AudioFile Magazine curated this audiobook list exclusively for The Children’s Book Review.
The Best New Audiobooks for Young Readers
A trio of audiobooks for the youngest listeners introduces the history of Black music, complete with a musical soundscape, and the lives of Toni Morrison and James Baldwin—wonderful opportunities to listen and learn together during Black History Month. Plus, young listeners can spend time in a magical garden and go on an adventure in Buckthorn forest with sparkling performances that bring these fun stories to life.
How Sweet the Sound
Written by Kwame Alexander
Read by Karen Murray
AudioFile Earphones Award
Hachette Audio | 30 mins. | Ages 4-8
Every second of this dynamic production—from the bouncing notes of the opening theme to the last snapped finger—creates a musical soundscape. Narrator Karen Murphy’s sweet and steady tones guide the listener through a history of Black music told in rolling lines of poetry. Instruments and vocals intertwine and dance together while keeping the narration front and center. Review»
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And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison’s Life in Stories
Written by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Read by Andrea Davis Pinkney
AudioFile Earphones Award
Hachette Audio | 20 mins. | Ages 4-8
Andrea Davis Pinkney showcases her praise poem to Toni Morrison with a practiced delivery, addressing her subject as “you” throughout. Pinkney is gentle in describing Morrison’s youthful love of letters; she deepens her voice as the future Nobelist gains confidence at Howard University. Her voice swells with pride as Morrison conquers the literary world as an editor and writer. The print book, with Daniel Minter’s illustrations, and audio combine for an experience worthy of Morrison’s life and legacy. Review»
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Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer
Written by Quartez Harris
Read by Shamaan Casey
Hachette Audio | 17 mins. | Ages 4-8
The warmth of Shamaan Casey’s baritone surrounds listeners just as words envelop young James Baldwin in this biography. Quartez Harris’s text shifts between a straightforward account and an ecstatic celebration. Casey navigates these tonal transitions with ease, expressing “Jimmy’s” fascination with language. Beneath Casey’s narration a music track provides aural texture. Young listeners may not know Baldwin before encountering this audiobook, but they’ll emerge appreciative of the power of words in shaping him. Review»
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Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden
Written by Christy Mandin
Read by Elizabeth Knowelden
AudioFile Earphones Award
Scholastic Audiobooks | 28 mins. | Ages 4-8
Elizabeth Knowelden’s vibrant performance sparkles in a fantastically fun story that celebrates uniqueness. Young Millie Fleur La Fae’s garden, with plants like sneezing stickyweed and fanged fairy moss, clashes with Garden Glen’s theme of sameness and perfection. Millie considers planting more ordinary flora that would blend in and be considered less “weird” but devises an alternative plan that celebrates her individuality. Knowelden captivates with her mastery of animated and eclectic character voices—enhanced by a lively chorus of sound effects and music. Review»
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Evergreen
Written by Matthew Cordell
Read by Helen Day
AudioFile Earphones Award
Dreamscape | 15 mins. | Ages 2-5
The musicality of Helen Day’s voice combined with her British accent provides an enticing entry into Buckthorn Forest, where a squirrel named Evergreen is afraid of pretty much everything, and her mama makes soup magical enough to be a cure for the sick. Mama tells Evergreen she must take soup to sick Granny Oak. Her firm and comforting voice is a marked contrast to the quavery Evergreen’s, an aural cue that transmits her state of mind as she sets off on her journey. Review»
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The article “Best New Audiobooks for Ages 4-6+” was curated by AudioFile. AudioFile is an independent source of audiobook reviews and recommendations with a clear focus on the performance and listening experience. AudioFile Earphones Awards are given to exceptional audiobooks. To learn more, visit audiofilemagazine.com, Twitter @AudioFileMag, Facebook @audiofilemagazine, and Instagram @AudioFileMagazine.
