Amy Kay
Hooked on Books
Whether you enjoy listening to digital audiobooks from Hoopla or Libby, or CD audiobooks from our physical collection, Lennox and Addington Libraries have plenty to keep you reading when you’re on the go. Whether you’re headed out on a long trip, or running errands around town, audiobooks keep everyone entertained and connected. Here is a selection of family friendly audiobooks you might enjoy on your next road trip.
Mercy Watson Collection Volume 1 by Kate DiCamillo (41 minutes)
Get more bang for your buck with this collection by Newberry Honour winning author and librarian favourite, Kate DiCamillo. The first two books in the series Mercy Watson to the Rescue and Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride are included here and charmingly detail Mr. and Mrs. Watson’s adventures as they raise Mercy, who is not just a pig but a porcine-wonder, as part of their family.
Green Eggs and Ham and Other Servings of Dr. Seuss (1 hour)
A delightful and presentation of the work of Dr. Seuss. It might come as a surprise that the spoken words stand so well on their own. Read by celebrities Jason Alexander, David Hyde Pierce, and Michael McKean, and with playful musical interludes and sound effects that add just the right emphasis and zaniness. This is an outstanding total package.
The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes (2 hours)
Award-winning, nationally bestselling author Kevin Henkes introduces second-grader Billy Miller in this fast-paced and funny story about friendship, sibling rivalry, and elementary school. This is a gentle, low-key chapter book about a boy’s emotions as he faces everyday problems. Will Billy’s second-grade teacher think he’s smart enough? Will his “Papa” be hurt if Billy calls him “Dad”? Is Billy brave enough to read his poem in front of an audience? The stories are sweet and sometimes deeply touching (especially for an adult listener). Perfect for fans of the Ramona books and the Clementine series.
The Wild Robert by Peter Brown (4 hours)
Wall-E meets Hatchet in this heartwarming and action-packed middle-grade novel that explores what happens when nature and technology collide. When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is—but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island’s unwelcoming animal inhabitants. As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home—until, one day, the robot’s mysterious past comes back to haunt her.
Chomp by Carl Hiaasen (6 hours)
Chomp is what happens when an animal takes a hunk out of its “owner.” Wahoo and his dad, Mickey, have had many such chomps because they’re animal wranglers – guys who loan their menagerie to TV and movie producers. This behind-the-scenes look at reality TV includes the terrific Hiaasen trademarks: humor and ecological education, including attempts to preserve Florida for future generations. Along the way, listeners are treated meet an array of Florida denizens, Hollywood types, and the Aussie pretender Badger – who’s anything but a nature lover.
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale (8 hours)
In this first book in New York Times bestselling, Newbery Honour winning author Shannon Hale’s Princess Academy series, Miri finds herself a sudden participant in a contest to find the next princess of the realm.
Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king’s priests have divined her village the home of the future princess. In a year’s time, the prince will choose his bride from among the village girls.
The king’s ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess. Soon Miri finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires. Winning the contest could give her everything she ever wanted—but it would mean leaving her home and family behind.