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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Where Magic Grows
by Onjali Q. RaúfFrom Onjali Q. Raúf, author of The Boy at the Back of the Class, comes a collection of seven unique fables, filled with humour, heart and messages of hope.Have you heard the story about the bird that turned to stone? Did your parents warn you about the extra-specially-super-deliciously-fantastically naughty boy who got a frog stuck in his throat? No? Well, never fear: Onjali Q Raúf is here to entertain you with her sparkling collection of fables for kids who want to make the world a better place!Written with Onjali's trademark heart and humour, this is the perfect gift that will entertain while also gently conveying messages of hope and the power of love and compassion.Stories include: The Bird That Turned to Stone, The Extra-Specially-Super-Deliciously-Fantastically Naughty Boy (& the Secret Frog in his Throat), Francesca's Feet and the Old Man's Shoes, The Axe that Married a Tree and others.(P)2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
How to Train Your Hogfly
by Cressida CowellRead by David Tennant, this brand new story follows Hiccup on one of his earlier adventures, before the start of the Great Dragon Rebellion.Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third is a smallish Viking with a longish name. Hiccup's father is chief of the Hairy Hooligan tribe which means Hiccup is the Hope and the Heir to the Hairy Hooligan throne - but most of the time Hiccup feels like a very ordinary boy, finding it hard to be a Hero.When Hiccup's father decides to host the Inter-Tribe BURY THE HATCHET Games, he fails to invite some rather important guests and ends up in MORTAL DANGER. Can Hiccup save his father's life and prevent a new Blood Feud breaking out? All he has to do is train an untrainable dragon...How to Train Your Hogfly is published in print as part of the 20th anniversary edition of How to Train Your Dragon.
When I Feel Red
by Lily Bailey'I feel like I'm always ... last. Like I'm running to try and keep up with everyone but it's no good.'April has always marched to the beat of her own drum, but would life be easier if she learned to fit in? Now that she's in Year 8, things have got even worse. She's much more likely to be trying to rescue an animal in need than worrying about who's dating who at school, which April just finds BORING. Plus, her lessons feel like they're in a foreign language, and it suddenly seems impossible to make it through the week without landing in detention.As family worries and classroom romances ramp up, it feels like everyone around her is pulling away - even her best friend Ben. But when the pressure's on, can she find a way to fit in and still be true to herself? An empowering follow up to When I See Blue about finding your place in the world from the inspiring author and mental health activist, Lily Bailey. Perfect for fans of Elle McNicoll.'An authentic and tender look at fitting in when you don't and being true to yourself' - A.M. Dassu'This is a vivid account of being out of step with your peers, not limited to discussions about dyslexia and dyspraxia' - The Guardian
Goodnight Stories
by Enid BlytonA bedtime collection of short stories by the world's best-loved storyteller. Perfect for children aged 5 and up!From a wizard on the moon to midnight fairy parties, there's a dreamy story for everyone in this short story collection by Enid Blyton. Drift off to dreamland with these starlit adventures!These traditional 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 2024:Goodnight StoriesFive-Minute Summer StoriesMagical StoriesOne-A-Day Christmas Stories***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.
The Tree That Sang To Me
by Serena MolloySome feelings are so big, they're hard to express ... A dyslexia-friendly verse story of friendship, family and self-discovery, perfect for listeners aged 9+, beautifully read aloud. When Kai's big sister Jenleaves the family home, Kai knows it's all his fault. His secret burns, but he tells no one, just keeps pulling at tufts of his hair. But in the broadbranches of a wasteland sycamore tree, Kai feels safe and free from his worries. Up there he feels he can be whoever he wants to be. And when a girl called Sky starts climbing Kai's tree, a friendship blossoms ... a friendship with the power to heal. Up hereit's likeI'm part of something elsethe windthe leavesthe airfree to bewhoever I want to be.
Jayben and the Star Glass
by Thomas LeedsAn incredible immersive fantasy series about a boy with no memories and a world that only he can save. Perfect for fans of Francesca Gibbons and The Land of Roar.Jayben has realised his destiny as the Ninth Great Dreamer; he is the only one with the power to defeat Null, the villain who has been making everyone in the elf world forget.A year has gone by since Jayben took half of Null's powerful crystals using the Golden Torch, but now the torch has been stolen. Without it, Jayben must find another way to harness his power.When Jayben finds a golden gemstone, he struggles to recall its significance. But a wise captain on board a great ship tells him that when the full moon shines on the stone a magical light will appear. If Jayben controls the light , he will become more powerful than Null; he will defeat his wickedness once and for all.But Null is on his way to Fellooz ... to a sweltering desert where there is an ancient tomb covered in crystals. He need only touch one of the precious crystals and he'll be three times more powerful.Can Jayben reach the tomb ahead of Null... and will he find the full moon before it's too late?
