Audiobooks Narrated by Guy Lockard

My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World

From Super Bowl champion and literacy crusader Malcolm Mitchell comes an exciting new story that shows even reluctantreaders that there is a book out there for everyone! Meet Henley, an all-around good kid, who hates to read. When he's supposed to be reading, he would rather do anything else. Butone day, he gets the scariest homework assignment in the world: find your favorite book to share with the class tomorrow.What's a kid to do? How can Henley find a story that speaks to everything inside of him?Malcolm Mitchell, bestselling author of The Magician's Hat, pulls from his own literary triumph to deliver another hilarous andempowering picture book for readers of all abilities. Through his advocacy and his books, Malcolm imparts the important messagethat every story has the potential to become a favorite

Malcolm Mitchell (Author), Guy Lockard (Narrator)

Audiobook

Class Act

New York Times bestselling author Jerry Craft returns with a companion book to New Kid, winner of the 2020 Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize. The audiobook was a 2020 Audie Awards Finalist for Middle Grade and named an Audible Best Audiobook of the Year. This time, it’s Jordan’s friend Drew who takes center stage in another laugh-out-loud funny, powerful, and important story about being one of the few kids of color in a prestigious private school. Eighth grader Drew Ellis is no stranger to the saying “You have to work twice as hard to be just as good.” His grandmother has reminded him his entire life. But what if he works ten times as hard and still isn’t afforded the same opportunities that his privileged classmates at the Riverdale Academy Day School take for granted? To make matters worse, Drew begins to feel as if his good friend Liam might be one of those privileged kids. He wants to pretend like everything is fine, but it's hard not to withdraw, and even their mutual friend Jordan doesn't know how to keep the group together. As the pressures mount, will Drew find a way to bridge the divide so he and his friends can truly accept each other? And most important, will he finally be able to accept himself? This original full-cast audio adaptation of the graphic novel is performed by Jesus Del Orden, Nile Bullock, Guy Lockard, Robin Miles, Peyton Lusk, Marc Thompson, Rebecca Soler, Dan Bittner, January LaVoy, Phoebe Strole, Jordan Cobb, Ron Butler, A.J Beckles, Miles J. Harvey, Kim Mai Guest, Kyla Garcia, and Soneela Nankani. New Kid, the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal, is now joined by Jerry Craft's powerful Class Act.

Jerry Craft (Author), A.J Beckles, Dan Bittner, Guy Lockard, January Lavoy, Jesus Del Orden, Jordan Cobb, Kim Mai Guest, Kyla Garcia, Marc Thompson, Miles Harvey, Nile Bullock, Peyton Lusk, Phoebe Strole, Rebecca Soler, Robin Miles, Ron Butler, Soneela Nankani (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Talk: Conversations about Race, Love & Truth

This powerful collection of short stories, essays, and poems is a call-to-action that invites all families to be anti-racist and advocates for change. Thirty diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators--including Renee Watson (Piecing Me Together), Grace Lin (Where the Mountain Meets the Moon), Meg Medina (Merci Suarez Changes Gears), and Adam Gidwitz (The Inquisitor's Tale)--engage young people in frank discussions about racism, identity and self-esteem. Featuring stories filled with love, acceptance, truth, peace, and an assurance that there can be hope for a better tomorrow, The Talk is an inspiring anthology and must-have resource published in partnership with Just Us Books, a black-owned children's publishing company that's been in operation for over 30 years. Just Us Books continues its mission grounded in the same belief that helped launch the company: Good books make a difference. So, let's talk. Featured contributors: Selina Alko, Tracey Baptiste, Derrick Barnes, Natacha Bustos, Cozbi A. Cabrera, Raúl Colón, Adam Gidwitz, Nikki Grimes, Rudy Gutierrez, April Harrison, Wade Hudson, Gordon C. James, Minh Lê, E. B. Lewis, Grace Lin, Torrey Maldonado, Meg Medina, Christopher Myers, Daniel Nayeri, Zeke Peña, Peter H. Reynolds, Erin K. Robinson, Traci Sorell, Shadra Strickland, Don Tate, MaryBeth Timothy, Duncan Tonatiuh, Renée Watson, Valerie Wilson Wesley, Sharon Dennis Wyeth This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF of sources and notes from the authors. 'The go-to book for talking to kids about race and privilege. Thoughtful. Thought-provoking. A must-read for every family.' -Ellen Oh, editor of Flying Lessons & Other Stories and cofounder of We Need Diverse Books 'The ingredients are all here. May this magnificent collection inspire us to move from dialogue to deep action.' -Kirkus, Starred Review

Adam Gidwitz, April Harrison, Christopher Myers, Cozbi A. Cabrera, Daniel Nayeri, Derrick Barnes, Don Tate, Duncan Tonatiuh, E. B. Lewis, Erin K. Robinson, Gordon C. James, Grace Lin, Marybeth Timothy, Meg Medina, Minh Lê, Natacha Bustos, Nikki Grimes, Peter H. Reynolds, Raúl Colón, Renée Watson, Rudy Gutierrez, Selina Alko, Shadra Strickland, Sharon Dennis Wyeth, Torrey Maldonado, Tracey Baptiste, Traci Sorell, Valerie Wilson Wesley, Wade Hudson, Zeke Peña (Author), Catherine Ho, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Feodor Chin, Gisela Chípe, Guy Lockard, James Fouhey, Janina Edwards, Jesus E. Martinez, Lisa Renee Pitts, Michael Crouch, Nicole Lewis, Omar Leyva, Renata Friedman (Narrator)

