Review: Princess Hayley's Comet Audio

What would you like for your birthday? the King asks his only daughter. A good question to someone who has everything.

There is only one thing that Princess Hayley wants, and that’s a comet.

The first book by Rebecca Fung, Princess Hayley’s Comet published in 2018, is now an audiobook. Narrated by voice over artist Aimee Smith in a pleasant animated way, it includes sound effects and music.

Guest Post: Dennis Wesley on Children’s Literature: The Challenges of Encouraging Children to Read

Editor's own image

Reading is no longer the only form in which children explore stories. The video and multimedia formats have been growing increasingly popular in this context. 

Nonetheless, reading remains one of the best ways to help children develop their cognitive, intellectual, and emotional skills. 

As is almost universally recognized, this is because reading for children is more than just a way to explore stories. 

Guest Post: Peter Millett on Making A funny Audio Book for Kids

One of the most exciting aspects of being writer is that we can often explore highly creative pursuits that exist beyond just the words on a page. We manufacture ideas in our imaginations and these ideas can be expressed through printed text, artwork, multimedia, music and acting. 

One such creative outlet that is making a lot of the news at the moment is audio books. 

Everyone seems to be talking about audio books. Everyone seems to be listening to audio books! The buzz surrounding them focuses on the fact that you can be physically active (‘reading on the run’) while enjoying captivating audio book stories. 

Guest Post: Alejandro Davila on Augmented Reality Books - Enchanting the Reading Experience for Young Readers

Can technology and traditional storytelling amalgamate? We think so and so does New Zealand author and creator, Alejandro Davila.

Today he discusses the motivation and magic behind augmented reality technology and its use to enhance and enrich children's stories.

As a child, my dream was being able to live and interact with cartoon characters.

Luckily for me, immersive technologies are becoming ubiquitous and my dream of interacting with cartoon characters is possible and I am proud to have made that happen with my AR book, The Green Fairy.

Look What I'm Reading! Gayle Forman

Hi! I’m Gayle Forman. I have one of those jobs in which people frequently tell you that you made them lose sleep, or made them cry and the appropriate response is 'thank you'. 

Which is to say, I’m a young adult novelist of If I Stay, Just One Day, I Was Here, etc., who traffics in the feels. My latest book is called I Have Lost My Way. I have been told this one will also make you cry.

Which children’s book are you currently reading? 
I just finished Elizabeth Acevedo’s ThePoet X this morning and am still humming from its brilliance.

Look What I'm Reading! Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg

Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg is a librarian, children’s author and general book enthusiast, who lives in Sydney, Australia, with her bearded husband, two small mischievous children, two fluffy dogs, and a bearded dragon.

Though she is obsessed with books of all kinds, she is particularly enamoured with picture books and would happily spend an entire day (and a year’s salary) in a good book store. Her first picture book, Reflection, was a CBCA Notable book for 2017.

Which children’s book are you currently reading? 
The fourth and final book in the Forbidden Library series, The Fall of the Readers, by Django Wexler

Audiobook Review: His Dark Materials

As a mother of two small children (and another on the way!) who works four days a week, I just don’t find as much time to read as I used to.  Audiobooks have become my treasured companions during this busy time of life, particularly those in digital format.

With the simple act of plugging earphones into my phone, digital audiobooks have allowed me to continue to ‘read’ as I drive to work (listening through the Bluetooth in my car), hang out washing, cook dinner, load the dishwasher or wait for swimming lessons to finish – all those never ending and often quite mindless daily tasks. In fact, I look forward to these tasks when I have such entertainment while I’m doing them.

Audiobook Review: The Forbidden Library Series

I devoured the three available Audiobooks in the Forbidden Library series in record time.

Then I noted with dismay that I would have to wait for more to be published before I could continue on with one of the best children's fiction series I have ever read or listened to. I am well and truly hooked!

And, although it is a big call, it is really the only series I feel absolutely comfortable comparing to Harry Potter, as I believe it has real appeal for fans of the infamous series, both young and old. It is a series that I can see myself returning to again and again.

Audiobook Review: The Billie B Brown Collection

The extremely popular Aussie early reader series, Billie B Brown, is wonderfully brought to life in this Audiobook collection, read by Australian actress Eloise Mignon.

The 'B' in Billie B Brown stands for so many different things, Bossy, Bully, Ballerina and Brave to name a few, with each book in the series starting with a short structured introduction and a new 'B' characteristic.

Audiobook Review: Hairy Maclary and Friends

The much loved stories by New Zealand author and illustrator, Lynley Dodd, are well known for their fabulously rolling, rambunctious rhyming text and lovable yet cheeky (and often unrepentant!) animal characters.