Tariq and the Drowning City
by Sarwat ChaddaThe first story in an action-packed fantasy trilogy, perfect for fans of Dungeons and Dragons aged 9+Time is running out. When crops fail and a new plague spreads across the land of Osha, Tariq has a troubling vision - an ancient prophesy is coming true. He travels to the capital city of Ethrial to warn the leaders of an impending flood, but no one listens. It's up to the seer and his new friends, an elf scientist and a dwarf soldier, to take matters into their own hands. Venturing off on an epic quest, the unlikely trio must find a magical moonstone and use its powers to prevent a tidal wave from wiping out the city. But they aren't the only ones seeking to find the moonstone . . . and not everyone wants to use its ancient powers to save Ethrial . . .This pacy adventure blends themes of classic fantasy, Indian mythology, climate emergency and steampunk imagery to create a richly imagined world.
The Letter with the Golden Stamp
by Onjali Q. RaúfFrom Onjali Q. Rauf, author of The Boy at the Back of the Class, comes another incredible story, told with humour and heart. Touching on the challenges navigated by children caring for loved ones at home, this story brings into focus their hardships and worries, alongside the unexpected, invisible sources of kindness which can change their lives.10-year-old Audrey has a secret. A secret no one - not her friends, her teachers, not even her neighbours - knows about. And to keep it hidden she has become one of the best actresses on the planet. As soon as she steps out of the front door, the show is on, and all the world becomes her stage! No-one would ever guess that she is a nurse and doctor for her mam, the family food shopper (and sometimes shoplifter), a medicines collector, and even bedtime-reader for her younger siblings.But when Audrey's mam gets sicker, things go from difficult to impossible. If Mam's condition doesn't improve, there's a chance the family will be separated. And so Audrey becomes determined to find a way of to get her mam the best treatment available, so that they won't ever need to be apart. The only problem is, the treatment will cost her thousands. Thousands that Audrey doesn't have.As Audrey sets about trying to make her dream for her family come true with a plan that involves her precious stamp collection, an unsuspecting postal system, and a journey all the way from Wales to London, someone else on the street embarks on a secret mission of their own. One that will alter Audrey's life - and that of her family - forever.
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 Story of Greenriver
by Holly WebbThe animals of Greenriver are in danger. Can Sedge and Silken find their way along the river to each other in time to save their home? A compelling adventure story that listeners aged 8+ will treasure.
Last spring, the otters' home flooded. Now the water is high again. Young otter Sedge believes he can save his holt from another flood—but he has to be brave enough travel downstream for help.Downriver, the beaver lodge is also at risk. Silken—who is too small and weak to do the work needed to strengthen the beavers' dam—feels something calling her up the river.
As the two animals unknowingly swim towards each other, they are drawn to the spirit of Greenriver, who takes the form of a snow-white otter, Lady River. But will Lady River hear their plea for safety?
From million-copy selling Holly Webb comes a modern classic—a lyrical epic journey about two animals and their against-the-odds journey to find each other. Perfect for fans of Pax.
(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Kiki Kallira Conquers a Curse
by Sangu MandannaKiki Kallira can bring her drawings to life… but when a mysterious curse threatens her newly-created kingdom and friends, how can she use her powers to save them?
A fantasy adventure inspired by Hindu legends about anxiety, creativity and finding your own strengths. For 8+ fans of Abi Elphistone and The Land of Roar.
Fresh from the exciting discovery that the beautiful kingdom and band of rebel kids she drew in her sketchbook exists in another world, Kiki Kallira has an unexpected visitor. One of the rebels has come into the real world to ask for her help—the river Kaveri that is Mysore's only source of water has suddenly vanished! With no water to drink or grow food, Kiki's kingdom is doomed. When drawing a new river doesn't work, Kiki returns to Mysore and stumbles upon the origin of the Kaveri: a princess from long ago who was transformed into water by a terrible curse!
It's up to Kiki and her friends to restore the river without sacrificing the princess again. With her mounting anxiety, enemies seeking to stop her and a city growing weaker by the minute, Kiki's confidence falters. Will she be able to unravel the curse and save her kingdom before it's too late?
