The Ice Children

By: M. G. Leonard

Narrated by: Helen Keeley, Izabella Dziewanska, Josh Zaré, Pete Gold, Carlyss Peer, Luke Harper, M. G. Leonard, Charlie Piper, George Neilly, Kaiah Coombes, Luke Howitt, Annabella Panayiotou, Shekhina Crellin, Laura Doddington, Richard Reed

Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

The Week Junior Book Awards: Children’s Audiobook of the Year – Highly Commended.

At the stroke of midnight on the dawn of December, five-year-old Finn Albedo is found frozen in the city park on a pedestal of ice. The doctor says his heart is beating, but no one can wake him.

Finn’s big sister, Bianca, suspects the beautiful sparkling book Finn got from the library has something to do with it all but the mysterious book has vanished and no one will listen.

As more children are frozen, Bianca realises she’s running out of time.

Is there a connection between the peculiar stranger wearing a top hat and the disappearing books?

The search for truth hurls Bianca into a fantastical winter wonderland where all is not as it seems…

Can Bianca remember her mission and find a way to save her brother and the other Ice Children before all their hearts are lost forever?

A future classic with a powerful message at its core.

Now available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.

©2022 M. G. Leonard (P)2022 Audible, Ltd

Critic reviews

"Responding to children’s worries about global warming, and alluding to classics from The Snow Queen to The Selfish Giant, it’s good, freezing fun." (Amanda Craig, The New Statesman)

"Revelling in the pleasures of snow and ice, and passionate about creatures associated with winter, this teaches us that love, nature and stories are powerful – and not to burn fossil fuels." (Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times)

"Led by Helen Keeley’s honeyed tones and skilfully voiced by a large cast (including MG Leonard), The Ice Children boasts ingenious stereophonic effects and has a whirlingly imaginative storyline full of wonder and hope as well as warning." (Christina Hardyment, The Times Audiobook of the Week)

no for my kids!

It was well executed, but the overwheliming climate change speak was over the top pushy. Maybe on 2nd thought that made it better? The agenda was easy to identify. I'm an outdoors person so I am all in favor of being kind to our little ble ball. I am not in favor of making my entertainment or kid's entertainment a Kool-Aid fest. This could have been a great story if they hadn't brought in the climate change baseball bat to hit the listeners over the head.

So true…

I know a lot of people think the ending is nonsense, but it’s actually pretty accurate. Climate change is EXTREMELY important, and we really need to step up and do something about it.

Better than most originals

There were a ton of plot holes, but it was nice and wintery and it was better than most audible originals (although that’s not a very high bar).

Good story for everyone

Although this story is obviously aimed at a young audience, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. The message contained in it is important for everyone.

Wish we could hear better

A very good little story for my children and I to listen to on the way to and from school. Narration was stellar- beautiful voice, clear and strong. Biggest issue was the change in volume for the individual characters. Bianca is loud enough but various others sound like they're several feet from the microphone in a large studio. But we're still enjoying it- at top volume!

An old fashioned modern story

Starts out sounding like an old children’s story set in England, but there are clues which slowly helps you realize this is a modern story. Without giving the plot away, it’s a story about how children can work to make a difference in the modern world. As an adult and busy working on our property outside, it was a sweet distraction and an enjoyable story. I’m recommending to my daughter for my grandchildren, ages 6 - 12.

Ice Children Story

Great for family reading. Kept us interested the entire time. We would definitely recommend for a fun read

An amazing way

to bring global warming awareness to everyone. very entertaining to listen to ,while getting the message over the ordinance, kids and adults

Great story ruined by author's politics

I was thoroughly enjoying this story until the last few chapters. I was initially mildly disappointed that this wonderful story was turning into a climate change platform, but the last two chapters was literally nothing but spewing climate change political views. Why ruin what was a well told story just to tout political views?

If the author had left off at a soft sell of climate change concerns, I would have given this at least 4 stars. Only the stellar performance saved it from being a 1 or 2 star review.

Bottom line: Stories are supposed to entertain, not preach. And if you want to Aesopize a story (which is perfectly acceptable) make it subtle, not like a club over the head. I certainly won't be listening to any other stories from this author.

Magic and Wonder

What a beautiful, magical tale full of so many unexpected events. As winter lovers my family was deeply moved by this lovely tale. Recommend to all!