Health & Family Audiobooks

Into the Wind

It’s shaping up to be a rotten summer for 10-year-old Rusty, a sailing buff who lives on an island off the New England coast. He’s just flunked math and has to go to summer school. His older sister is bossier than ever. Worst of all, his mom is far away on the mainland—undergoing treatment for her sudden, confusing, and exhausting “sadness”—while his dad struggles to keep the household together. Rusty’s only refuge is in caring for and teaching himself to sail a small, beloved sailboat.  While working on his boat at the village dock one evening, Rusty meets Hazel, a feisty old lady in a wheelchair. Hazel, a local artist from an old sailing family, asks—no, demands—that Rusty take her sailing. He refuses. She argues. And an unlikely friendship begins.  Hazel hires Rusty to help her with household tasks on summer afternoons. Between cleaning, painting, and cutting weeds, Rusty bonds with Hazel over shared lunches, watermelon seed spitting, and their mutual love of sailing. When Rusty does eventually take Hazel sailing, they come to better know and feel what connects them, even as her life nears its end and his is just beginning.  Into the Wind is a poignant story about loss and love in a boy’s life, and the surprising and sustaining bonds that can grow between the old and young.

William Loizeaux (Author), Andrew Hoops (Narrator)

Audiobook

Freckle Face & Blondie

Young girls, Freckle Face and Blondie, open their own detective agency. A girl goes missing. They follow clues police ignore and locate their friend in time to save her life, learning valuable lessons along the way. Get yours today. Also, look for their next adventure, The Thinking Game, Freckle Face and Blondie Book 2.

Harley Nelson, Lynda Rees (Author), Sally Barron (Narrator)

Audiobook

Nowhere Better Than Here

In a town slowly being destroyed by rising tides, one girl must fight to find a way to keep her community’s spirit from drowning. For thirteen-year-old Jillian Robichaux, three things are sacred: bayou sunsets, her grandmother Nonnie’s stories, and the coastal Louisiana town of Boutin that she calls home. When the worst flood in a century hits, Jillian and the rest of her community band together as they always do―but this time the damage may simply be too great. After the local school is padlocked and the bridges into town condemned, Jillian has no choice but to face the reality that she may be losing the only home she’s ever had. But even when all hope seems lost, Jillian is determined to find a way to keep Boutin and its indomitable spirit alive. With the help of friends new and old, a loveable golden retriever, and Nonnie’s storytelling wisdom, Jillian does just that in this timely and heartfelt story of family, survival, and hope. In her stunning debut middle grade novel, Sarah Guillory has written a lush story about an indomitable girl fighting against the effects of climate change.

Sarah Guillory (Author), Sophie Amoss (Narrator)

Audiobook

Attack of the Black Rectangles

Award-winning author Amy Sarig King takes on censorship and intolerance in a novel she was born to write. When Mac first opens his classroom copy of Jane Yolen's The Devil's Arithmetic and finds some words blacked out, he thinks it must be a mistake. But then when he and his friends discover what the missing words are, he's outraged. Someone in his school is trying to prevent kids from reading the full story. But who? Even though his unreliable dad tells him to not get so emotional about a book (or anything else), Mac has been raised by his mom and grandad to call out things that are wrong. He and his friends head to the principal's office to protest the censorship... but her response doesn't take them seriously. So many adults want Mac to keep his words to himself. Mac's about to see the power of letting them out. In Attack of the Black Rectangles, acclaimed author Amy Sarig King shows all the ways truth can be hard... but still worth fighting for.