(P) 2022 Listening Library
Storm Stallion
by Linda ChapmanHarness the power of the elements with the Moonlight Riders! A brand-new audiobook series from bestselling author Linda Chapman, author of MY SECRET UNICORN and UNICORN ACADEMY.
Could you be a true rider?
Amara is thrilled when her best friend Kalini joins the Moonlight Stables Riding School. But Kalini doesn't know the meadow ponies secret—they have magical powers! When a strange storm causes havoc in the town and Amara and the other True Riders suspect the Night Riders are behind it, Amara is forced to keep more secrets from Kalini and the friends fall out. But when the bad weather is discovered to be caused by a scared Storm Horse, Kalini might just be key to helping rescue it….
(P) 2022 The Watts Publishing Group Limited
The Sky Over Rebecca
by Matthew FoxWinner of The Bath Children's Novel Award 2019.
There was a single trail of footprints, the first I'd seen all morning. They were fresh tracks, I saw, the edges of the impressions in the snow quite hard. Small feet. Like mine. Someone my age. Then they stopped.
When mysterious footprints appear in the Stockholm snow, ten-year-old Kara must discover where they've come from—and who they belong to. They lead Kara to Rebecca, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl, and her younger brother Samuel. Kara realises they are refugees—from another time, World War Two—and are trying to find their way home.
The grief and loneliness that Rebecca and Samuel have endured is something Kara can relate to—feeling like you're always on the outside looking in—and she finds herself compelled to help them.
Through her eyes, we rediscover the magic that lies in the world around us, if only we have the courage to look for it. Kara is a heroine for modern times: fragile but fierce, in this utterly compelling story from a stellar new voice in children's literature, Matthew Fox.
(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
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
The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams
by Shane HegartyWelcome to the Shop of Impossible Ice Creams! Step inside to discover a delicious world of magical adventure, from bestselling author Shane Hegarty. First in a comic and heart-warming audio series, for 7+ fans of The Nothing to See Here Hotel and Charlie Changes into a Chicken.
Limpet's mum is opening an ice-cream shop, full of her favourite new flavours: mushroom and tuna ice cream, anyone? Roast parsnip and gravy? Limpet's not sure about this. He likes a nice, safe life. His favourite ice-cream flavour is vanilla.
But when wicked Mr Fluffy arrives with his Mega Emporium of Amazing and Spectacular Ice Creams, Limpet knows he's got to fight back. And there are magic ingredients on his doorstep which can solve all his worries, if only he can get the recipe just right….
Written by the bestselling author of Boot, this story will make you fall in love with reading.
(P) 2022 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
When I See Blue
by Lily BaileyNew town, new school, but the bully is in Ben's head…
There are 4 things you should know about Ben: 1. He's 12 years old. 2. He's the new kid at school. 3. His special number is 4. 4. He has a bully in his brain.
Sometimes Ben's brain makes him count to 4 to prevent bad things happening. Sometimes it makes him tap or blink in 4s. Mostly it makes the smallest things feel impossible. And with a new school, a moody big brother, an absent dad and a mum battling her own demons, Ben feels more out of control than ever. But then he meets April, and with his new friend, Ben might finally figure out how to stand up to the bully in his brain, once and for all.
An authentic and affecting #ownvoices story about living life with OCD, from the inspiring author and mental health activist, Lily Bailey. Perfect for readers of A Kind of Spark and The Goldfish Boy.
(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Floodland
by Marcus SedgwickA gripping, prizewinning novel about a girl surviving in a devastated world.
Imagine that a few years from now England is covered by water, and Norwich is an island. Zoe, left behind in the confusion when her parents escaped, survives there as best she can. Alone and desperate among marauding gangs, she manages to dig a derelict boat out of the mud and gets away to Eels Island. But Eels Island, whose raggle-taggle inhabitants are dominated by the strange boy Dooby, is full of danger too.
The belief that she will one day find her parents spurs Zoe on to a dramatic escape in a story of courage and determination that is handled with warmth and humanity.
This book was the winner of the Branford Boase Award 2001 and marked the start of author Marcus Sedgwick's multi-award-winning career.
(P) 2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited and Listening Library
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
Alexandra the Royal Baby Fairy
by Daisy MeadowsGet ready for an exciting fairy adventure with the no. 1 bestselling series for girls aged 5 and up.
