Winston the Wide Mouth Frog and Other Fantastic Folktales, Glenda Bonin, Story Works Group; $15; www.storyworksgroup.com.

 

Good stories, well told – what more do you need? Good values? This CD covers that, too. Travel the world with stories from Mexico, Wales, Paraguay, Greece, Brazil, Alaska, and more. Gentle humor. 

Cygnus Storytelling/National Institute on Media and the Family, 2008; $15; www.mediawise.org. This is a real smorgasbord of tales: a fable from Aesop, a classic fairy tale, a rapping riff on another tale and a true personal story. All provide lots of reasons for sitting down and sharing a story with the kids.

Parent’s comment: “I appreciated the turn-off-the-TV message.” – Mom of five, Calif.
 

Family Fun Winner! 

Bil Lepp, 2003; $15; www.buck-dog.com. Mayhem, indeed. Also insanity, wackiness, over-the-top hilarity! A repeat winner of statewide liars’ contests shares outrageous quasi-true experiences about school, hunting and more. Just the thing for anyone who is – or ever was – a kid. Fans age 8 and up will also get a kick out of Lepp’s other recordings, including The Teacher in the Patriotic Bathing Suit.

Kid Tester Quote: “This guy is crazy!” chortles a 10-year-old from California.
 

Tipingee, Brer Rabbit and the Mouse that Barked: Tales of Love and Laughter, LuAnn Adams, 2007; $15; www.luannadamsstoryteller.com. An infectiously cheery voice delivers rollicking fun with this mixture of family stories and folktales from places such as Cuba and Haiti. If your family is ready for something new, this mix of traditional tales, true stories and fractured tales – with some giggle-inducing twists – is a must hear.

Daniel X: Watch the Skies, written by James Patterson and Ned Rust and read by Milo Ventimiglia; Hachette Audio, 2009; $22.98 (four CDs plus bonus audiobook of Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment) www.HachetteAudio.com.

 

A sleepy little town is disrupted by the evil “Number 5,” a super-villain alien bent on (of course) the complete obliteration of civilization as we know it. Only 15-year-old Daniel X can save the world.

 

For today’s easy-to-distract kids, this audio book (second in a series by best-selling author James Patterson) features bite-sized chapters, pop culture references, up-to-the minute slang and snappy comebacks - just the thing for today’s hip kids. This fantasy-meets-cyberpunk tale moves at break-neck speed through the universe.  Kids get hooked from the start and will surely seek out further adventures of Daniel X, perhaps in book form as well. 

Prophecy of the Sisters, written by Michelle Zink, read by Eliza Dushku, Hachette Audio, 2009; $29.98 (7 CDs); www.HachetteAudio.com.

 

Teenage girls will love this dark, Gothic story about twin sisters and an ancient prophecy, mysterious books, amulets, signs and danger lurking everywhere. The vivid characters, shadowy 19th-century setting, struggles of good versus evil, unexpected plot-twists and an apocalyptic mystery draw listeners into the intrigue. This page-turner is equally attention-grabbing in audio. 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: A Dramatic Reading by Jonathan Kruk, Jonathan Kruk, Berger Platters, 2008; $15; www.bergerplatters.com. This unabridged reading of Washington Irving’s classic tale by a master storyteller was recorded for the Historic Hudson Valley organization, which administers several historic sites in New York state. It’s terrific for kids and parents who have the background and attention span to listen closely to an involved story with a challenging and sometimes old-fashioned vocabulary. Listeners will appreciate the great delivery and excellent sound effects.

Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales, written by various authors and read by various celebrities; Hachette Audio, 2009; $16.98 (three CDs), www.HachetteAudio.com.

 

Families will love sharing and discussing this cornucopia of African stories introduced by Desmond Tutu and read by celebrities to benefit African children orphaned by AIDS. This three-CD set spins 32 tales from Morocco, the Dutch colonies and South Africa that range from folktales to literary and contemporary pieces. Celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Matt Damon, Benjamin Bratt, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, LeVar Burton and others read this rich and varied anthology. Lively African music contributes adds spice and contributes to the overall flow of the stories. While also available in print, sales of this audio book support children in Africa orphaned by AIDS.

Note: Some stories are a bit gritty and not all have happy endings, so it’s best suited for kindergarteners and older listeners. 
 

written by Troy Nesbit, read by Ted Barker; Chinaberry, 2008; $18.95; www.chinaberry.com. Written in the 1950s, this old-fashioned story about growing up tells of a 12-year-old boy and his adventures on his uncle’s ranch. Leaving behind his city life, the boy learns survival skills, catches and gentles a wild pony, and solves a mystery along the way. With good lessons and an engaging storyline, this CD is a great choice for a horse-loving kid.

For more fun with horses, check out:

Paradise Horses & Barn Buddies

The Jesus Storybook Bible Deluxe Edition, written by Sally Lloyd-Jones, read by David Suchet, Zonderkidz, 2009; $24.99 (3 CDs plus hardcover book); www.zonderkidz.com.

 

This is just the thing for a family who wants to share their Christian faith with kids. The narration is by British stage and television actor David Suchet, who gets your attention right away with a voice that sounds just like God. The language is informal, but not irreverent. The stories (even in the Old Testament) are Jesus-centered and kid-friendly, emphasizing God’s “never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love.”  The compelling stand-alone tales – David and Goliath, the Prodigal Son, etc. – are especially good.

 

Parents will want to make this a family listening experience so they can discuss their own religious beliefs as the stories unfold.