A. S. King (Author), Amy Sarig King, Gretchen Bender, Jane Yolen, Pete Cross (Narrator)

Audiobook

Best Wishes (Best Wishes #1)

From Sarah Mlynowski, the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author behind Whatever After and Upside-Down Magic, this thrilling new series is Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants for a new generation of readers! Brimming with magic, friendship, humor--and irresistible illustrations--this is the book you've been wishing for! Becca Singer is having the Worst Day Ever. Her best friend, Harper, dumped her, and Becca is totally friendless and alone. Then the box arrives in the mail. Inside the box? One bracelet, plus a mysterious note telling Becca to make a wish. So Becca puts on the bracelet-why not, right?-and wishes to have friends. Lots of friends. So many friends. And just like that, the magic works. Suddenly, EVERYONE wants to be Becca's BFF, from all the kids at school to the teachers (!) to her own mom (!!).As things spin out of control, Becca starts to wonder: Is this wish a curse? This series is perfect for fans of Whatever After, Real Friends, The Baby-Sitters Club, and all stories told with warmth and sparkle. And keep an eye out for Books 2 and 3, where the magic bracelet gets mailed to new girls with new wishes (with each book co-written by Sarah Mlynowski and a different author!) The audio edition also features a bonus recording of an original short story in the WHATEVER AFTER universe, GO FETCH by Sarah Mlynowski and narrated by Emily Eiden. Follow siblings Abby and Jonah (and their puppy, Prince) as they tumble through the magic mirror and into the classic nursery rhyme, Jack and Jill. When Abby and Jonah meet Jack and Jill on the hill, they try to help the other pair carry their pail of water—with hilarious results! This bite-sized adventure is a special treat for fans of the bestselling WHATEVER AFTER series, and for anyone who loves magical stories told with humor and sparkle.

Sarah Mlynowski (Author), Sarah Beth Goer (Narrator)

Audiobook

Faithgirlz Sophie Series Audio Collection, Books 1-6: 6 Books in 1

Middle school drama and one girl's big imagination collide in this audio collection containing the first six books in the Sophie series for girls ages 9-12. Readers will love following future film director Sophie and her friends as they navigate first crushes, major bullies, shifting friendships, and what it means to apply your faith to everyday life. Each story is not only entertaining, the plotlines speak to the real-life issues girls are facing at school and at home. Perfect for young daydreamers and fans of contemporary middle-grade fiction, books 1-6 in the Sophie Series from Nancy Rue are now available in one audio download! Faithgirlz Sophie Series Audio Collection, Books 1-6 features: - A relatable and fun main character who will appeal to young girls discovering who they are and want to become - Experiences with bullying, first crushes, jealousy, working through your feelings, and moving to a new home and making new friends - Inspirational Christian themes that help readers imagine themselves in Scripture and apply it to their lives In addition, this audio download is: - ideal for birthdays, Christmas, or any gift-giving occasion - wonderful for summer reading, travel, or listening around the house - great for readers 9 to 12, and especially girls who are creative, artsy, imaginative, or dealing with the trials of middle school friend relationships Faithgirlz Sophie Series Audio Collection, Books 1-6 includes: - Sophie's World: After moving to Virginia, Sophie is not only adjusting to her new town and school, her overactive imagination keeps getting her in trouble and she's soon labeled "weird." Then Sophie meets Fiona, who loves play-acting too. But will therapy sessions with Dr. Peter help Sophie finally merge her imaginary world with the very real world of middle school? - Sophie's Secret: When a school project leads Sophie to investigate her family's past, she discovers there are no pictures of her as a baby. Sophie's mind begins to spin, and she can't stop wondering, what secrets are her parents hiding? And can she ever trust them again? - Sophie Under Pressure: To boost their science grades, Sophie and her friends decide to build a spacestation in the backyard and film their experience of what it would really be like to explore other planets. But then their astronaut expedition crew begins to seriously fight. Can Sophie save the mission-and her friendships-before it's too late? - Sophie Steps Up: Sophie and her friends are excited to be doing their latest play as their project for the school's live showcase. And when a new girl from Ireland is assigned to their group, Sophie is eager to make her feel welcome. But all of Sophie's dreams start to fade as the school decides the girls' play needs to change and cultures clash between her friends and Darby. It will take more than Sophie's imagination to make everything right again. - Sophie's First Dance: The first boy-girl school dance is coming, and all the girls are a mix of excitement and nerves. To cope, they create a fantasy movie where the boys are perfect gentlemen. But Sophie can't stop worrying about the possibility of dancing with her kinda-crush, Jimmy. And as the dance gets closer, the real boys start to unwittingly cause issues between friends. - Sophie's Stormy Summer: Sophie and her friends have been looking forward to a summer of fun and relaxation, but when one of them is diagnosed with a serious illness, everything shifts, and they realize they can't daydream themselves away from the news.

