Historical Audiobooks

Ben Franklin's in My Bathroom!

History meets hijinks in this first title in a hilarious new middle grade series for fans of Timmy Failure and The Terrible Two, when Ben Franklin accidentally time travels to a 10-year-old's home in 21st century America! Nolan is a typical kid living in a typical 21st century American town. Ben Franklin is, well, Ben Franklin-Founding Father, inventor of the lightning rod and bifocals, and more. When, through a bizarre set of circumstances, Nolan and his little sister, Olive, find Ben in their house, chaos isn't far behind. From introducing him to the toaster to taking him to the public library (another Ben invention) to preventing a nosy neighbor from blowing Ben's cover, Nolan does his best to be Ben's tour guide to the new world he helped form. With tons of funny illustrations throughout-plus graphic novel-style sections interspersed-readers will love adventuring alongside this awesome threesome. "What a smart, funny, action-adventure! This is bursting with great heart, fascinating history, and Ben Franklin's stinky feet. I want more, more, more of this series." -Jon Scieszka, author of the Frank Einstein series "This book is absolutely electric-inventive, funny, and fascinating! Ben Franklin himself would approve!" -Lincoln Peirce, author of the New York Times bestselling Big Nate series "This story is hilarious and heartfelt. Ben Franklin is the kind of friend any kid would like hanging out with-farts and all!" -Jeffrey Brown, author of the Lucy & Andy Neanderthal series

Candace Fleming (Author), Malcolm Campbell (Narrator)

Audiobook

Elsie Mae Has Something to Say

Elsie Mae has long treasured summers with her grandparents in the Okefenokee Swamp, so she is devastated to hear that a shipping company plans to build a canal right through it. What will that mean for the people and animals that call the swamp home? So she writes a letter directly to President Franklin Roosevelt himself and sets off to enjoy what may be her last happy summer there with her new dog, Huck. But when she arrives, she discovers a team of hog bandits who have been stealing from the swamper families. When her cousin Henry James, who dreams of one day becoming a traveling preacher like his daddy, shows up, Elsie doesn't think things could get worse. But then she devises a plan to use Henry and his Hallelujahs to help stop the thieves-and maybe make just enough noise to gain Roosevelt's attention...

Nancy J. Cavanaugh (Author), Cassandra Lee Morris, Cassandra Morris (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Assassin's Curse

Christopher Rowe is back and there are more puzzles, riddles, and secrets to uncover in this third novel of the award-winning Blackthorn Key series. Wherever Christopher Rowe goes, adventure-and murder-follows. Even a chance to meet King Charles ends in a brush with an assassin. All that's recovered from the killer is a coded message with an ominous sign-off: more attempts are coming. So when Christopher's code-breaking discovers the attack's true target, he and his friends are ordered to Paris to investigate a centuries-old curse on the French throne. And when they learn an ancient treasure is promised to any assassin who succeeds, they realize the entire royal family is at stake-as well as their own lives. In the third heart-pounding installment of the award-winning Blackthorn Key series, Christopher, Tom, and Sally face new codes, puzzles, and traps as they race to find the hidden treasure before someone else is murdered.

Kevin Sands (Author), Napoleon Ryan (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Not So Easy Road: The Story of a Little Boy Who Kept His Promise

Lil' Boy is just an ordinary child growing up on his father's farm in a little place called Creek Town. But in the 1960s, even the most average black boy had something to worry about. All Lil' Boy wants is to wear his bright red hat, have some fun and adventure and get out of doing his chores. Then, one day, everything changes. After he is attacked with rocks being thrown at him by several angry men driving their truck along the road, Lil' Boy makes a promise to himself: when he gets older, he will own that road, and no one will ever throw rocks at him again. It's a long journey, but before long, Lil' Boy is deep in the heart of politics and on his way to greatness. A Not So Easy Road tells the story of Commissioner Mose Jones Jr. and will inspire any child looking to make a difference in their home, community, school, or country.

April Jones PhD (Author), Phoenix T. Clark (Narrator)

Audiobook

Secret of the Dance

In 1935, a nine-year-old boy's family held a forbidden Potlatch in faraway Kingcome Inlet. Watl'kina slipped from his bed to bear witness. In the Big House masked figures danced by firelight to the beat of the drum. And there, he saw a figure he knew. Aboriginal elder Alfred Scow and award-winning author Andrea Spalding collaborate to tell the story, to tell the secret of the dance.

Alfred Scow, Andrea Spalding (Author), Christian Down (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Nantucket Sea Monster

A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION Do you believe everything you read in the newspaper?Early in August 1937, a news flash came: a sea monster had been spotted lurking off the shore of Nantucket Island. Historically, the Massachusetts island had served as port for whaling ships. Eyewitnesses swore this wasn’t a whale, but some new, fearsome creature. As eyewitness account piled up, newspaper stories of the sea monster spread quickly. Across the nation, people shivered in fear. Then, footprints were found on a Nantucket beach. Photographs were sent to prominent biologists for their opinion. Discussion swirled about raising a hunting party. On August 18, news spread across the island: the sea monster had been captured. Islanders ran to the beach and couldn’t believe their eyes. This nonfiction picture book is a perfect tool to discuss non-political fake news stories. Back matter discusses the freedom of the press guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Quotes from Thomas Jefferson make it clear that fake news has always been one of the costs of a free press. A Timeline lists actual events in the order they occurred. A vocabulary list defines relevant words.

