Audiobooks Narrated by Simon Russell Beale

Pernickety Boo

"‘This captivating series of adventures is ideal for those who love whimsical humour’ Guardian, Best Children’s Books of the Year Written by Carnegie and Costa Award-winning author Sally Gardner and beautifully illustrated throughout by Greenaway-shortlisted artist Chris Mould, Pernickety Boo is the unforgettable story of a very unusual umbrella. 'Hello,' said the umbrella. 'Gosh,' said the boy. The umbrella's handle was carved in the shape of a dog’s head, with a very long snout and a shiny nose and ears that flopped back. 'You can talk.' 'I suppose I can,' said the umbrella. 'Do you have a name?' asked the boy. 'No,' said the umbrella. 'Do I need a name?' 'Yes,' said the small boy. 'You need one for someone to let you in at the front door, and another name to be let out the back door.' Brought to life by a careless sorcerer, Pernickety Boo is a well-educated umbrella with unexplored magical powers – and after he is left behind on the London Underground by his forgetful creator, Pernickety must find an owner: someone who will truly love him. So when Pernickety meets young Sylvie Moonshine and is welcomed into her home, he thinks that all of his prayers have been answered. But there are plenty of other people who are also interested in the magical umbrella, and who threaten to separate Pernickety from his beloved Sylvie, unless he can find a way to stop them. Perfect for fans of A Bear Called Paddington, The Velveteen Rabbit, and Winnie-the-Pooh, this instant classic is a book for the whole family to share."

Sally Gardner (Author), Simon Russell Beale (Narrator)

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Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Golden Seahorse

"Following the success of their first two adventures, the intrepid pair join Betsy's mum, Myrtle the mermaid, beneath the waves. Crumble cakes! When Betsy joins Myrtle the mermaid in her underwater world, she discovers there may be monsters ... shipwrecks, lost treasure and secret cities. A seapig's prize seahorse, Pudding Pie, has been stolen by a cantankerous giant octopus and Betsy and Mr Tiger must go to the rescue in their new submarine. But what happens when a tiger's whiskers and tail are simply too long to squeeze into forgotten dark caverns where even the moon cannot shine, and Betsy has to take the final steps of the adventure on her own? Praise for the author: “This enchanting new series is an absolute delight ... Striking just the right note of whimsy and magic.” THE BOOKSELLER"

Sally Gardner (Author), Simon Russell Beale (Narrator)

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Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Sea Dragon

"Crumble cakes! A red rogue wind is blowing and a wicked pirate captain and his crew are marauding the seven seas near the island left off the map of the world. A rare egg has gone missing and a very unhappy sea dragon wants it back. A pirate ship, the Kettle Black, is anchored in a secret cove off the island left off the map of the world. Betsy and her mum, Myrtle the mermaid, must dive deep beneath the waves, while Alfonso Glory and Mr Tiger fly high above the clouds in a hot air balloon… It's time for Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Gongalongs to set off on their second adventure... The mysterious Mr Tiger and the inquisitive Betsy K. Glory set off on their second adventure, from bestselling author Sally Gardner."

Sally Gardner (Author), Simon Russell Beale (Narrator)

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Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Blue Moon

"An enchanting fairytale about Mr Tiger, and his troupe of acrobats, Betsy K. Glory, the daughter of a mermaid and an ice cream maker. When Betsy K. Glory, the daughter of a mermaid and an ice cream maker, meets the mysterious Mr Tiger they have a giant challenge: a moon to turn blue, berries to collect and wishable-delicious ice cream to create. The sort that makes wishes come true. With Mr Tiger and his troupe of Gongalong circus acrobats, a toad under a spell, a lonely giant, and Mum and Dad, Betsy sets off on her quest. Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Blue Moon made the 2018 Books of the Year round-ups in The Times, Telegraph, Evening Standard, Scotsman and Big Issue."

Sally Gardner (Author), Simon Russell Beale (Narrator)

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Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year

"From Allie Esiri, editor of the bestselling A Poem for Every Day of the Year and A Poem for Every Night of the Year, comes this beautiful audio anthology of William Shakespeare's works. Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year is a collection of 365 plays, sonnets and poems, and Esiri's entertaining and insightful thoughts on each entry will fill your year with wonder, laughter, wisdom and wit. Each track of this unique collection contains an extract, which might be a famous poem, quote or scene, matched to the date, performed by leading actors such as Sir Simon Russell Beale, Helen McCrory, and Damian Lewis. Allie Esiri's introductions give her readers a new window into the work, time and life of the greatest writer in the English language. Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year is perfect for listening together or on your own and brings you Shakespeare's best-known and best-loved classics alongside lesser known extracts read by a range of award-winning Shakespearean actors. The complete cast of performers are: Sir Simon Russell Beale, Helen McCrory, Damian Lewis, Hattie Morahan, Paapa Essiedu, Jade Anouka, Ben Allen and Jot Davies."

Allie Esiri (Author), Allie Esiri, Ben Allen, Damian Lewis, Hattie Morahan, Helen Mccrory, Jade Anouka, Jot Davies, Paapa Essiedu, Simon Russell Beale (Narrator)

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A Poem for Every Day of the Year

"A Poem For Every Day of the Year is a magnificent collection of 366 of the greatest poems in the English language, compiled by the award-winning poetry curator Allie Esiri. The collection is passionately narrated by Helena Bonham Carter and Simon Russell Beale, with introductions read by Allie Esiri and contributions from Damian Lynch and Peter Forbes. Reflecting the changing seasons and linking to events on key dates - funny for April Fool's Day, festive for Christmas - the book is inspiring, informative and empowering. Perfect for any age, the poems are familiar favourites and exciting new discoveries. T.S. Eliot, A.A. Milne, John Keats, William Shakespeare and Christina Rossetti sit alongside Seamus Heaney, Wendy Cope, Maya Angelou and Kae Tempest. This soul-enhancing book will keep you company every day of the year."

