Audio - Children's 2002

File Updated: 13/09/2004

Tangled Web UK: New Audio - Children's Titles 2002

Sally Gardner The Smallest Girl Ever Published August 2004 by Orion Audio at Ł4.99 ISBN: 0-75286799 7
Read by Emilia Fox
Everyone expects Ruby Genie to have the same fantastic magical powers as her famous parents did. But Ruby can’t do any magic at all. Or so she thinks.
Then Rubv begins to get
smaller ...
and smaller ...
and smaller
This is a wonderful story about a little girl who discovers that even though she is so tiny that she fits into a handbag, she can still be clever and brave and find people to love her.
Emilia Fox has appeared in a variety of theatre, film and television productions. Her television appearances include Pride and Prejudice, Stephen Poliakoff's Shooting the Past, and a starring role in Rebecca.
Emilia Fox has "one of the sexiest recording voices in the world" according to The Independent
1 Cassettes Running Time: approx. 60 mins Produced by Nicholas Jones
About The Author
Sally Gardner was a very successful designer of sets and costumes for the theatre for many years, but she always wanted to write and illustrate books for children. Her first was The Little Nut Tree, then there was Playtime Rhymes, a big collection of rhymes for younger children, and now the bestselling A Book (of Princesses.

at ABE

by Sally Gardner at Amazon.co.uk

Sally Gardner The Strongest Girl in the World Published September 2004 by Orion Audio at Ł4.99 ISBN: 0-75286 799 1
Read by Emilia Fox
Josie Jenkins has always been good at doing tricks, but she amazes herself and everyone else with her strength when she lifts first a car and then a double-decker bus with no effort at all. Suddenly she’s famous - and Josie and her mum and dad and big brother Louis find their lives changed overnight.
How Josie’s magical gift enables her to cope with the ups and downs of fame and fortune makes a wonderful story about a very special girl.
Emilia Fox has appeared in a variety of theatre, film and television productions. Her television appearances include Pride and Prejudice, Stephen Poliakoff's Shooting the Past, and a starring role in Rebecca.
Emilia Fox has "one of the sexiest recording voices in the world" according to The Independent
1 Cassettes Running Time: 60 mins
About The Author
Sally Gardner was a very successful designer of sets and costumes for the theatre for many years, but she always wanted to write and illustrate books for children. Her first was The Little Nut Tree, then there was Playtime Rhymes, a big collection of rhymes for younger children, and now the bestselling A Book (of Princesses.

at ABE

by Sally Gardner at Amazon.co.uk

Sally Gardner The Invisible Boy Published May 2004 by Orion Audio at Ł4.99 ISBN: 0-75286 669 1
Read by Andrew Sachs
One night Sam notices a tiny spaceship in the cabbage patch. Out of it steps a little alien called Splodge.
Sam is miserable, because his parents have got lost on a trip to the moon and he has been left in the care of the horrible Hilda Hardbottom. Splodge is a wonderful new friend for him - especially since he knows how to make Sam invisible.
How Sam uses his invisibility to scare the pants off Hilda Hardbottom, and how he finds that being braver makes things better, is a wonderful story and a very funny one.
Andrew Sachs is one of Britain’s busiest and most popular actors. Perhaps best known for his role as Manuel in Fawlty Towers he has also written for and acted in theatre, television and radio drama, as well as touring with his own stage show. Voice work includes television narration for countless documentaries, recordings of popular and classic audio books and albums of poetry.
1 Cassettes Running Time: 1 hr 10 mins Produced by Nicholas Jones
About The Author
Sally Gardner was a very successful designer of sets and costumes for the theatre for many years, but she always wanted to write and illustrate books for children. Her first was The Little Nut Tree, then there was Playtime Rhymes, a big collection of rhymes for younger children, and now the bestselling A Book (of Princesses.

