Notable Children's Recordings - 2026 -- UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The Notable Children’s Recordings list includes recordings for children 14 years of age and younger of especially commendable quality that demonstrate respect for young people’s intelligence and imagination; exhibit venturesome creativity; and reflect and encourage the interests of children and young adolescents in exemplary ways.
FINAL LIST - to be vetted
This is the 2026 list of notable recordings for children, selected by the Notable Children's Recordings committee. The list is currently being vetted, and annotations for award books are being added. When the process is complete, the "to be vetted" designation will be removed.
Adelita. By Tomie dePaola. Read by Annette Ameila Oliveira. 2025. 20m. Listening Library. Ages 4-8.
Narrated with warmth and humor, this Mexican Cinderella story was originally written by dePaola in 2002. Narrator Oliveira brings the story to life for a new generation through her rich characterization and by seamlessly sprinkling Spanish vocabulary into the story. A cozy and charming retelling of a classic tale. Spanish phrases are listed at the end.
All the Blues in the Sky. By Renee Watson. Read by Bahni Turpin. 2025. 2h 14m. Bloomsbury Children’s Books. Ages 10-14.
Turpin offers an excellent narration of this novel in verse, using multiple voices with distinct accents and age variation for the many different characters in a diverse neighborhood. The verse itself comes through: even repeated words on a page tell a story. Turpin shows an excellent range of strong emotions, so important for this exploration of grief.
Benny on the Case. By Wesley King. Read by PJ Ochlan. 2025. 7h 13m. Dreamscape Media. Ages 8-12.
PJ Ochlan provides the voice of earnest, upbeat Benny, a boy with Mosaic Down Syndrome, along with his friends, family and community in their small Newfoundland town. Commitment to the unique accent and dialect of the setting are particularly important to elevating the performance of this engaging middle-grade mystery.
Clack! Clack! Smack: A Cherokee Stickball Story. By Tracy Sorell. Read by Full Cast. Live Oak Media.
A dynamic full cast paired with the vivid “clack” of sticks and “smack” of the ball brings the high-energy tradition of Cherokee stickball to life. The rhythmic narration seamlessly weaves Tsalagi (Cherokee) words into the story, creating an immersive, authentic, and educational soundscape. (Odyssey Award for Children)
Don’t Trust Fish. By Neil Sharpson. Read by Neil Sharpson. 2025. 15m. Listening Library Ages 4-8.
Young listeners will gravitate to Neil Sharpson’s book about the mysteries of fish. He asks questions of their habits, their sizes, and their secret lives. His exaggerated and energetic narration will entertain and ignite an investigative curiosity. Sharpson also invites listeners to read the physical book while he reads aloud.
The Enemy’s Daughter. By Anne Blankman. Read by Saaskia Maarleveld. 2025. 6h 23m. Listening Library. Ages 9-12.
Marta, a German survivor of the Lusitania, finds herself trapped alone in England, which is enemy territory. To survive, Marta pretends to be Dutch and finds refuge with an Irish family, whose kindness challenges Marta’s misconceptions about enemies. Maarleveld’s narration and accent work elevate Blankman’s wonderful story. Historical fiction can be a hard sell for middle-grade readers–this audiobook is a standout.
The Famously Funny Parrott: More Bird-Brained than Ever. By Eric Daniel Weiner. Read by Ramon de Ocampo. 1h 43m. 2024. Listening Library. Ages 7-10.
Ramon de Ocampo returns to share more stories from Freddie the Purple Parrott and his faithful butler Peccary. Ocampo’s gravelly nasal sing-song intonation brings Freddie to life; his dry upper-crust Peccary is the perfect depiction of Freddie’s ever-patient butler, long accustomed to his “bird-brained” employer’s antics.
Gloam. By Jack Mackay. Read by Charlie Sanderson. 2025. 5h 52m. Listening Library. Ages 8-12.
Sanderson’s soft timbre and lilting accent set the perfect stage for this creepy tale. Character voices are distinct and well suited to each. Her dynamic range of expression builds as the drama of the story unfolds, culminating in a mad-house monster chase with a fantastic monster voice.
G.O.A.T. Greatest of All Time. By Jol and Kate Temple. Read by Jol and Kate Temple. 11m. 2024. Scholastic Audio Books. Ages 3-5.
Authors Jol and Kate Temple give energetic voice to a collection of acronym-spouting animals in this silly book about what it means to be the G.O.A.T. The lively reading combined with bouncy music and sound effects is full of infectious joy and humor.
A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation. By Pablo Cartaya. Read by Pablo Cartaya. 5 hr. 22 min. 2025. Listening Library. Ages 8-12.
Cartaya’s energetic narration propels listeners through a summer of unexpected discovery. As a boy and his grandfather navigate their distance and a new adventure, the author’s voice captures the evolving bond between them, celebrating how storytelling can bridge generations and turn a simple vacation into a hero’s journey.
