Nice to meet you,
I’m Sean! Heather has graciously handed off writing duties for the newsletter to lucky me—though I’ll wholeheartedly miss reading her editions. Heather’s still around at Audible, but she’s tackling other projects. (She says to tell youhi!) I’ll do my utmost to keep up the high standard she’s set.
As for me: I’ve been immersed in the world of children’s literature for over a decade as an editor and writer, spanning school-library publishing to reading apps to comic books to audioplays for Alexa. Kidlit is my safe space, my first and favorite literary love, and fuel for my inner child—so I’m thrilled to be here.
In the grand tradition of animal mascots for Now in Kids, I’ll continue Heather and Trigger’s tradition with my own rescue pet, Amelia. (Hopefully these two muses will get to meet someday.) Unlike literary white rabbits, this one will actually help me navigate the wide and wonderful world of kidlit, continuing to bring you only the best and brightest listens.
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Maximillian Fly
- By: Angie Sage
- Narrated by: Sean Welsh Brown, Jennifer Nittoso, Fred Berman, and others
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 33
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 28
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Story4 out of 5 stars 29
Maximillian Fly wants no trouble. Yet because he stands at six feet two, with beautiful indigo wings, long antennae, and more arms than you or me, many are frightened of him. He is a gentle creature who looks like a giant cockroach. This extraordinary human wants to prove his goodness, so he opens his door to two SilverSeed children in search of a place to hide. Instantly, Maximillian’s quiet, solitary life changes. There are dangerous powers after them and they have eyes everywhere. But in this gray city of Hope trapped under the Orb, is escape even possible?
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5 out of 5 stars
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Fanciful, but message is loud and clear
- By Smiley-Serious on 10-14-19
Fly guy
A six-foot-tall human/cockroach hybrid may seem like an odd choice of protagonist for middle-grade listeners, but Angie Sage has made Maximillian utterly relatable. Max, as voiced by the enormously talented Sean Welsh Brown, exudes empathy despite—and likely due to—his slightly alien cadence and tone. Sage guides readers by the hand through her bleakly painted world and rewards them with a well-earned and surprisingly cozy conclusion.
This is a great candidate for aspirational listeners who want to dip their toes into something more complicated—and it's perfect for kids who already gravitate toward the mature side of middle-grade.
Be the Bug
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Jukebox Joyride
- By: Jacob Stein, Jason Rabinowitz, The Pop Ups
- Narrated by: Jason Rabinowitz, Jacob Stein, Cara Samantha, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 6,587
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5,873
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Story4 out of 5 stars 5,853
Jukebox Joyride follows 12-year-old twins Jules and George on a wild adventure through time. Their Uncle Bob, a renowned ethnomusicologist (he studies music!), has discovered the secret to time travel and is having a ball joyriding through history checking out the best concerts ever...but something’s gone wrong! A sinister force has been unleashed, someone is chasing after Uncle Bob, and the fate of all music hangs in the balance! Now, it’s up to Jules and George to find their uncle before their new rival does!
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5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic for the whole family!
- By brooklynmama on 06-07-19
Emphasis on joy
Wowww! I don’t even know how to classify this listen, so I won’t bother trying—but the musical soundtrack is ethereal, the voice acting is top-notch, the sound effects are engaging, the dialogue is sparkling and crisp—and somehow all of it comes together to create something grander than its parts. It's a love letter to both classic and contemporary music, so it's sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike. The lively, dreamy tone refuses to let kids’ attention spans wander and rewards the attentive listener with musical cues that often made me feel giddy, even joyful.
Jacob Stein and Jason Rabinowitz have their fingers on the emotional pulse of the story, too, which should come as no surprise given all the music they've previously contributed to beloved children's productions. This is without a doubt my top listen of the year so far. (And don’t forget to check out the behind-the-scenes video with the creators!)
Enter the Soundscape
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Nino Wrestles the World
- By: Yuyi Morales
- Narrated by: Adriana Sananes
- Length: 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
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Story4 out of 5 stars 2
Fwap! Slish! Bloop! Krunch! He takes down his competition in a single move! No opponent is too big a challenge for the cunning skills of Nino - popsicle eater, toy lover, somersault expert, and world champion lucha libre competitor!
Picture these perfect listens
Both of the listens we’ve covered so far are rather intense and immersive—in different ways, to be sure—but I feel it's warranted to round out this newsletter with a list of bite-sized, easier listening options for the younger listeners. Most of the titles in this list are enhanced versions of popular picture books, but all of them are fun, playful, and begging to be listened to over and over again.
Pick One!
New & Upcoming Listens
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Kristy's Great Idea
- The Baby-Sitters Club, Book 1
- By: Ann M. Martin
- Narrated by: Elle Fanning
- Length: 2 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 492
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 409
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 407
When Kristy Thomas has the great idea to form a baby-sitters club - a chance to earn money and spend time with her friends, all while doing something they each love to do - she has no idea how much the club will change everything. Crank calls, uncontrollable toddlers, wild pets, untruthful clients...running a business is hard work! Kristy and her co-founders, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey, are sure they can handle anything. But only if they stick together....