at ABE

by Sally Gardner at Amazon.co.uk

Sally Gardner The Boy with the Magic Numbers Published June 2004 by Orion Audio at Ł4.99 ISBN: 0-75286 690 7
Read by Andrew Sachs
When Billy Pickles’ dad leaves home to live in New York, he gives Billy a moneybox. Billy’s not sure where to put in the money, and not sure why his dad has left.
Then Billy goes to New York to visit his father and his Italian grandmother, and discovers the secret of his magic moneybox at last. In a wonderful adventure, he takes Mighty Mamma on a helicopter ride, cracks open a safe, solves a kidnap mystery - and gets to know his dad again.
Andrew Sachs is one of Britain’s busiest and most popular actors. Perhaps best known for his role as Manuel in Fawlty Towers he has also written for and acted in theatre, television and radio drama, as well as touring with his own stage show. Voice work includes television narration for countless documentaries, recordings of popular and classic audio books and albums of poetry.
1 Cassettes Running Time: 1 hr 15 mins Produced by Nicholas Jones
About The Author
Sally Gardner was a very successful designer of sets and costumes for the theatre for many years, but she always wanted to write and illustrate books for children. Her first was The Little Nut Tree, then there was Playtime Rhymes, a big collection of rhymes for younger children, and now the bestselling A Book (of Princesses.

at ABE

by Sally Gardner at Amazon.co.uk

Alan Gibbons The Defender Published June 2004 by Orion Audio at Ł9.99 ISBN: 0-75286 076 3
Read by Gerard O’ Hare & Neil Conrich
When Kenny Kincaid turns his back on the past he has no idea of the legacy he is bequeathing his only son, Ian.
Was he escaping from the paramilitaries, from too much violence and bloodshed, too many victims? Or was he betraying the Cause, turning his back on his comrades-in-arms, when he fled clutching his baby son and quarter of a million pounds from a bank job? They think so, and they’re intent on revenge. Years later Kenny is still a target - and now so is Ian.
Father and son are going to have to live with it ... or die with it.
Controversial, compulsive reading, this is Alan Gibbon’s latest, best and unputdownable thriller.
Gerard O’ Hare has worked extensively in theatre, television and radio. He has appeared in a number of films including A Safe House, Love Lies Bleeding and Danny Boyle’s Scout. He has also worked on the popular TV productions of Cracker, Dangerfield, Pie in the Sky and Taggart.
Neil Conrich’s recent film work includes Blackball, RKO 281 and A Kid in Aladdin’s Palace. Television appearances include Midsomer Murders, Foyle’s War, Man & Boy, The Brief and The Long Firm. He has made various appearances in theatre including The Gate, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Cambridge Theatre Company and Bristol Old Vic. He also has extensive experience in radio, voice-over and audio books.
2 Cassettes Running Time: 3 hrs Abridged by Katie Nicholl Produced by Elspeth McPherson
About The Author
Alan Gibbons is a primary school teacher, and started writing children’s books in 1990. His central themes come from his own experience, and observation of children. He lives in Liverpool with his wife and four children.

at ABE

by Alan Gibbons at Amazon.co.uk

Alan Gibbons The Lost Boys' Appreciation Society Published June 2004 by Orion Audio at Ł12.99 ISBN: 0-75286 075 5
Read by Malcolm Freeman
When Mum was killed in a car crash our lives were wrecked too.
Gary, John and Dad are lost without Mum. Gary is only 14 and goes seriously off the rails, teetering on the brink of being on the wrong side of the law. John is wrestling with GCSEs and his first romance - but he’s carrying the burden of trying to cope with Gary and Dad at the same time. And they’re all living with the memories of someone they can never replace.
Alan Gibbons, twice shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, and winner of the Blue Peter Book Award, writes with compassion - and flashes of humour - about surviving against all the odds.
`[The novel’s] insights place the listener both inside and outside the three generations in the story.... the readers’ down-to-earth delivery adds an even deeper sense of empathy and reality’ - Rachel Redford, The Observer (on The Edge, read by Malcolm Freeman with Lucy Akhurst)
Malcolm Freeman trained at the Bristol OldVicTheatre School. He has appeared on television in Trail of Guilt, Holby City, Family Affairs, EastEnders, Prime Suspect and The Rag Nymph. His theatre work includes The Balcony, Country Dancing, and Romeo and Juliet with the RSC, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Fitting for Ladies at the Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh. He also works as a dialect coach.
2 Cassettes Running Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Abridged by Kati Nicholl Produced by Elspeth McPherson
About The Author
Alan Gibbons is a primary school teacher, and started writing children’s books in 1990. His central themes come from his own experience, and observation of children. He lives in Liverpool with his wife and four children.