How Sweet the Sound: A Soundtrack for America. By Kwame Alexander. Read by Karen Murray. 47m. 2025. Little, Brown Young Readers. Ages 4-8.
Young listeners will experience the sounds of Black musical history, from the talking drums of the motherland, to the spirituals that carried the enslaved, to the blues and jazz, to R& B, and to hop-hip. Murray’s narration guides listeners through the touchstones of Black history with rhythm, energy, and authority.
I Am Sally Ride (Ordinary People Change the World). By Brad Meltzer. Read by Nadia Verde, Read by Nadia Verde, Erin Bennett, Dan Bittner, Patricia Santomasso, Curtis Michael Holland, and Barton Caplan. 17m. 2025. Listening Library. Ages 5-9.
The life of famed astronaut Sally Ride is presented in a full-cast narration. Combined with thoughtfully-placed sound effects and musical undertones, this dynamic recording creates an all-encompassing listening experience.
Is It Real? The Loch Ness Monster. By Candace Fleming. Read by Emily Eiden. 2h 8m. 2025. Scholastic Audio Books. Ages 8-12.
Is the Loch Ness monster real? Is it a hoax? Why has this Scottish lore stood the test of time? Eiden’s narration brings Fleming’s informative investigation of the mystery of the with inquisitiveness and warmth. Her pacing and expressive tone invites young listeners into Fleming’s comprehensive research of Scotland’s legend.
Last Comics on Earth: A Song of Swords and Stuffies. By Max Brallier and Joshua Pruett. Read by Robbie Daymond. 2h 3m. 2025. Listening Library. Ages 8-12.
Robbie Daymond takes on the roles of a full cast and delivers a complete world of unique personalities in this delightfully over-the-top adaptation of a comic book written by the characters of the Last Kids on Earth series, dynamically weaving in music and sound effects to bring listeners into the goofy post-apocalyptic world of the book.
Millie Fleur Saves the Night. By Christy Mandin. Read by Elizabeth Knowleldon. 26m. 2025. Scholastic Audio Books. Ages 3-7.
Rich sound effects layered with original music transport listeners into Millie Fleur’s garden, where moonflowers bloom and night creatures roam. Will Millie’s neighbors, who fear the dark, grow to appreciate its unique beauty? Two versions of the story are provided–one with page signals and one without. Backmatter includes an author’s note, scientific information about nighttime, and a “Think Like a Firefly” activity for young naturalists.
My Presentation Today Is About The Anaconda. By Bibi Dumon Tak. Read by Laura Knight Keating. 2 hrs. 43 mins. 2025. Recorded Books. Ages 8-12.
Listening to this translated spoof of the classic school drudgery that is the oral report is a particular pleasure as the entire thing is oral reports, lending it perfectly to an audio experience Keating voices each animal as they give their report with individuality. In the instances where the voices do interact, the characters are easily identifiable.
New Shoes for Leo. By Lauren Agra Deedy. Read by Gary Tiedemann. 2025. 26m. Scholastic Audio, DD (9781546151050). PreS-Gr. 2.
While his family packs a care package for relatives in Cuba, William is sent on a mission to find a pair of shoes for his cousin. As original music with a Latin flavor plays gently in the background, Tiedemann gives a warm and animated performance, expertly imbuing each character with a distinct voice. A testament to the strength of family connections.
Noodles on a Bicycle. By Kyo Maclear. Read by Sarah Skaer. 2025. 12m. Dreamscape Media, DD (9781666685176). PreS-Gr. 2.
Maclear draws upon childhood memories of growing up in Tokyo to describe how demae (delivery men) would precariously balance hot soup and wooden soba boxes on their shoulders as they made deliveries. With a soft yet expressive narration, an authentic recreation of street sounds and energetic background music this offers an immersive peek into a bygone era.
Our Solar System: A Stellar Neighborhood. By Stacy McAnulty. Read by Zach Barela. 2025. 11m. MacMillan Audio. Ages 4-8.
Zach Barela is our buckaroo Comet tour guide through the Solar System in this addition to McAnulty’s “Our Universe” series. Sound effects and a series of musical compositions attuned to each planet add emphasis to Comet’s description of the planet’s character and unique features.
Outsider Kids: Parachute Kids, Book 2. By Betty C Tang. Read by full cast. 2025. 2h 41m. Scholastic Audio Books. Ages 9-11.
A full cast dramatizes the challenges of three siblings navigating life as undocumented immigrants living without their parents in 1980s California. Well-integrated, music, sound and vocal effects add an aural texture to a nuanced performance that helps transition the story from the visual world of the graphic novel into the audio sphere.