The Hairy Maclary and Friends audiobook is a collection of 11 stories brought to life in an energetic reading by Home and Away actor, Kyle Pryor.

Audiobook Review: Room on the Broom

If, like me, you are looking for something to play in the car to give you a break from the same 3 ABC4KIDS CDs on permanent rotation, I cannot recommend audio versions of picture books highly enough.

A really great place to start (for those with toddlers and preschoolers) is with Room on the Broom,one of the many beloved titles written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

Audiobook: The Land of Stories Book 1: The Wishing Spell

For me, The Land of Stories Book 1: The Wishing Spell, is reminiscent of one of my favourite novels from my childhood, The Farway Tree by Enid Blyton, though in a much more modern setting.

The Land of Stories Book 1: The Wishing Spell sees twin tween characters Alex and Conner sucked into their Grandmother's old fairytale book, where they discover that a lot has happened in the lives of the many beloved fairytale characters since their "happily ever afters". Alex and Conner find themselves on an impossible and dangerous quest to activate the wishing spell, which is the only known way that they could get back home.

Audiobook Review: The Book Thief

As The Book Thief is hands down one of my most favourite novels I have ever read, I was somewhat reluctant to listen to it on audiobook, just in case the performance took away from my experience of the book, rather than adding to it. I still haven't watched the movie adaptation for the same reason. However, I'm so pressed for reading time these days and I really wanted to read it again, so I took the plunge and I'm ever so glad that I did!

British actor Allan Corduner narrates the story flawlessly as he takes the listener on Markus Zusak's journey down Himmel Street. With fineness, Corduner voices each character, managing to radiate Hans Hubermann's (Papa) warmth, capture Rudy Stiner's adolescent cheek, and express Death's haunted and weary existence.

Hello Audio!

The 'Audiobooks' that I remember from my childhood were picture books accompanied by chunky cassette tapes, which included a chime sound to notify you when you needed to turn the page.

I was an avid independent reader, but I still loved those book and tape sets. I guess no matter how many books I raced through myself, I never grew out of enjoying being read to, and now as an adult I have rediscovered this joy.

Review: Once a Creepy Crocodile

Once a creepy crocodile crawled towards a riverbed ...

Can you already hear that catchy tune? Modeled on one of Australian's most iconic songs, Waltzing Matilda, this rollicking book follows the travails of a very creepy croc whose keen to have his local comrades over for 'afternoon tea'.

Much to his friends' despair, Baby Brolga is happy to go along for a bite to eat. Despite their warning, Cros assures him there's nothing to fear, so off he flaps for a spot of tea by the riverbank.

Mind Movies: Promoting a Fertile Imagination

Looking for something different to entertain your children? Created by children’s author Spider Lee, Mind Movies™ combines innovation with the art of imaginative storytelling and music.

Designed to promote personal creativity, each audio track invites children to mentally craft their own unique world and become the main character.

Mind Movies #1 is perfect for children aged 10 - 16. Spider’s gentle storytelling voice suggests scenarios which prompt older children to safely explore issues of self-acceptance, stress management and positive creativity.

Promoting inner calm and positive self-reflection, Mind Movies™ are perfect for taking a break from screen time or winding down in preparation for a peaceful sleep.

Mind Movies #2 is perfect for children aged 4 - 10. Spider’s voice gently creates opportunities for adventures beneath the ocean or into outer space. Sound effects add depth to the imaginings, as children picture themselves walking through crystal-laden caves and exploring strange new lands.

This modern take on storytelling provides around half an hour per album of much-needed down time for children, and can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere. Perfect for in the car, relaxation, quiet time or winding down before bed.

The gentle acoustic guitar solo on each track allows time for your child’s imagination to roam free, creating in the recesses of a quiet mind, a world that is entirely of their own making.

Mind Movies™ promotes a fertile imagination, and since your child can create a new adventure every time, each track can be enjoyed again and again.

Mind Movies™ are available on iTunes. Simply search 'Spider Lee' in the iTunes store. Mind Movies #1 is $16.99 and Mind Movies #2 is $6.76, or $1.69 per track.

You can email Spider for more info, or check out Spider’s books, artwork and upcoming projects at www.spider.net.au  or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Guest Post: The Benefits of Audiobooks for Children

Kids Book Review welcomes freelance writer and audio book advocate Peter Markovic, with his thoughts on the ways children can benefit by downloading audio books online.

We all know that kids love stories, even toddlers. Most youngsters will be drawn into a good tale of comedy or drama. Audio books for children offer an affordable and convenient way for them to take their stories with them, and use their imaginations, even when an older person is not available to read aloud to them.