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5 out of 5 stars
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Fun
- By Beka B. on 08-14-19
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Rivals! Frenemies Who Changed the World
- By: Scott McCormick
- Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi, Samantha Turret, Khristine Hvam, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 21,679
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 19,460
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 19,383
Did you know that most of our dinosaur fossils were discovered because two grown men absolutely hated each other? It’s true! Rivals! Frenemies Who Changed the World is a riotous audio exclusive, like if Monty Python taught your history class. Each volume of four 30-minute histories will dig into the petty name-calling and grumbling grudges that led to many of the world’s greatest advancements, all delivered with a cheeky sense of humor. Choose sides: Cope or Marsh, the jerks who discovered so many dinosaurs; Hamilton or Burr, whose rivalry fueled American politics; and many more....
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4 out of 5 stars
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Warning for parents...
- By Jetjaguar15 on 07-08-19
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Cheshire Crossing
- By: Andy Weir
- Narrated by: Sophie Amoss, Brittany Pressley, Kristen DiMercurio, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 97
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 88
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Story4 out of 5 stars 87
What happens to Alice when she comes back from Wonderland? Wendy from Neverland? Dorothy from Oz? The three meet here, at Cheshire Crossing - a boarding school where girls like them learn how to cope with their supernatural experiences and harness their magical world-crossing powers. But the trio - now teenagers, who’ve had their fill of meddling authority figures - aren’t content to sit still in a classroom. Soon they’re dashing from one universe to the next, leaving havoc in their wake.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Uh -- target missed
- By mix579 on 07-18-19
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The Mystwick School of Musicraft
- By: Jessica Khoury
- Narrated by: Suzy Jackson
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 15,615
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 14,153
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 14,100
Amelia Jones has always dreamed of attending the Mystwick School of Musicraft, where the world’s most promising musicians learn to create musical magic. Unfortunately, Amelia botches her audition and her dream comes crashing down—until the school agrees to give her a second chance. Amelia vows to do whatever it takes to make her dream come true.
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5 out of 5 stars
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What a cute story!
- By Anonymous User on 09-07-19
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Kristy's Great Idea
- The Baby-Sitters Club, Book 1
- By: Ann M. Martin
- Narrated by: Elle Fanning
- Length: 2 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 492
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 409
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 407
When Kristy Thomas has the great idea to form a baby-sitters club - a chance to earn money and spend time with her friends, all while doing something they each love to do - she has no idea how much the club will change everything. Crank calls, uncontrollable toddlers, wild pets, untruthful clients...running a business is hard work! Kristy and her co-founders, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey, are sure they can handle anything. But only if they stick together....
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5 out of 5 stars
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Fun
- By Beka B. on 08-14-19
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Rivals! Frenemies Who Changed the World
- By: Scott McCormick
- Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi, Samantha Turret, Khristine Hvam, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 21,679
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 19,460
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 19,383
Did you know that most of our dinosaur fossils were discovered because two grown men absolutely hated each other? It’s true! Rivals! Frenemies Who Changed the World is a riotous audio exclusive, like if Monty Python taught your history class. Each volume of four 30-minute histories will dig into the petty name-calling and grumbling grudges that led to many of the world’s greatest advancements, all delivered with a cheeky sense of humor. Choose sides: Cope or Marsh, the jerks who discovered so many dinosaurs; Hamilton or Burr, whose rivalry fueled American politics; and many more....
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4 out of 5 stars
-
Warning for parents...
- By Jetjaguar15 on 07-08-19
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Cheshire Crossing
- By: Andy Weir
- Narrated by: Sophie Amoss, Brittany Pressley, Kristen DiMercurio, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 97
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 88
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 87
What happens to Alice when she comes back from Wonderland? Wendy from Neverland? Dorothy from Oz? The three meet here, at Cheshire Crossing - a boarding school where girls like them learn how to cope with their supernatural experiences and harness their magical world-crossing powers. But the trio - now teenagers, who’ve had their fill of meddling authority figures - aren’t content to sit still in a classroom. Soon they’re dashing from one universe to the next, leaving havoc in their wake.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Uh -- target missed
- By mix579 on 07-18-19
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The Mystwick School of Musicraft
- By: Jessica Khoury
- Narrated by: Suzy Jackson
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 15,615
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 14,153
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 14,100
Amelia Jones has always dreamed of attending the Mystwick School of Musicraft, where the world’s most promising musicians learn to create musical magic. Unfortunately, Amelia botches her audition and her dream comes crashing down—until the school agrees to give her a second chance. Amelia vows to do whatever it takes to make her dream come true.
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5 out of 5 stars
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What a cute story!
- By Anonymous User on 09-07-19