Sea Legs. By Jules Bake and Niki Smith. Read by a Full Cast. 2025. 2h 19m. Scholastic Audio Books. Ages 8-12.
Ease into this graphic novel adventure with a variety of musical interludes between chapters, crashing waves, the meows of sweet cat Sasa, and a full cast. Join Janey and her parents as they live life at sea and make friends along the journey. This audio includes a detailed author's note read by the author.
Sea of Constellations. By Melissa Cristina Márquez. Read by Elena Rey. 2025. 16m. Listening Library. Ages 5-8.
Elena Rey reads this story of Maren the whale shark as she sets out to ask the sea goddess Huixtocihuatl why the sea has gone dark, sharing her brightly lit scales with sea friends she encounters along the way. Rey’s nimble narration shifts easily from complex Aztec names to numerous oceanic creature names; a glossary after the story shares further information about ocean fauna with the listener.
The Secret Life of a Sea Turtle. By Maddalena Bearzi. Read by Kate Coventry. 2025. 33m. Macmillan Young Listeners. Ages 4-8.
This production masterfully blends Coventry’s narration with music and sound effects that bring the turtle's world to life. From the rhythmic tides to the shifting sands of the nesting beach, each layer adds depth and intrigue, transforming this nonfiction work into a vivid, multi-sensory journey.
A Snow Day for Amos McGee. By Philip C. Stead. Read by Charles Everett. 2025. 7m. Macmillan Audio. Ages 3-6.
Everyone's favorite zookeeper prepares his animal friends for the snow in this understated read-aloud. Gentle music and the just-right sound effects elevate this recording and bring Amos to life.
Soundtrack. By Jason Reynolds. Read by a full cast. 2025. 6h 29m. Listening Library. Ages 12 and up.
Created solely for audio, this recording features a large cast of dynamic voices as well as an original score. It includes instruments of several kinds as well as street and crowd noises all building the story of kids putting together a band on the streets (and in the subway) of New York City.
The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials 2 and 3). By Philip Pullman. Read by Ruth Wilson. 2025. Listening Library. Ages 8-13.
Wilson expertly continues this new recording of Pullman's beloved trilogy, bringing Lyra, Will, and the rest of the character cast to life with her melodious, enchanting narration.
True Gretch Young Adult Edition: Lessons for Anyone Who Wants to Make a Difference. By Gretchen Whitmer and Sherry Shrewsbury. Read by Gretchen Whitmer et al. 2025. 3h 56m. Simon & Schuster Audio. Ages 14 and up.
A creative take on the young reader adaptation of the memoir that delivers like a well-structured podcast. Listeners will be delighted to hear clips from previous speeches, music recordings, and interludes from the author's sister, Liz. This audio includes a special Q&A with the author's two daughters and sister, Liz.
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest. By Aubrey Hartman. Read by Marisa Calin. 6h 28m. Hachette Audio. Ages 9 and up.
Calin’s performance evokes a classic storybook feel, drawing listeners into the mythical depths of Deadwood Forest. Using dynamic voices to distinguish a wide cast of creatures, her narration balances a touch of mystery with a spirited, engaging delivery, breathing life into this whimsical 2026 Newbery Honor recipient.
Wash Day Love. By Tanisia Moore. Read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt. 2025. 18m. Scholastic Audio Books. Ages 4-8.
This timeless intergenerational story perfectly showcases the many talents of narrator Joniece Abbott-Pratt. The numerous distinct and accented voices of Tasha, Mama, Granny, and big sister Tiana are brought to life. Each emotive character is accompanied by smooth Caribbean jazz and practical sound effects.
Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen. By James Robinson. Read by James Robinson. 2025. 3h 34m. Listening Library. Ages 10-13.
Along with its downloadable pdf filled with activities and illustrations, this immersive, audio experience recounts the story of Robinson's life with a visual disability. Recordings of his loved ones discovering how Robinson experiences the world enhance the listening experience. An “intermission,” directs listeners to the book’s website, where a short documentary further illustrates both Robinson’s challenges, and his desire for a deeper understanding and connection.
Winter of the Dollhouse. By Laura Amy Schlitz. Read by Laura Knight Keating. 2025. 11h 13m. Recorded Books, DD (9798890592316). Gr. 4-6.
Narrator Keating masterfully narrates this complex novel that is both fantasy and contemporary family story. From spunky Tiph’s often complicated family relationships, to a lonely neighbor, to even the doll Gretel, she seamlessly portrays each character’s personality making for an enchanting listening experience.
2026 Notable Children's Recordings Committee
Sally Miculek, Chair
Hanna Boxberger
Shani Boyd
Shanetia Clark
Jared Crossley
Tiffany Hough
Catherine Outten
Ben Perry
Caroline Romans
Christiana Congelio (Administrative Assistant)
