Rattletrap Car

It is a hot day, and Poppa and the kids decide to go to the lake to cool off. Unfortunately, their car may not make it. What will they do when it breaks down? Will they ever get to the lake? Miss Diane reads Phyllis Root’s Rattletrap Car.

Rattletrap Car
written by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Jill Barton
published by Candlewick Press, copyright 2001

RATTLETRAP CAR. Text copyright © 2001 by Phyllis Root. Illustrations copyright © by Jill Barton. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA.

Direct link: rattletrap.mp3
Total time: 4:39 minutes

ETA: Link to mp3 recording removed per agreement with publisher.

The Librarian of Basra

Alia Muhammad Baker is a librarian in the city of Basra in southern Iraq. In this true story, Alia does whatever she can to protect the books in her library before war comes to her city. Will she be able to save all the books? Sara reads The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter.

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq
written & illustrated by Jeanette Winter
published by Harcourt, copyright 2005

THE LIBRARIAN OF BASRA: A TRUE STORY FROM IRAQ, copyright © 2005 by Jeanette Winter, reproduced by permission of Harcourt, Inc. This material may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Direct link: librarian.mp3
Total time: 3:21 minutes

ETA: Link to mp3 recording removed per agreement with publisher. Please see our list of other titles featuring libraries.

Cautionary Tales for Children (excerpt)

Hear the sad tale of Jim who went with his nurse on a fateful trip to the zoo, and learn an important lesson from the boy’s tragic tale. Tom reads the Hilaire Belloc’s poem “Jim, Who Ran Away from His Nurse and Was Eaten by a Lion” from Cautionary Tales for Children.

Cautionary Tales for Children
written by Hilaire Belloc, illustrated by Edward Gorey
published by Harcourt, copyright 2002

Direct link: cautionary.mp3

Total time: 2:37 minutes

Ten In the Bed

Can ten animals sleep in one bed? Find out what happens when one little animal just wants the others to “move over.” Miss Diane reads Jane Cabrera’s book Ten In the Bed.

Ten In the Bed
written & illustrated by Jane Cabrera
published by Holiday House, copyright 2006

Text and illustrations copyright © 2006 by Jane Cabrera. All rights reserved. First published in Great Britain by Gullane Children’s Books, an imprint of Pinwheel Limited, Winchester House, 259-269 Old Marylebone Road, London NW1 5XJ. First published in the United States of America by Holiday House, Inc. in 2006. Used by permission of Holiday House, Inc.

Direct link: ten_bed.mp3
Total time: 2:13 minutes

Ruby's Wish

Ruby's loves to attend classes in her grandfather's home in China. Her greatest wish is to go to college, but her family expects her to marry. Will her wish ever come true? Sara reads Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges.

Ruby's Wish
written by Shirin Yim Bridges, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
published by Chronicle Books, copyright 2002

RUBY'S WISH: text © 2002 by Shirin Yim Bridges; illustrations © by Sophie Blackall. Used with permission of Chronicle Books LLC, San Francisco. Visit ChronicleBooks.com.

Direct link: ruby.mp3
Total time: 6:37 minutes

ETA: Link to mp3 recording removed per agreement with publisher. Please see our list of other titles featuring Asian or Asian American characters.

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude (excerpt)

Two very different children have to find a fairy tale to read for a school project. Unfortunately, they can't agree on which story to choose. How do they find a fairy tale they both like? Find out in this excerpt from the very funny Kevin O'Malley book Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude read by Jered.

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude

written by Kevin O'Malley, illustrated by Kevin O'Malley, Carol Heyer & Scott Goto

published by Walker & Co., copyright 2005

Direct link: motorcycle.mp3

Total time: 3:30 minutes

Brothers In Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan (excerpt)

Garang, an eight-year-old Sudanese boy, loses his family to war. He finds himself walking with hundreds of other boys to safety in Ethiopia. But war follows them there, too. Will Garang ever be safe? Sara reads an excerpt from Brothers In Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Mary Williams, a story inspired by true events.

Brothers In Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan
written by Mary Williams, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
published by Lee & Low Books, copyright 2005
visit the Brothers In Hope website

Direct link: brothers.mp3

Total time: 3:22 minutes