Special Collections
Human-Narrated Audiobooks for Kids
Description: View our curated collection of audiobooks for kids on Bookshare, now with human narration. #childrens #kids #childrensbooks #kidsbooks
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Flora Stormer and the Golden Lotus
by Isabella HarcourtFlora Stormer sets off to discover a magical flower hidden deep in the rainforest - and ends up finding . . . HERSELF! A brand-new series combining the magic and adventure of Jumanji with a message celebrating difference and self-acceptance. Flora Stormer, a talented young artist with Tourette's Syndrome, is helping her father prepare for an expedition to search for the legendary golden lotus - a plant with magical healing properties. But when her dad falls ill, Flora bravely sets sail in his place, hoping the mythical plant might save him. Equipped with her paints and a magical map, Flora treks through the rainforest, encountering dangerous animals and poisonous plants along the way. But the greatest threat she faces is from a greedy collector determined get his hands on the flower first. Can Flora and her new friends stop him from stealing the golden lotus and cursing the rainforest forever?
The Wild Before
by Piers TordayCan one hare alone change the world? A captivating animal adventure destined to be loved by readers of all ages. A stunning hardback edition printed with recycled materials and eco packaging.One frosty winter's night, a pure white calf is born on an ordinary muddy farm in the light of a silver moon. This is the legendary Mooncalf, whose arrival has been foretold since the dawn of time.Hare knows immediately that if the calf is not saved it will be the end of all things.According to a dream passed down from animal to animal, if the calf dies a great terribleness will come - rising seas, a plague, skies raining down fire... and Hare vows to protect Mooncalf with his life.Upon Mooncalf's arrival, the old bull summons all the animals of the farm and tells them of this dream, warning that they must help Hare in his mission before it is too late.But it's easier said than done, and soon Hare realises that he must act on his own...A stunning prequel to the award-winning bestselling The Last Wild trilogy, with themes of climate change, hope and friendship.'Piers Torday is the new master of books for children who like magic and modernity with their lust for adventure' The Times(P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Where the Wilderness Lives
by Jess ButterworthAn epic race for survival that follows four children and their dog through treacherous waterways, dense forests and the deep, dark wilderness of Wales. From author Jess Butterworth comes a beautifully written adventure story in a vibrantly described setting - perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell.One day, as Cara and her siblings are trying to clean up the canal where they live, they pull out a mysterious locked safe. Though none of them can open it, they're sure it's something special.That night, a thief comes after the safe. The children flee, traveling with their boat as far as they can, before continuing into the forest on foot. But soon they're lost in the mountains with a snowstorm about to land and food supplies running low. Will Cara and her siblings be able to survive the wilderness with nothing but their wits, their bravery and one very large dog to help?(P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Giraffes Can't Dance
by Giles AndreaeDance along with Gerald in this audio edition of the bestselling picture book classic, read by Hugh Laurie. Gerald the giraffe longs to go to the great Jungle Dance, but how can he join in when he doesn't know how to tango or two-step? Everyone knows that giraffes can't dance ... or can they?With lots of music to boogie along too, this fun-filled audio book is guaranteed to get little ones dancing!(P)2002 The Watts Publishing Group Limited
A Rabbit and Bear Audio Omnibus
by Julian GoughA bumper audio edition including all four Rabbit and Bear books! This brilliantly funny collection brings Rabbit and his friend Bear to audio for the very first time: tales of friendship, gravity, and just a little bit of poo. 'A perfect animal double-act.' The Times, Book of the WeekIn Rabbit's Bad Habits, Bear wakes up early and decides to make a snowman. Rabbit wants to build an even better one. But with an avalanche and a hungry wolf heading his way, Rabbit realises having a friend might not be so bad after all.In The Pest in the Nest, Rabbit decides Something Simply Has To Be Done about Bear's snoring and Woodpecker's BANG!BANG!BANG! noise from up in the tree. But perhaps Bear can show Rabbit how to see the world differently.In Attack of the Snack, a Mysterious Thing lands in Rabbit and Bear's peaceful summer lake. And when Rabbit accidentally turns the Best Day Ever into the Worst Day Ever, only his friend Bear can help him turn the day around.In A Bite in the Night, even Bear is surprised: the trees seem to be flying south for the winter. There's a new creature in Rabbit and Bear's valley, and he's trying to Change Everything ... This audio omnibus is perfect for bedtime, or long journeys! Narrated by actor, writer and director Colleen Prendergast.(P)2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
The Greatest Inventor