Allie Esiri (Author), Allie Esiri, Damian Lynch, Helena Bonham Carter, Peter Forbes, Simon Russell Beale (Narrator)

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The Matchbox Mysteries: The Detective Agency's Fourth Case

"Podgy Bottom is in trouble. All over town cars are being shrunk to the size of a matchbox in the blink of an eye; a giant purple bunny rabbit is running riot and a strange-looking broomstick is causing chaos and calamity... Sounds like a case for Wings & Co, the famous fairy detective agency! Can Emily, Budget and Fidget put a stop to this magical mischief before it's too late? Another fantastic story for younger readers from Sally Gardner, winner of the COSTA BOOK AWARD 2013, and acclaimed artist, David Roberts. If you loved David Walliams's GANGSTA GRANNY, you'll love these hilarious tales of mischief, mayhem, magic and mystery. Read by Simon Russell Beale (P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd"

Sally Gardner (Author), Simon Russell Beale (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Vanishing of Billy Buckle: The Detective Agency's Third Case

"Spot on the Fishcake! The famous fairy detective agency, Wings & Co, has a problem. Really quite a big problem. Well, a few of them actually. There's the missing giant, Billy Buckle, who has vanished without a trace, and left his giant daughter with the detectives. There's a surprise visit to the seaside, which uncovers a murder and a stolen diamond. And then there's that tricky business of the TV talent show. Squat on a squid, this is Emily, Buster and Fidget's most complicated case yet. Read by Simon Russell Beale (P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd"

Sally Gardner (Author), Simon Russell Beale (Narrator)

Audiobook

Three Pickled Herrings: The Detective Agency's Second Case

"At the Wings & Co. Fairy Detective Agency, Emily Vole and her friends are beginning to worry. It's five months since their official opening and they still haven't had one case. Then local landowner Sir Walter Cross dies suddenly and mysteriously. The detectives suspect fairy meddling. And when Mr Rollo the tailor mysteriously loses everything and Pan Smith's wedding plans are ruined the night before her big day, they're convinced there must be magic at play. Now they have not one, but three pickled herrings to deal with! Can they solve the mystery of who is stealing people's luck before the meddling fairy goes too far? Read by Simon Russell Beale. Simon Russell Beale has starred on stage, screen and TV and has been described as one of the greatest stage actors of his generation. He has been in numerous roles for The Royal Shakespeare Company and has won the Lawrence Olivier Theatre Award 3 times. In 2003 he was appointed a CBE. In 2008 Simon made his début as a television presenter, fronting the BBC Four series Sacred Music with Harry Christophers. He has read numerous audiobooks including Orion's Don't Cook Cinderella by Francesca Simon. (P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd"

Sally Gardner (Author), Simon Russell Beale (Narrator)

Audiobook

Stories From Shakespeare, Vol. 3

"Two leading English classical actors, Juliet Stevenson and Simon Russell Beale, open the doors to eight important plays, including Much Ado About Nothing, Antony and Cleopatra, The Winter's Tale, Measure for Measure, and All's Well That Ends Well. These newly written introductions by David Timson have proved eminently useful for young audiences coming to Shakespeare for the first time. Explained clearly, the introductions also feature numerous excerpts from the plays themselves."

David Timson (Author), Clare Corbett, Juliet Stevenson, Neville Jason, Oliver Le Sueur, Simon Russell Beale (Narrator)

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Atticus the Storyteller: 100 Stories from Greece

"Atticus the Storyteller is determined to take part in the great Storytelling Festival near Troy. He leaves his family in Crete and sets off on a year-long journey round Greece with his donkey, Melissa; and wherever he goes he tells his favourite myths to anyone who'll listen. The 100 myths include all the favourites, such as the wanderings of Odysseus, the labours of Heracles, the stories of King Midas, Daedalus and Icarus, and Theseus and the Minotaur. Volume 1, read by Simon Russell Beale. (P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd"

Lucy Coats (Author), Simon Russell Beale (Narrator)

Audiobook

Don't Cook Cinderella

"It's just an ordinary day at Mother Goose's Academy. There's Miss Good Fairy teaching the Three Little Pigs, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood to read and write, while Miss Bad Fairy is inciting the Ugly Sisters, the Big Bad Wolf, Troll, Wicked Stepmother, Wicked Witch and Jealous Queen to gobble them all up. The result? Chaos! Witty, fast-paced and anarchic, this is a complete story with ten short chapters ('C.A.T. Spells Dog', 'What Troll Learned', 'Snakes and Snails for Lunch') that take us through the school day. This is a wonderful romp that Horrid Henry fans will revel in. '[Simon Russell Beale's] Big Bad Wolf is growlier than Marlon Brando, and his Jealous Queen more languorous than a casting-couch seductress. Inviting mimicry , too, are the snorts of the three little pigs and the lip-smacking 'yumyumyum' of the nasty but dim Troll' Daily Telegraph (P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd"

Francesca Simon (Author), Simon Russell Beale (Narrator)

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