Audiobook

New Kid

An original full-cast audio adaptation of the graphic novel from award-winning author-illustrator Jerry Craft, performed by the author with Jesus Del Orden, Nile Bullock, Robin Miles, Guy Lockard, Peyton Lusk, Rebecca Soler, Dan Bittner, Phoebe Strole, Marc Thompson, Miles Harvey, and Ron Butler. Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Gene Luen Yang, New Kid is a timely, honest novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real. Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself? Filled with sound effects and original music, this audio adventure is one the whole family will enjoy.

Jerry Craft (Author), Dan Bittner, Guy Lockard, Jesus Del Orden, Marc Thompson, Miles Harvey, Nile Bullock, Peyton Lusk, Phoebe Strole, Rebecca Soler, Robin Miles, Ron Butler (Narrator)

Audiobook

We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices

The foremost diverse children's authors--including Jason Reynolds, Jacqueline Woodson, and Kwame Alexander--share answers to the question, 'In this divisive world, what shall we tell our children?' in this powerful collection, published in partnership with Just Us Books. Featuring poems, letters, personal essays, songs, and other works from such industry leaders as Jacqueline Woodson (Brown Girl Dreaming), Jason Reynolds (All American Boys), Kwame Alexander (The Crossover), Andrea Pippins (I Love My Hair), Sharon Draper (Out of My Mind), Rita Williams-Garcia (One Crazy Summer), Ellen Oh (cofounder of We Need Diverse Books), and more, this anthology empowers the nation's youth to listen, learn, and build a better tomorrow. Audiobook Table of Contents: Foreword by Ashley Bryan, read by Dominic Hoffman Introduction by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson, read by the authors What Shall We Tell You? by Wade Hudson, read by the author The Golden Rule by Carole Boston Weatherford, read by Soneela Nankani A Thousand Winters by Kwame Alexander, read by Guy Lockard We, the People by Rita Williams-Garcia, read by January LaVoy Prayers of the Grandmothers by Sharon M. Draper, read by Adenrele Ojo You Are Here. by Denise Lewis Patrick, read by N'Jameh Camara Words Have Power by Ellen Oh, read by Jennifer Lim Kindness Is a Choice by Jacqueline Woodson, read by Adenrele Ojo To Find a Friend by Joseph Bruchac, read by Darrell Dennis Get on Board, introduction read by Cheryl Willis Hudson, song performed by Paul Robeson (courtesy of Concord Music Group) You Can Change the World by Bernette G. Ford, read by Bahni Turpin Next by Lesa Cline-Randsome, read by January LaVoy Drumbeat for Change by Kelly Starling Lyons, read by Bahni Turpin The Art of Mindfulness by Evelyn Coleman, read by N'Jameh Camara One Day Papí Drove Me to School by Tony Medina, read by Kyla Garcia It Helps to Look at Old Front Page Headlines by Marilyn Nelson, read by Jennifer Lim All Nations Are Neighbors and I Wonder by Margarita Engle, read by Kyla Garcia When I Think of You by Sharon G. Flake, read by Bahni Turpin a day of small things by Tonya Bolden, read by Adenrele Ojo Dark-Brown Skin Is Beautiful by Eleanora E. Tate, read by Bahni Turpin here is a poem of love and hope: by Arnold Adoff, read by Dominic Hoffman We've Got You by Pat Cummings, read by January LaVoy How to Pass the Test by Hena Khan, read by Soneela Nankani Where Are the Good People? by Tameka Fryer Brown, read by January LaVoy You Can Do It by Jabari Asim, read by Sullivan Jones Tell It in Your Own Way by Roy Boney Jr., read by Darrell Dennis "What Songs Will Our Children Sing?" music and lyrics by Curtis Hudson You Too Can Fly by Zetta Elliott, read by Bahni Turpin Advice . . . (I'm Old-School Like That) by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, read by N'Jameh Camara A Talkin'-To by Jason Reynolds, read by Guy Lockard

Cheryl Willis Hudson, Wade Hudson (Author), , Adenrele Ojo, Bahni Turpin, Darrell Dennis, Dominic Hoffman, Guy Lockard, January Lavoy, Jennifer Lim, Kyla Garcia, N'jameh Camara, Paul Robeson, Soneela Nankani, Sullivan Jones, Various (Narrator)