The whole of Fairyland is very excited—there's going to be a new royal baby! But when Foster the stork fails to deliver the new bundle of joy on time, the Royal Baby Fairy asks friends of the fairies, Rachel Tate and Kirsty Walker, for their help. Just where can the extra-special baby be?
Brown Girl Dreaming
by Jacqueline WoodsonA mesmerising story about a young Black girl growing up in America, finding a home and discovering her voice—a multi-award winning New York Times bestseller and President Obama's 'O' Book Club pick.
Brown Girl Dreaming is the unforgettable story of Jacqueline Woodson's childhood, sharing what it was like to grow up as an African-American in the wake of the Civil Rights movement, and discovering the first sparks of an incredible, lifelong gift for writing. It's packed with wonderful reflections on family and on place, in a way that will appeal to listeners from 11 to adult.
Emotionally charged and touching, each line tells the tale of one girl's search to find her voice, her identity and her place in the world.
This book has been a bestseller in the US for almost a decade, winning every accolade and prize including the prestigious Newbery Honor Award, and is now made available to readers in the UK for the first time.(P)2014 Penguin Audio
Wilder
by Penny ChrimesA desperate town. A child who emerges from the marshes. A hawk that helps her save them all.
The child—if child it was—came out of the wild-ness. It came out of the sparse bleak marsh where few dared go and none came back. And though the town grew accustomed to the creature they did not forget from whence it came. And they whispered that there was no knowing whether she was sent as a blessing or a bane.
When the child emerges from the wilderness, no one in the town knows what to do with her. She is odd—half-wild, without speech and seems to have an unnatural bond with animals—especially the falcon, who is always circling above her. The wise-woman of the town takes her in, and names her Rhodd, but the rest of the town remain suspicious.
Over the years, as Rhodd grows, the town realises that the river, which is their connection to the wider world, is beginning to die, and eventually a dark sickness begins to spread. Soon, too soon, the townspeople turn their suspicion on Rhodd and her falcon.
And so, Rhodd sets out to discover what - or who—is causing the river to dry up…to protect her mother, her falcon and herself…
A beautiful and enthralling adventure about love, belonging, the delicate balance of nature—and the wildness within us all, for fans of The Last Wild.
(P)2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Lily Grim and the City of Undone
by Andy RuffellLily Grim's life is a mystery. She has lived with her guardian Gabriel, in their rundown second-hand shop in the City of Undone, for as long as she can remember.
For years, the city-dwellers have lived in uneasy discord with The Others—a community of wanderers forced to shelter within the city walls, after they were driven from their nomadic camps in the wilderness. But Undone is a dark and dangerous place to live, especially if you're an Other: feared for their special gifts, they are persecuted by the cruel Master of the City, and taken to the Ring—a prison from which few ever return.
When the Master captures Gabriel and throws him into the Ring, Lily is saved by a young Other boy called Dekka. He introduces her to a whole Otherworld that exists beneath the City of Undone. To her astonishment Lily discovers she is an Other, too—with powerful gifts—and is now in grave danger: because the Master wants her dead. But why?
Can Lily find answers about who she is, and where she's from. And can the new friends rescue Gabriel, before it's too late?
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 Impossible Boy
by Ben BrooksBelieve in the impossible this Christmas - a magical story celebrating the power of imagination, from the bestselling author of STORIES FOR BOYS WHO DARE TO BE DIFFERENT.Oleg and Emma entered their den to find a cardboard spaceship standing exactly where they usually sat. Slowly, the front door opened and out stepped a boy.'My name's Sebastian Cole,' he said. 'But you already know that.'When Oleg and Emma invent a new classmate called Sebastian, they are amazed when he appears - very much real - in their secret den.Sebastian isn't like the rest of their classmates. He's never eaten pizza, he's not sure what goose bumps are, and he has a satchel that seems to hold an endless supply of hot ice cream. But as the three friends begin their adventures, more impossible things keep happening, from a runaway goat at school to a sighting of some snowwomen on the move. They are soon pursued by the mysterious Institute of Unreality, who want to capture and erase Sebastian, to restore order to the world.With the help of a cowboy gardener, an imprisoned scientist, and the rest of their class, can Emma and Oleg protect their new friend and keep the magic of the impossible alive, just in time for Christmas?After inspiring countless young readers with tales of extraordinary people in the world around them, Ben Brooks' first children's novel is a magical adventure that celebrates friendship, the power of imagination, and ice cream.