Showing results by narrator "Rebecca A. Reynolds" in All Categories

One very special boy weaves some magic in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s sentimental favorite. When young Cedric Errol learns that he is actually a British lord and heir to an estate, his life is transformed. He leaves Boston for Dorincourt Castle to live with his uncle, the earl - a tyrant who’s loathed by one and all. Will Cedric succeed in melting his cold, cruel uncle’s heart?

Set in a richly rendered 15th-century Paris, Victor Hugo's powerful drama focuses on a beautiful gypsy girl named Esmeralda, the two men (including an obsessed and manipulative priest) who love her, and the pitiful hunchback Quasimodo who tries to save her. With this simplified yet spellbinding version, kids can enjoy all the excitement of Hugo's masterful story.

Half wolf, half dog, White Fang fully understands the cruelty of both nature and humans. After nearly starving to death during the frigid Arctic winter, he's taken in first by a man who "trains" him through constant whippings, and then by another who forces him to participate in vicious dogfights. Follow White Fang as he overcomes these obstacles and finally meets someone who offers him kindness and love. Retold from the Jack London original by Kathleen Olmstead.

The long-ago mysteries of the great opera house in Paris have never been explained. Why did so many terrible tragedies happen there? Why did everyone flee from it in fear? This gripping story about the “opera ghost” and the beautiful singer he loves launched one of the most popular musicals in Broadway history - and it serves up enough thrills, chills, and surprises to keep even the most reluctant listener fascinated.

A searing tale of fear and courage, set during the Civil War, but more powerful today than ever. A young man enlists in the Union Army but nervously wonders how he will react to the blood, violence, and death of a real battle. When that terrible day arrives, he flees the fighting in terror. But his cowardly behavior gnaws at his conscience, and he searches for redemption for what he has done.

Dumas’ famous musketeers return in another exciting swashbuckler. And this time, Aramis is embarking on the most perilous mission of all: to depose King Louis XIV and put his twin brother, Philip, on the throne instead. Since childhood, Philip has been hidden away so no one would know of his existence - but Aramis believes that he would be the superior ruler. Is Aramis right...or is he making a deadly mistake?

H. G. Wells' sobering, thought-provoking novel is one of the greatest works of science fiction ever created - and as powerful today as when it was written. After inventing a machine that moves through time, the Traveler leaves Victorian London and goes far, far into the future. At first, the world he discovers seems peaceful and prosperous. But as he looks below the surface, he realizes that things are not exactly as they first appeared. Retold from the H.G. Wells original by Chris Sasaki.

“To help mother”: that was the goal of each and every one of the five Pepper children. Yet even as “Mamsie” struggles hard to feed and educate her brood, she still manages to fill the house with joy. The adventures of this poor but loving family - Ben, Polly, Joel, Davie, and the adored youngest, Phronsie - have charmed young listeners for more than a century. Overflowing with warmth, suspense, and many delightful surprises, this classic remains as compelling as ever.

A fascinating adventure story, grounded in American history. As the French and Indian war rages, the two daughters of a British officer prepare to return home. But when Cora, Alice, and the soldiers who guard them are betrayed by their Native American scout, their safety depends on wily forest tracker Hawkeye and his friends Chingachkook and Uncas - the last of the Mohicans.

This sparkling sequel to the beloved Little Women follows the grown-up and married Jo, mistress of Plumfield, a school for boys (and a few girls, too). The fun begins with a new arrival, Nat Blake; it is through his eyes that we first meet Plumfield’s lively residents and experience the cheerful confusion that reigns in the welcoming home. Fans of the first book will happily greet these wonderful characters...and renew their acquaintance with such old favorites as Laurie and Meg.

Eleven-year-old Rebecca Randall is quite a handful - and now she’s leaving her beloved Sunnybrook Farm to live with her well-to-do elderly aunts and get an education. But they were expecting Rebecca’s quiet, hardworking older sister instead. Can the bright-eyed and talkative girl win them over...especially her strict, rule-bound Aunt Miranda? Just as Rebecca’s “grand spirit” charms everyone in the story, it will captivate listeners, too.

A single person - but with two personalities: one that’s noble and kind and another that’s pure, repulsive evil. Robert Louis Stevenson’s engrossing masterpiece about the dual nature of man - and a good doctor whose thirst for knowledge has tragic consequences - serves up all the suspense and satisfying chills one expects from the best horror and science fiction.

Mary Shelley’s tragic story of a scientist who created a monster is perhaps even more compelling and meaningful today than when it was written nearly two centuries ago. From the bits and pieces of dead bodies, and the power of electricity, the brilliant Victor Frankenstein fashions a new form of life—only to discover, too late, the irreparable damage he has caused.

One boy, penniless and in rags, forced to beg in the street. The other, a king's son, coddled and given all he could want. What happens when the two boys change clothes and places, and each one learns how the other half lives? Mark Twain's satirical and suspenseful novel about the thin line that separates prince and pauper is a perennial favorite.

Dracula, that compelling creature of the night, continues his neck-biting ways in a version of the novel that children will devour. Moving from Transylvania to London, the timeless vampire serves up thrills and chills as he imprisons and terrorizes the innocent Jonathan Harker, and then goes after his fiancée, Mina, and her friend, Lucy. From creepy, insect-eating Renfield to Dr. Van Helsing - who valiantly fights Dracula’s evil - the characters and drama are spellbinding.

One of the most beloved classics in children's literature, Kipling's masterpiece follows Mowgli, the boy raised by wolves, and his animal friends as they fight for survival in the Indian jungle. Young listeners will love the wise bear Baloo and Bagheera the black panther; shiver at the vicious tiger Shere Khan; laugh at the silly monkeys; and feel compassion for the grown-up Mowgli - who must finally acknowledge his own humanity.

Now every child can celebrate the 100th anniversary of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s ever-popular story! First introduced in Anne of Green Gables as a young orphan, Montgomery’s feisty and imaginative heroine is now 16 years old and embarking on a new adventure: becoming a teacher in her old Avonlea school. It’s an exciting year as Anne struggles to win over all her students, welcomes two new members to her family, and feels the first stirrings of love.

When Heidi's Aunt Dete brings the orphaned girl to live with her grandfather, no one can imagine the bitter, solitary old man caring for a child. But, to everyone's surprise, the two grow to love each other - and Heidi blossoms in her new home. Johanna Spyri's charming story - and spirited heroine - have won children's hearts for more than a century.

This lovely collection will make little ballerinas dance for joy! Inside, they’ll find eight of the most beautiful ballet stories, including Swan Lake, Coppélia, The Firebird, and of course, that perennial holiday favorite, The Nutcracker. It’s the perfect way to prepare a child for seeing a performance - or to keep the magic going afterward.

Mischievous, lazy, and full of tricks, the puppet Pinocchio causes trouble for his creator, Geppetto, almost as soon as he comes to life. Yet, more than anything, this naughty and playful creature wants to become a real boy. To make his dreams come true, he must prove himself worthy. Come along on Pinocchio's amazing journey as he learns - the hard way - what it means to be honest, kind, and, above all, human.