by Ben BrooksJoin the adventure. Break the curse. Find your way home. A magical new adventure from the bestselling author of THE IMPOSSIBLE BOY.Victor is skeptical when Walter Swizwit comes to the village of Rainwater. He's the latest in a string of inventors passing through, and no one wants to buy his cheap magic tricks. But Walter doesn't take rejection well, and puts a curse on the village. Only Victor is unaffected and he must leave Rainwater for the first time in his life if he's to find the cure. Victor's path takes him past other villages that Walter has damaged, and he picks up new companions on the way: Elena, handy with bow and arrow, Mo-Lan, a science prodigy, and scaredy-cat Mingus.It's soon clear that they underestimated Walter's power. Only he has the cure for his magic and he's locked away in his castle a thousand leagues away. But he's not the only inventor out there... If Victor and his friends can get someone more powerful on their side, maybe they can win: find Walter, break the curse and return as heroes.After all, there's no place like home...(P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
King Flashypants Three Book Collection
by Andy RileyThe first three audiobooks in the laugh-out-loud series. 'Brilliantly original and hilarious ... it's nearly as good as one of my books' - David WalliamsIn King Flashypants and the Evil Emperor, the evil Emperor Nurbison has arrived, accompanied by scary striding music. He has had his eye on King Edwin's kingdom for some time and intends to take over! When the emperor builds a fake dragon out of a cow, green crepe paper, furry monster novelty slippers and two birthday cake candles, to scare Edwin's peasants, Edwin must come up with the first sneaky plan he's ever had in his life...King Flashypants and the Creatures from Crong: When rumours of a huge and terrifying monster called the Voolith reach Edwinland, King Edwin Flashypants decides that, to be a proper king, he needs to go and fight it. Meanwhile, Emperor Nurbison has had a similar idea, but he has a much sneakier plan for what he can do with the Voolith. And it involves squishing Edwinland.In King Flashypants and the Toys of Terror, Something weird is happening in Edwinland - Emperor Nurbison isn't evil any more! He's doing stuff like smiling and making toys of himself for the peasants. Is he up to something? Probably. But what can it be?Hold tight for three thrilling Flashypants adventure, with jousting, vegetables, fire-breathing toads and plenty of FOO-HOO-HOOing.
The Frozen Sea
by Piers TordayA spellbinding adventure from the bestselling, award-winning author of The Last Wild trilogy.'A dazzling adventure by an award-winning storyteller' i Newspaper'Utterly brilliant ... a nail-biting adventure of twists and turns' Book TrustJewel Hastings doesn't know who she is. But she is about to discover that she is one of the most remarkable people to have ever walked the earth...On the run from school bullies, Jewel tumbles through the door of a mysterious old bookshop and falls headlong into Folio, the world of the imagination. There, she must begin a quest to rescue her missing aunt, helped only by her rude pet hamster Fizz and a malfunctioning copper robot. From the shimmering lights of the Idea Jungle, to the desolate expanse of the Frozen Sea, their mission will bring them face-to-face with a danger both more magnificent and more deadly than they ever imagined. And what Jewel discovers will change her life, for ever...'Masterly storytelling - both entertaining and profound' THE TIMES on THE LOST MAGICIAN(P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Opal Moonbaby: Opal Moonbaby
by Maudie SmithMartha's decided friends are stupid. Especially if they're anything like Colette and Chloe. She never wants another friend. Ever.But it's the first day of the summer holidays, and there's not that much to do... until she spots a strange little furry creature who leads her to Opal Moonbaby. Opal's been sent down from her planet on a mission: to work out what on earth people are (and my goodness - people are strange) and to make a friend.Read by Chris Barrie. To his legions of fans across the world, Chris is best known as Rimmer - the Red Dwarf character who made love only once in his life. To others he is Hilary, Angelina Jolie's butler in Tomb Raider; or Gordon Brittas, the most irritating manager in the history of the British leisure centre industry. After moving to London from his native Northern Ireland, Chris started out in the comedy clubs as an impressionist then he was picked up by the producers of Spitting Image, and he went on to provide the voices for a stream of characters from HRH Prince Charles to Paul Daniels. Other acting roles include the part of Alexander Pope in the Channel 4 production of Handel: Honour, Profit and Pleasure, Zastrozzi, televised in April 1986 and a lead role in Plague of Goodness, the controversial Radio 4 Monday Play.(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd
Ember Shadows and the Fates of Mount Never
by Rebecca KingIn a land trapped by fate, only courage can re-write the future.In the magical village of Everspring, everyone receives a fate card before their twelfth birthday, sent down from the mysterious Mount Never. It tells them their purpose, their profession and how old they'll be when they die.