Nancy N. Rue (Author), Judy Young (Narrator)

Audiobook

Faithgirlz Sophie Series Audio Collection, Books 7-12: 6 Books in 1

Middle school drama and one girl's big imagination collide in this audio collection containing the last six books in the Sophie series for girls ages 9-12. Readers will love following future film director Sophie and her friends as they navigate first crushes, major bullies, shifting friendships, and what it means to apply your faith to everyday life. Each story is not only entertaining, the plotlines speak to the real-life issues girls are facing at school and at home. Perfect for young daydreamers and fans of contemporary middle-grade fiction, books 7-12 in the Sophie Series from Nancy Rue are now available in one audio download! Faithgirlz Sophie Series Audio Collection, Books 7-12 features: - A relatable and fun main character who will appeal to young girls discovering who they are and want to become - Experiences with bullying, first crushes, jealousy, working through your feelings, and dealing with shifting emotions and friendships - Inspirational Christian themes that help readers imagine themselves in Scripture and apply it to their lives In addition, this audio download is: - ideal for birthdays, Christmas, or any gift-giving occasion - wonderful for summer reading, travel, or listening around the house - great for readers 9 to 12, and especially girls who are creative, artsy, imaginative, or dealing with the trials of middle school friend relationships Faithgirlz Sophie Series Audio Collection, Books 7-12 includes: - Sophie's Friendship Fiasco: To support her friend during her illness, Sophie shaved her head. But efforts to support her other friends only land her in trouble. And when Sophie tries to stop a bullying scheme with a lie, she discovers what it really means to be an honorable and good friend. - Sophie and the New Girl: The girls are excited to start the school's film club, and when Phoebe wants to join-and is a good actress-Sophie is sure their production will be a success. But when Phoebe starts to show a very dark side, Sophie has to decide whether it's better for everyone to love her like Jesus would or simply cut Phoebe from the cast. - Sophie Flakes Out: Sophie wants some space from her family, and her friend Willoughby has plenty of it at her house. But when Willoughby wants her to hang out with a questionable group of girls, Sophie risks losing her newfound freedom-and people's trust. - Sophie Loves Jimmy: Everyone at school thinks romance is in the air when Jimmy is cast as Sophie's husband in a play. Even though Sophie and Jimmy are still just friends, that doesn't stop a few jealous girls from cyberbullying Sophie so Jimmy will stop liking her. Just when Sophie needs her friends the most, they begin wondering if the posts are true. - Sophie's Drama: Sophie is always the lead in her and her friends' movies. So it comes as a shock when those friends start casting and directing their latest production without talking to her. Now Sophie has to figure out who she is in her group as well as who she really is inside. - Sophie Gets Real: Sophie has been imagining what life will be like with her new baby sister for months, but when Hope is born with developmental issues, the sister-script she created needs some rewrites. At the same time, her friend relationships begin to shift in serious ways. As Sophie struggles to understand why God lets difficult things happen, she also discovers her daydreams no longer help the way they used to.

Nancy N. Rue (Author), Judy Young (Narrator)

Audiobook

Mr. Coats

Mr. Coats is freezing cold. No matter how many heaters he turns on, how many blankets he sleeps under at night, or how many layers he wears, he can simply never get warm. Being this cold all the time is lonely. And loneliness is a chilly feeling. Mr. Coats thinks he’ll be alone in the cold forever. But what if he’s wrong? What if there’s someone out there who is just like him?