at ABE

by Alan Gibbons at Amazon.co.uk

Cliff McNish The Silver Child Published July 2004 by Orion Audio at Ł9.99 ISBN: 0-75286 679 6
Read by Saskia Wickham & Malcolm Freeman
Six children leave the comfort of their homes for Coldharbour, an eerie wasteland of wind, rats, seagulls and rubbish tips. Emily and Freda, the insect-like twins, find Thomas half-starving on a food tip. They discover Walter, the giant boy, his hands buried in the ashes of a fire. Helen reaches Coldharbour at the height of a furious storm. Together they seek out Milo - the sixth child - whose skin is hot and bright with silver.
Unique gifts have drawn them to one another, but will they be in time to save themselves? The Roar, a vast and terrifying creature from worlds away, is drawing closer and is intent on their destruction.
Malcolm Freeman trained at the Bristol OldVicTheatre School. He has appeared on television in Trail of Guilt, Holby City, Family Affairs, EastEnders, Prime Suspect and The Rag Nymph. His theatre work includes The Balcony, Country Dancing, and Romeo and Juliet with the RSC, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Fitting for Ladies at the Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh. He also works as a dialect coach.
Saskia Wickham appeared on television in Waking The Dead, Our Friends in the North and for three years in Peak Practice. Feature films include Anna Karenina and Angels and Insects. On stage she has appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest and The David Hare Trilogy at the National Theatre.
2 Cassettes Running Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Abridged by Pat Saunders Produced by Elspeth McPherson
About The Author
Cliff McNish was born in Sunderland, but has spent most of his life in the southeast of England. His daughter Rachel loved to hear stories from an early age. The Doomspell Trilogy started as one of these. `But before I knew what was happening,’ says Cliff, `the whole magical world of Ithrea just wanted to come to life in a bigger way. It wanted to live!’ He is now working on the third book of this trilogy.

at ABE

by Cliff McNish at Amazon.co.uk

Nursery Rhymes Playtime Rhymes Vol 2 Published August 2004 by Orion Audio at Ł5.99 ISBN: 0-75286 763 6
Read by Angela Dijksman & Heather Chivers
Volumes 1 & 2 complete on one CD
Hop, skip, count, clap, jump, dance and sing!
Angela Dijksman and Heather Chivers are back with all the old Playtime Rhymes, plus some new ones! Complete with music and sound effects, here is a collection of favourite action rhymes for children to sing along to.
These rhymes were selected following recommendations from early learning teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists and parents for having educational value as well as play value. You can read (or sing) along to all these rhymes with Sally Gardner’s colourful picture book (available separately, Orion Children’s Books). Her illustrations have lots to look at and talk about, providing an opportunity to learn and have fun at the same time.
1 Cassettes Running Time: approx. 50 mins