Darcy Pattison (Author), Kevin M. Connolly (Narrator)

Audiobook

I Survived the American Revolution, 1776

Bestselling author Lauren Tarshis tackles the American Revolution in this latest installment of the groundbreaking, New York Times bestselling I Survived series. The battlefield was soaked in blood. Screams of injured soldiers rang through the air. Eleven-year-old Nathaniel Knox knelt behind a rock, his gun clutched in his shaking hands. Nate had been heading to New York City to find his father. But now he was trapped in a terrible gunfight between American and British troops. This Revolutionary War had started as a thrilling fight for freedom. The thirteen American colonies were breaking apart from England, away from King George III. The colonies would band together to become a brand-new country: The United States of America! But King George was like a snake with America gripped in his fangs -- and he didn't want to let go. So now it was war -- brutal, bloody war. And America was being crushed by the mighty British army. Thousands of American troops were either dead or dying in filthy British prison ships. General George Washington's army was in tatters. All Nate wanted was to find his father . . . and to get out of here alive.

Lauren Tarshis (Author), Holter Graham (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Big Day for Baseball

Meet Jackie Robinson and solve a mystery in the #1 bestselling Magic Tree House chapter book series! PLAY BALL! Jack and Annie aren't great baseball players . . . yet! Then Morgan the librarian gives them magical baseball caps that will make them experts. They just need to wear the caps to a special ballgame in Brooklyn, New York. The magic tree house whisks them back to 1947! When they arrive, Jack and Annie find out that they will be batboys in the game-not ballplayers. What exactly does Morgan want them to learn? And what's so special about this game? They only have nine innings to find out! Discover history, mystery, humor, and baseball in this one-of-a-kind adventure in Mary Pope Osborne's New York Times bestselling Magic Tree House series lauded by parents and teachers as books that encourage reading. Magic Tree House books, with fiction and nonfiction titles, are perfect for parents and teachers using the Core Curriculum. With a blend of magic, adventure, history, science, danger, and cuteness, the topics range from kid pleasers (pirates, the Titanic, pandas) to curriculum perfect (rain forest, American Revolution, Abraham Lincoln) to seasonal shoo-ins (Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving). There is truly something for everyone here! Have more fun with Jack and Annie on the Magic Tree House website at MagicTreeHouse.com!

Mary Pope Osborne (Author), Mary Pope Osborne (Narrator)

Audiobook

Who Was Alexander Hamilton?

Read the story of the Founding Father who inspired the smash Broadway musical. Born in the British West Indies and orphaned as a child, Alexander Hamilton made his way to the American Colonies and studied to become a lawyer. He joined a local militia during the American Revolution, rose to the rank of Major General, and became the chief aide to General George Washington. After the war, he became the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. He founded the Bank of New York and The New York Post newspaper. He served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and is also celebrated as a co-author of The Federalist Papers, a series of essays that are still used today to interpret the U.S. Constitution. The end of his life became a national scandal when he was shot and killed in a duel with then-Vice President Aaron Burr.Read the story of the Founding Father who inspired the smash Broadway musical. Born in the British West Indies and orphaned as a child, Alexander Hamilton made his way to the American Colonies and studied to become a lawyer. He joined a local militia during the American Revolution, rose to the rank of Major General, and became the chief aide to General George Washington. After the war, he became the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. He founded the Bank of New York and The New York Post newspaper. He served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and is also celebrated as a co-author of The Federalist Papers, a series of essays that are still used today to interpret the U.S. Constitution. The end of his life became a national scandal when he was shot and killed in a duel with then-Vice President Aaron Burr.

Meg Belviso, Pam Pollack (Author), P.J. Ochlan (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Promising Life: Coming of Age with America, A Novel

Award-winning author Emily McCully's most adventurous book to date draws a dramatic portrait of life in nineteenth-century America. For as long as he can remember, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau has been told that a promising future lies ahead of him. After all, his mother is the great Sacagawea, who accompanied Lewis and Clark on their expedition of discovery. And thanks to his mother, Baptiste's life changes forever when Captain Clark offers him an education in the bustling new city of St. Louis. There, his mother charges him to "learn everything" -- reading, writing, languages, mathematics. His life becomes a whirl of new experiences: lessons, duels, dances, elections. He makes friends and undertakes unexpected journeys to far-off places. But he also witnesses the injustices Clark, as a US agent for Indian Affairs, forces upon the Osage, the Arikara, the Mandan, and so many others. He sees the effect of what some call "progress" on the land and on the people who have lived there for generations. And he must choose what path he will take and what place he will have in a rapidly changing society.

Emily Arnold McCully (Author), MacLeod Andrews (Narrator)

Audiobook

Corbin the Hood: An Archer with a Purpose

An archer and a bow, an evil villain and a temptress. This is what the king's messenger told him. Corbin was a rebel, he was someone who wouldn't bow to the oppressive rules the dictator imposed upon his village. And because of that, he was banished. He was forgotten, but little did they realize that he would return. Listen to this audiobook about betrayal, revolution, and a sincere desire to liberate the people from tyranny, in this audiobook about a true warrior.

Jeff Child (Author), John H. Fehskens (Narrator)

Audiobook

Diary of a Suspicious Spy: A Detective Story for Kids About Betrayal and Mystery

Find out what Codius the spy did to escape from his own corrupt agency. The spy in this diary has principles, but he is about to throw them all away for a change of mind. Codius discovers something fishy is going on in the hometown he grew up in. His commissioner is acting weird, and the top secret mission he is about to fulfill is questionable. Learn more about the dilemma Codius is facing in this quick and fun diary, written by himself. He will show you the background of the life of a spy, with all the secrets that go with it.

Jeff Child (Author), John H. Fehskens (Narrator)

Audiobook