Books for children
Audio books make great travel companions for both adults and children. The three finalists in this year’s Benjamin Franklin Awards in the children’s audio books category are enjoyable listening for most anyone, each dealing with an exceptional young girl.
All books reviewed in this column are donated to local libraries and are available throughout the region through inter-library loan and the Access Pennsylvania program.
Because of Winn-Dixie
By Kate DiCamillo
Listening Library
$18.00
Ages 10 and up
Opal’s mother left when she was three. Winn-Dixie, a stray dog she names after the grocery store where they meet, shows up when she is 10.
These two events seem to shape much of Opal’s young life.
Winn-Dixie leads Opal into a variety of adventures and unusual friendships, each of which seems to peel back one more layer of the sadness of the past that has overwhelmed Opal and her father.
This two-cassette set runs two hours and 28 minutes.
Listeners will wish it were longer.
Homeless Bird
By Gloria Whelan
Listening Library
$18.00
Ages: 10 and up
Marriage is not unusual for 13-year-olds in India, and while 13-year-old Koly would have preferred meeting her husband before the wedding, she is at least happy he is a young man.
Then she discovers that her husband is a sickly young boy with parents who are exceedingly cruel to her, especially after their son dies.
Koly does not let circumstances dictate her fate, however, and she works with determination to reshape her future.
Koly’s indomitable spirit makes this an uplifting story.
The details of life in India make it believable.
The two cassettes run for three hours 15 minutes.
Stargirl
By Jerry Spinelli
Listening Library
$25.00
Ages: 12 and up
Stargirl bursts on Mica High School like a fireworks display and water balloon in one. No one has ever seen her before, or anyone like her, or anyone with a name like hers.
She decorates her desk with a dust ruffle and vase of flowers. She plays a ukulele and marks the birthday of each student in the cafeteria.
She has a pet rat that goes everywhere with her.
She infuses the school with a new enthusiasm. Her differences are celebrated.
But high school isn’t a time when differences are tolerated for long. Some differences are okay; being too different isn’t.
As quickly as the students embraced her, Stargirl is shunned. Her friend Leo suggests she try to be more normal, but he soon questions if that is really the answer.
This is a well-told story of non-conformity.
John Ritter’s narration is perfect for this novel.