Nearly 12-year-old Ember Shadows has always believed she is destined for great things. But when her fate card arrives, it's blank. What does that mean? Then, worse still, her sister's card decrees she will die before her next birthday. No way is Ember's going to let that happen.
Determined to challenge what—or who—is responsible for these cards, Ember sets off up the mountain, a place no one is allowed to go. She encounters forbidden realms full of magic, trickery and curious creatures. In a thrilling race through a magical landscape, Ember Shadows must uncover the secret behind the fate cards in order to save her sister….
But will Ember like what she finds at the top of the mountain?
With hints of Alice in Wonderland, shades of The Phantom Tollbooth and echoes of Pixar's Inside Out, this a thrilling, warm-hearted race through magical realms—a classic magical adventure.
(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Halo Moon
by Sharon CohenBravery, friendship and the magic of an unknowable universe combine in this extraordinary adventure from the heart. Great for fans of Frank Cottrell Boyce and David Almond. In Ethiopia, Ageze has unearthed an ancient device that can make predictions. It tells him: there is a date, there is a place, there is a moment when it will happen. A disaster that will change everything. Halo Moon loves stars, and the night sky is full of them in her remote Yorkshire village. It's a place where nothing interesting ever happens, let alone a catastrophe. So when a stranger appears at the end of a near-impossible journey and tells her lives are at risk, she can barely believe it. But if she doesn't help Ageze, everything and everyone she knows might disappear for ever ... As Halo says: there's a hundred ways to start this story, a hundred ways to tell it. Each one is impossible. Each one, unbelievable. But it did all happen and I promise it's all true.HALO MOON is Sharon Cohen's second novel. Her first novel, THE STARMAN AND ME, was highly commended for the Branford Boase Award 2018 and shortlisted for the Essex Book Awards 2018. It has also been shortlisted for the East Sussex Children's Book Awards 2019 and nominated for the Northern Ireland Book Award 2019. (P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
House At Pooh Corner
by A.A. MilneAn award-winning production, with an all-star cast, including Stephen Fry and Judi Dench, brings to life one of the best loved children's books of all time in a full dramatisation with specially composed music. This brilliant audiobook is packed full of fun and adventure with Winnie-the-Pooh and all his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. This is a wonderful dramatisation of the second book about Pooh and friends, with an incredible cast and original music. This adaptation conveys all the magic and humour of AA Milne's classic stories.The cast includes Stephen Fry, Sandi Toksvig, Jane Horrocks, Geoffrey Palmer and Judi Dench. Perfect entertainment at home, in the car or anywhere.Dramatisation by David Benedictus and music composed by John Gould.For more amazing audio books featuring Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and other favourite friends, try:Winnie the Pooh: Tigger Comes To The Forest & Other Stories Winnie the Pooh: Piglet Meets a HeffalumpWinnie the Pooh: Pooh Invents a New Game and Other Stories (P) Hodder Children's Books 1997
Treasury of Bedtime Stories
by Enid BlytonEnter a world of imagination and enchantment at bedtime with this selection of timeless short stories by Enid Blyton. Get ready for a magical journey... Set your imagination alight with this selection of more than 25 bedtime stories by a much-loved children's author. From pixie dressmakers to thundering giants, meet a host of magic and memorable characters along with some familiar friends in Moonface and Saucepan Man from The Magic Faraway Tree. This stunning treasury brings together some of Enid Blyton's most delightful stories for younger children, creating the perfect bedtime treat. Each story stands alone and will take you on a brand-new adventure. The tales collected in this treasury were first published in magazines and anthologies between 1920 and 1960 and have been adored by generations of children ever since. (P) 2018 Hodder Children's Books
Horrid Henry and the Mummy's Curse
by Francesca SimonFour hilarious unabridged stories with really horrid music and sound effects:Horrid Henry and the Mummy's Curse Horrid Henry's HobbyHorrid Henry's Homework Horrid Henry's Swimming LessonRead by Miranda Richardson(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd
Black Brother, Black Brother