Sieb Posthuma (Author), T. Ryder Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dadaji's Paintbrush

Once, in a tiny village in India, a boy lived in an old house with his grandfather. They loved to do everything together—growing mangoes, making paper boats to float in the monsoon rains—but what they loved most of all was to paint. The boy and his grandfather filled their home with art. Some days, they would invite the village children to join in. They didn’t have much, but they had each other, and a loving bond that would always keep them together. From Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Ruchi Mhasane comes a tender, vibrant story oflove passed on through the generations.

Rashmi Sirdeshpande (Author), Shrindhar Solanki (Narrator)

Audiobook

Pop Flies, Robo-Pets, and Other Disasters

Thirteen-year-old Satoshi Matsumoto spent the last three years living in Atlanta where he was the star of his middle-school baseball team—a slugger with pro potential, according to his coach. Now that his father’s work in the US has come to an end, he’s moved back to his hometown in rural Japan. Living abroad has changed him, and now his old friends in Japan are suspicious of his new foreign ways. Even worse, his childhood foe Shintaro, whose dad has ties to gangsters, is in his homeroom. After he joins his new school’s baseball team, Satoshi has a chance to be a hero until he makes a major-league error. “A heart-warming story about a baseball player who learns that teamwork is much more important than being the star of the team. I loved the family dynamics and depiction of life, and especially baseball, in Japan.”—Shauna Holyoak, author of Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers (Hyperion, 2019) “An engaging, sports-focused, family-driven Japanese spin on the new-kid-in-school narrative.”—Kirkus Reviews

Suzanne Kamata (Author), Nicholas Richardson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Die Schlümpfe - Geschichtensammlung 2

Im Dorf der Schlümpfe ist garantiert kein Tag wie der andere! Erfahre in fünf spannenden Geschichten, wie Astroschlumpf einen spannenden Planeten entdeckt, wie es Sir Hefty gelingt, einen Feuer speienden Drachen zu besiegen und sei dabei, wenn Beauty einen Zauberspiegel entdeckt - aber Vorsicht: Gargamel heckt bestimmt schon wieder was aus!Mach dich bereit für die Abenteuer in Schlumpfhausen - mit Schlumpfine, Papa Schlumpf, Harmony, Hefty, Poeti, Smiley Schlumpf und all den anderen kleinen blauen Geschöpfen. Hör zu, was passiert, wenn Handy fliegen will, wenn Bäckerschlumpf die Eier für einen Kuchen ausgehen, wenn das Spiegelbild von Beauty plötzlich zu Leben erwacht oder wenn Gargamel den friedlichen Schlumpf-Alltag mit seinen bösen Plänen und gefährlichen Elixieren stören will. Schlumpf viel Spaß!

Peyo (Author), Monty Arnold (Narrator)

Audiobook

Die Schlümpfe - Geschichtensammlung 1

Mit den Schlümpfen erlebst du immer spannende Abenteuer! In diesen fünf aufregenden Geschichten erfährst du, wie Schlumpfine ins Dorf der Schlümpfe kam, welchen Unheil eine magische Pfeife anrichten kann und warum Purpurfliegen gefährlicher sind, als sie aussehen! Lass dich davon überraschen, wie die Schlümpfe einem verarmten Schlossverwalter dabei helfen, einen längst vergessenen Schatz zu bergen, und wie sie einem Riesen-Heulvogel eine dringend benötigte Lektion erteilen!Mach dich bereit für die Abenteuer in Schlumpfhausen - mit Schlumpfine, Papa Schlumpf, Harmony, Hefty, Poeti, Smiley Schlumpf und all den anderen kleinen blauen Geschöpfen. Hör zu, was passiert, wenn Handy fliegen will, wenn Bäckerschlumpf die Eier für einen Kuchen ausgehen, wenn das Spiegelbild von Beauty plötzlich zu Leben erwacht oder wenn Gargamel den friedlichen Schlumpf-Alltag mit seinen bösen Plänen und gefährlichen Elixieren stören will. Schlumpf viel Spaß!

Peyo (Author), Monty Arnold (Narrator)

Audiobook