Audiobook

Sunny

Sunny tries to shine despite his troubled past in this third novel in the critically acclaimed Track series from National Book Award finalist Jason Reynolds. Ghost. Patina. Sunny. Lu. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds, with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team-a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics. They all have a lot of lose, but they all have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves. Sunny is the main character in this novel, the third of four books in Jason Reynold's electrifying middle grade series. Sunny is just that-sunny. Always ready with a goofy smile and something nice to say, Sunny is the chillest dude on the Defenders team. But Sunny's life hasn't always been sun beamy-bright. You see, Sunny is a murderer. Or at least he thinks of himself that way. His mother died giving birth to him, and based on how Sunny's dad treats him-ignoring him, making Sunny call him Darryl, never "Dad"-it's no wonder Sunny thinks he's to blame. It seems the only thing Sunny can do right in his dad's eyes is win first place ribbons running the mile, just like his mom did. But Sunny doesn't like running, never has. So he stops. Right in the middle of a race. With his relationship with his dad now worse than ever, the last thing Sunny wants to do is leave the other newbies-his only friends-behind. But you can't be on a track team and not run. So Coach asks Sunny what he wants to do. Sunny's answer? Dance. Yes, dance. But you also can't be on a track team and dance. Then, in a stroke of genius only Jason Reynolds can conceive, Sunny discovers a track event that encompasses the hard hits of hip-hop, the precision of ballet, and the showmanship of dance as a whole: the discus throw. As Sunny practices the discus, learning when to let go at just the right time, he'll let go of everything that's been eating him up inside, perhaps just in time.

Jason Reynolds (Author), Guy Lockard (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ghost

Ghost wants to be the fastest sprinter on his elite middle school track team, but his past is slowing him down in this first electrifying novel of a brand-new series from Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award–winning author Jason Reynolds. Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team—a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves. Ghost has a crazy natural talent, but no formal training. If he can stay on track, literally and figuratively, he could be the best sprinter in the city. But Ghost has been running for the wrong reasons—it all starting with running away from his father, who, when Ghost was a very little boy, chased him and his mother through their apartment, then down the street, with a loaded gun, aiming to kill. Since then, Ghost has been the one causing problems—and running away from them—until he meets Coach, an ex-Olympic Medalist who blew his own shot at success by using drugs, and who is determined to keep other kids from blowing their shots at life.

Jason Reynolds (Author), Guy Lockard (Narrator)

Audiobook

As Brave As You

When two brothers decide to prove how brave they are, everything backfires-literally-in this piercing middle grade novel by the winner of the Coretta Scott King - Johnson Steptoe Award.Genie's summer is full of surprises. The first is that he and his big brother, Ernie, are leaving Brooklyn for the very first time to spend the summer with their grandparents all the way in Virginia-in the COUNTRY! The second surprise comes when Genie figures out that their grandfather is blind. Thunderstruck and-being a curious kid-Genie peppers Grandpop with questions about how he covers it so well (besides wearing way cool Ray-Bans). How does he match his clothes? Know where to walk? Cook with a gas stove? Pour a glass of sweet tea without spilling it? Genie thinks Grandpop must be the bravest guy he's ever known, but he starts to notice that his grandfather never leaves the house-as in NEVER. And when he finds the secret room that Grandpop is always disappearing into-a room so full of songbirds and plants that it's almost as if it's been pulled inside-out-he begins to wonder if his grandfather is really so brave after all. Then Ernie lets him down in the bravery department. It's his fourteenth birthday, and, Grandpop says to become a man, you have to learn how to shoot a gun. Genie thinks that is AWESOME until he realizes Ernie has no interest in learning how to shoot. None. Nada. Dumbfounded by Ernie's reluctance, Genie is left to wonder-is bravery and becoming a man only about proving something, or is it just as important to own up to what you won't do?

Jason Reynolds (Author), Guy Lockard (Narrator)

Audiobook

All American Boys

In an unforgettable new novel from award-winning authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, two teens-one black, one white-grapple with the repercussions of a single violent act that leaves their school, their community, and, ultimately, the country bitterly divided by racial tension.A bag of chips. That's all sixteen-year-old Rashad is looking for at the corner bodega. What he finds instead is a fist-happy cop, Paul Galluzzo, who mistakes Rashad for a shoplifter, mistakes Rashad's pleadings that he's stolen nothing for belligerence, mistakes Rashad's resistance to leave the bodega as resisting arrest, mistakes Rashad's every flinch at every punch the cop throws as further resistance and refusal to STAY STILL as ordered. But how can you stay still when someone is pounding your face into the concrete pavement? But there were witnesses: Quinn Collins-a varsity basketball player and Rashad's classmate who has been raised by Paul since his own father died in Afghanistan-and a video camera. Soon the beating is all over the news and Paul is getting threatened with accusations of prejudice and racial brutality. Quinn refuses to believe that the man who has basically been his savior could possibly be guilty. But then Rashad is absent. And absent again. And again. And the basketball team-half of whom are Rashad's best friends-start to take sides. As does the school. And the town. Simmering tensions threaten to explode as Rashad and Quinn are forced to face decisions and consequences they had never considered before. Written in tandem by two award-winning authors, this tour de force shares the alternating perspectives of Rashad and Quinn as the complications from that single violent moment, the type taken from the headlines, unfold and reverberate to highlight an unwelcome truth.

Brendan Kiely, Jason Reynolds (Author), Guy Lockard, Keith Nobbs (Narrator)

Audiobook