by Jewell Parker RhodesA powerful coming-of-age story about two brothers - one who presents as white, the other as Black - and the ways they are forced to navigate a world that doesn't treat them equally.Donte wishes he were invisible. As one of the few black boys at his school, he feels as if he is constantly swimming in whiteness. Most of the students don't look like him. They don't like him either. Dubbed the 'Black Brother', Donte's teachers and classmates make it clear they wish he were more like his lighter skinned brother, Dre. When an incident with a white student leads to Donte's arrest and suspension, he's sure the only way to get even is to beat the student at the school's most valued game: fencing. With the help of a former Olympic fencer, Donte embarks on a journey to carve out a spot on the school's fencing team and to find a way to make people at school see past the colour of his skin to who he really is.From NYT bestselling author Jewell Parker Rhodes, another poignant and gripping story about how children and families face the complexities of race and racism in today's world.(P)2020 Little, Brown Young Readers
The Forest of Moon and Sword
by Amy Raphael'A wonderful book' PIERS TORDAY'Very exciting' ANTHONY MCGOWAN When Art's mother is accused of witchcraft and captured, she is determined to get her back - at any cost. A lyrical adventure with folklore at its heart, for fans of THE HOUSE WITH CHICKEN LEGS.Twelve-year-old Art lives in a small village in Scotland. Her mother has always made potions that cure the sick, but now the townspeople say she is a witch. One cloudless night, Art's mother is arrested and taken to England. Art mounts her horse, taking a sword, a tightrope, and a herbal recipe book, and begins a journey through wild forests, using nature's signs and symbols to guide her.But will she spot the signs from the omens? Will she reach her mother, before it's too late?'Gripping. I raced through it' - A.M. Howell, author of The Garden of Lost Secrets(P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
The Nursery Storybook
by Georgie AdamsThe book that every family needs, containing all the traditional stories that small children should first hear. Every one of them is universally known and loved: Little Red Riding Hood, The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, The Real Princess, The Gingerbread Man, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs and Jack and the Beanstalk.(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd
Running on the Roof of the World
by Jess ButterworthJoin 12-year-old Tash and her best friend Sam in a story of adventure, survival and hope, set in the vivid Himalayan landscape of Tibet and India. Filled with friendship, love and courage, this young girl's thrilling journey to save her parents is an ideal read for children aged 9-12. There are two words that are banned in Tibet. Two words that can get you locked in prison without a second thought. I watch the soldiers tramping away and call the words after them. 'Dalai Lama.' Tash has to follow many rules to survive in Tibet, a country occupied by Chinese soldiers. But when a man sets himself on fire in protest and soldiers seize Tash's parents, she and her best friend Sam must break the rules. They are determined to escape Tibet - and seek the help of the Dalai Lama himself in India. And so, with a backpack of Tash's father's mysterious papers and two trusty yaks by their side, their extraordinary journey across the mountains begins.(P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
A New Adventure
by Jacqueline WilsonDiscover the Magic Faraway Tree and explore the amazing lands it can take you to, in an irresistible new story by bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson, set in this much-loved world.
Milo, Mia and Birdy are on a countryside holiday, where they are astonished to find an Enchanted Wood. There they encounter some remarkable creatures, including a man with a head like the moon and a fairy with long, golden hair, who both live in the tallest tree in the wood. Little Birdy is only too happy to find that fairies are real. Even her older brother and sister are soon won over by the magic of the Faraway Tree and the extraordinary places they discover above it, including the Land of Unicorns and the Land of Dragons.
To some listeners (and their families), Moonface and Silky will be familiar friends already. The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton was Jacqueline Wilson's own favourite book as a very young child. Britain's favourite contemporary children's author, author of Hetty Feather and Tracy Beaker, now revisits this glorious magical world, weaving a brand-new story perfect for the next generation of young readers. Discover the magic!