at ABE

by Nursery Rhymes at Amazon.co.uk

Nursery Rhymes Playtime Rhymes Vol 2 Published August 2004 by Orion Audio at Ł5.99 ISBN: 0-75286 781 4
Read by Angela Dijksman & Heather Chivers
all our favourite rhymes performed by Angela Dijksman and Heather Chivers
Here we go round the mulberry bush
Ten fat peas
Dinosaur soup
Ten in the bed
This little pig
Ten little fingers
Ring-a-ring o’ roses
Roly poly
Round and round the garden
The farmer’s in his dell
My hands
The beehive
Tommy Thumb
Here is the church
Three little monkeys
Six little mice
Two little dicky-birds
The ostrich
Here we go round the mulberry bush
1 Cassettes Running Time: 20 mins Produced by Matthew Dilley

at ABE

by Nursery Rhymes at Amazon.co.uk

Marcus Sedgewick The Book of Dead Days Published May 2004 by Orion Audio at Ł9.99 ISBN: 0-75286 671 7
Read by Derek Jacobi
The days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve are dead days, when spirits roam and magic shifts restlessly just beneath the surface of our lives. A lot can happen in the dead days.
There is a magician called Valerian who must save his own life, or pay the price for the pact he made with evil so many years ago. But alchemy and sorcery are no match against the demonic power pursuing him. Helping him is his servant Boy, a child with no name and no past, given to Valerian by Fate when he fell from his hiding place in an old church. And the quick-witted Willow is with them as they dig in death-fields at midnight, and are swept into the sprawling blackness of a subterranean city on a journey from which there is no escape. Unknown to any of them, it is Boy who holds the key to all their destinies. His revelations will be shocking.
A masterly reading of a gripping fantasy from a master storyteller.
'You know your in safe hands with Sedgwick' Philip Ardagh, Guardian
Sir Derek Jacobi is highly respected for his work in theatre, television and film. His theatrical work includes the title roles in Macbeth, Hamlet, Richard III and Cyrano de Bergerac, his acclaimed TV and film performances include I, Claudius, The Day of the Jackal, Henry V, Little Dorrit, Dead Again and Hamlet.
2 Cassettes Running Time: 3 hrs 50 Mins Produced by Elspeth McPherson
About The Author
Marcus Sedgwick works in children’s publishing, and before that was a bookseller. He is also a stone carver and wood engraver. His first novel, Floodland, was hailed as `a dazzling debut from a new writer of exceptional talent’ in Publishing News and he has followed it with Witch Hill, and then The Dark Horse, which was shortlisted for both the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award and the Carnegie Medal. He lives in Sussex.

at ABE

by Marcus Sedgewick at Amazon.co.uk

Francesca Simon Horrid Henry Meets the Queen Published July 2004 by Orion Audio at Ł4.99 ISBN: 0-75286 678 8
Read by Miranda Richardson
Four uproarious new stories in which the Queen visits Horrid Henry’s school and watches the children make wattle and daub; and Horrid Henry tries to hypnotise Moody Margaret, tricks Perfect Peter into doing his household chores, and discovers how to win at Monopoly every time.
'… a warning: the first time I heard it, I nearly swerved off the road’ Observer (of Horrid Henry)
‘Francesca Simon’s hugely popular books are even better with sound effects ... music and the naughty voice of Henry’ Sunday Telegraph
Miranda Richardson has established herself as an actress of great breadth: she has appeared in films by such luminaries, as Louis Malle (Damage), Tim Burton (Sleepy Hollow), Neil Jordan (The Crying Game) and Steven Spielberg (Empire of the Sun). On television she has appeared in programmes as diverse as Dance to the Music of Time and Jackanory, and is well known as Queen Elizabeth in Blackadder. Her stage plays range from Pinter’s Old Times and Wally Shaun’s The Designated Mourner to Terry Johnson’s Insignificance and the Jacobean classic The Changeling.
1 Cassettes Running Time: 1 hr 5 mins
About The Author
Francesca Simon is an American who lives in London with her English husband and her son Josh. She grew up in California and was educated at Yale and Oxford Universities, and was a free lance journalist, writing theatre and restaurant reviews for some years. She is now a very successful writer of children’s books, ranging from picture books to young fiction.

at ABE

by Francesca Simon at Amazon.co.uk