Listen Up to Audiobooks May 2006
By Lisa Von Drasek

To read Lisa Von Drasek's related article School's Out for Summer! click here

Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles, read by Kim Mai Guest (Listening Library, 2006, ISBN: 0-307-28230-9, 5 CDs, $35.00, ages 8-12).

Ten-year-old Comfort Snowberger lives in her family's funeral home and is an expert on the southern traditions and rituals of death. When great-great-aunt Florentine drops dead just like that, the family prepares for their own gathering. Comfort must deal with her difficult cousin Peach, her best friend's betrayal and other sudden losses. This humorous, warm tale of family and friends is well deserving of being a National Book Award Finalist and was honored with the American Booksellers for Children's E.B. White award for Best Chapter Book. Kim Mai guest perfectly captures the voice of Comfort as well as her family and friends.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, read by Ellen Reilly (Listening Library, 2006, ISBN: 0-307-20676-3, 4 CDs, $ 28.00, ages 9-12).

In this intriguing mystery set in Chicago, two sixth grade sleuths follow a trail of clues to locate a valuable Vermeer painting that has disappeared. The narrator's dry tones suit this third-person account.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and Other Stories and Poems by Judith Viorst, read by Blythe Danner (HarperChildren's Audio, 2004, ISBN: 0-060-72331-9, $13.95, ages 4-8).

This wonderful audio collection includes the classic title story of a little boy's disastrous day as well of Viorst's other timeless picture books, Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday, Rosie and Michael, Mama Says There Ain't Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Creatures, Demons, Monsters, Fiends, Goblins, or Things, The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries.

To read Lisa Von Drasek's related article School's Out for Summer! click here

Lisa Von Drasek is Children's Librarian at the Bank Street College of Education in New York, NY.