(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Rainy Day Stories
by Enid BlytonPull on your welly boots for these short stories by the world's best-loved story teller. Ideal for children aged 5 and up!In this charming collection by Enid Blyton, children stumble upon secret rooms on rainy days and gnomes pretend they can forecast the weather. The rain may be pouring down in these stories, but there's plenty of mischief and adventure to be found. These classic tales are ideal for younger children being read to and for newly confident readers to read alone. Each story stands alone and is the perfect length for reading at bedtime or in the classroom. Enid Blyton remains one of Britain's favourite children's authors and her bumper short story collections are perfect for introducing her to the latest generation of readers. Read all of Enid Blyton's bumper short story collections. New in 2021: Rainy Day StoriesPet StoriesStories of Spells and EnchantmentsChristmas Tales *** Enid Blyton® and Enid Blyton's signature are registered trade marks of Hodder & Stoughton Limited. No trade mark or copyrighted material may be reproduced without the express written permission of the trade mark and copyright owner.(P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
When the Mountains Roared
by Jess ButterworthA vivid, warm and atmospheric adventure set in the mountains of India, about a girl who is determined to protect the wild leopards of the mountain from poachers, perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell.I thought we'd live here forever ... but then, I thought Mum would be here forever too.When Ruby's dad uproots her from Australia to set up a hotel in the mountains of India, Ruby is devastated. Not only are they living in a run-down building in the middle of the wilderness surrounded by scorpions, bears and leopards, but Ruby is sure that India will never truly feel like home - not without her mum there.Ever since her mum died, Ruby has been afraid. Of cars. Of the dark. Of going to sleep and never waking up. But then the last remaining leopards of the mountain are threatened and everything changes. Ruby vows to do all she can to protect them - if she can only overcome her fears...(P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Grizzly Tales
by Jamie RixGrizzliness is out there. Every child has the makings of mischievousness, and can be lured into committing dastardly deeds. The six stories in each of the Grizzly Tales books show the rise and hard fall of vile and villainous children. In this book, unspeakable things happen to pets - but the real nasty little beasts are the children themselves, all of them get their comeuppance in the end, consigned to the Hothell Darkness...Read by Rupert Degas(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd
The Great (Food) Bank Heist
by Onjali Q. RaúfWritten with great empathy and Rauf's trademark humour, The Great (Food) Bank Heist is a moving story that gives a child's-eye view of the increasing problem of food poverty.
On Thursdays, Nelson, Ashley and Mum head out to the bank. But not just any old bank—the food bank. With its shining tins and packets of food stacked from floor to ceiling, Nelson thinks it's the best kind of bank there is.
But there's a thief in town, and the shelves of the food bank are getting emptier each day, leaving people hungrier than ever. For the sake of his family and everyone else's, Nelson needs to make them stop. But can he and his friends really be the ones to catch the bank robber?
(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory
by James HarrisThe biscuit factory in Haddie's hometown is absolutely 100% NOT a Super-Secret Science Lab. Or a portal to another dimension. With orange fluffy monsters. OH NO. DEFINITELY NOT. Or ... is it? A laugh-out-loud biscuit-bonkers adventure for fans of My Brother is a Superhero and Kid Normal. *Winner of the Northern Writers' Award*I live near a biscuit factory. Sounds like a dream come true, right? But it's not all fun and jammie dodgers. You see, the biscuit factory is really a Super-Secret Science Lab. Everyone pretends it makes biscuits. It just makes life easier. Until today. Because the biscuit factory tore a hole through dimensions, and now HUGE ORANGE MONSTERS are climbing through.Oh, and if we don't do something, the world is going to go KABLOOEY in the next thirty minutes. NOT ON MY WATCH. You coming? 'So funny you'll snort custard creams out of your nose' Mr J Dodger(P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
The Amazing Mr Blunden
by Antonia BarberA CHRISTMAS SKY ORIGINAL FILM, STARRING MARK GATISS, SIMON CALLOW AND TAMSIN GREIGAN ENTHRALLING GHOST STORY WITH A TIME-TRAVELLING TWIST'When you come to the house, you will hear strange tales. They will tell you in the village that it is haunted, but you must not be afraid. When the time comes ... you will know what to do.'Mr Blunden's words echoed through Lucy's ears as she explored the house. It was such an old house that it seemed to Lucy as if all the past was gathered up inside it as if in a great box; as though it had a life of its own that continued to exist just beyond the reach of her eyes and ears. Did Mr Blunden, who went out of his way to offer their mother the job as caretaker, mean to help or hurt them? Could she and her brother Jamie really help those troubled ghosts from another age?'Charming, magical and life-affirming, Antonia Barber's clever and moving tale has become a much-loved favourite. The Wheel of Time spins - and off we go into an unforgettable adventure!' MARK GATISS