secrets, Yoly, along with those closest to her, is put in grave peril and the only chance of surviving may lie in the rediscovery of a long-extinct species—the honeybee. Can the last surviving beehive be the key to pulling the Valley out from under Silo’s thumb, or will they destroy what remains of Yoly’s future? 

Pablo Cartaya (Author), Kyla Garcia (Narrator)

Audiobook

The First Rule of Climate Club

An eighth grader starts a podcast on climate activism and rallies her friends to create lasting change in their local community and beyond, in this companion to Dress Coded. When Mary Kate Murphy joins a special science pilot program focused on climate change, the class opens her eyes to lots of things she never noticed before about her small suburban town: Kids waste tons of food at school without a second thought. Parents leave their cars running in the pick-up lane all the time. People buy lots of clothes they don't really need. Some of her friends who live in the city and are bused to her school don't always feel included. And the mayor isn't willing to listen to new ideas for fixing it all. Mary Kate and her friends have big plans to bring lasting change to their community and beyond. And now is the time for the young people to lead and the leaders to follow-or get out of the way.

Carrie Firestone (Author), Courtney Lin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Stop and Smell the Cookies

A picture book, adpated for audio, about a rambunctious boy who learns to manage his big feelings.   Sometimes Dash gets so excited that his chest feels warm and fuzzy, his toes dance, and his fingertips tickle the air. When that starts, he can't seem to control what he does next, and often, trouble follows.   Luckily, with a little help, Dash finds a way to slow himself down when big feelings threaten to take over.   This joyous audiobook introduces a clever technique to engage the imagination and relax the mind, perfect for those who are impulsive like Dash, those who hold in their feelings, and everyone in between.

Gibson Frazier (Author), Gibson Frazier (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border

Based on true events, this inspiring story follows a mama and her daughter who are denied entry at the U.S. border, and must find the refugee in charge of "the notebook," an unofficial ledger of those waiting to cross into the U.S. Before, the sun drenched the yard. Our neighbor's laughter danced in the streets. Now, the streets are quiet. Papa is gone, and we are no longer safe here. We are leaving, too.   In this moving picture book, Noemi and Mama flee their home in Mexico, and head for the US border. There, they look for 'The Notebook Keeper'-- the person in charge of a ledger for those waiting to cross, and they add their names to the book. As the days turn into weeks, and hope dwindles,  the little girl looks for kindness around her-- and inside herself. One day, when the Notebook Keeper's own name is called to cross, Noemi and her Mama are chosen--for the generosity in their hearts-- to take her place.

Stephen Briseño (Author), María José Zuniga (Narrator)

Audiobook

Kalamata's Kitchen: Taste Buds in Harmony

Kalamata and her alligator sidekick Al Dente are back in a brand-new adventure! Join them and their friend Kyo as they discover how different ideas and ingredients can create magic when mixed together! This charming picture book champions teamwork, harmony, and creativity, and reminds us that sometimes the answers we're looking for can be found in unexpected places. Kalamata and her friends Al Dente, Kyo, Dovie, and Knox are practicing their dance routine for the upcoming talent show. But none of them agree on what the routine is missing-Dovie thinks it needs more twirls, Knox wants more break-dancing, and everyone is getting frustrated! Luckily for the Electric (Fried Chicken) Sliders (as their group is called), all the magic they need to create a great dance routine is within reach! As Kalamata, Kyo, and Al Dente transport themselves to Kyo's family's kopitiam (Malaysian coffee shop), they discover how different ingredients are made better when combined with others. When they return, the team works together to incorporate each of their ideas and moves into a routine that steals the show!

Sarah Thomas (Author), Nikhaar Kishnani (Narrator)

Audiobook

La guardiana de la libreta: Una historia de bondad desde la frontera

A Spanish edition of THE NOTEBOOK KEEPER, the inspiring story of a mama and her daughter who are denied entry at the U.S. border, and must find the refugee in charge of "the notebook," an unofficial ledger of those waiting to cross into the U.S. Before, the sun drenched the yard. Our neighbor's laughter danced in the streets. Now, the streets are quiet. Papa is gone, and we are no longer safe here. We are leaving, too.   In this moving picture book, Noemi and Mama flee their home in Mexico, and head for the US border. There, they look for 'The Notebook Keeper'-- the person in charge of a ledger for those waiting to cross, and they add their names to the book. As the days turn into weeks, and hope dwindles,  the little girl looks for kindness around her-- and inside herself. One day, when the Notebook Keeper's own name is called to cross, Noemi and her Mama are chosen--for the generosity in their hearts-- to take her place.

Stephen Briseño (Author), Carolina Ayala (Narrator)

Audiobook

Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School!

It's the first day of school and Little Tortoise is worried. Can she get there on time? It's the first day of school and Little Tortoise is ready with a backpack filled with new school supplies. Little Tortoise can't wait to get to school and tries very hard not to be the last student there. But soon Cheetah, Llama, and even a snail on a scooter, overtake her. And then when she gets stuck in the gutter of the book, she's sure she'll be the last pupil to arrive! But the timely arrival of Mr. Sloth, her new teacher, changes everything. Gentle reassuring language full of wordplay, and bold and bright art by an up and coming artist offer students a comforting story about this new experience. Here's a fresh way to encourage reluctant students to be on their way.

Carrie Finison (Author), Dominique Franceschi (Narrator)

Audiobook