Audiobooks narrated by Johanna Ward

Drawn from the enchanting tales told to Kipling as a child in India, Just So Stories reveals the magic of the dawn of the world, when animals could talk and think like people. Cats and dogs, kangaroos and tortoises, hedgehogs and jaguars, whales and leopards, and many others are brought to life in an exotic Eastern landscape of "high and far times ago." Children will discover how the leopard got his spots, the elephant his trunk, and the camel his hump, through clever tales that subtly hint at the pitfalls of arrogance and the importance of creativity. Kipling composed these twelve stories and twelve poems to be read aloud, and their whimsical imagery and rhythmic language are sure to delight both children and adults for another hundred years. Table of Contents 1. "How the Whale Got His Throat" 2. "How the Camel Got His Hump" 3. "How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin" 4. "How the Leopard Got His Spots" 5. "The Elephant's Child" 6. "The Sing Song of Old Man Kangaroo" 7. "The Beginning of the Armadillos" 8. "How the First Letter Was Written" 9. "How the Alphabet Was Made" 10. "The Crab That Played with the Sea" 11. "The Cat That Walked by Himself" 12. "The Butterfly That Stamped"

Rudyard Kipling (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Happy Prince, and Other Stories

The Happy Prince lived in the Palace of Sans Souci, where sorrow was not allowed to enter, and only pleasure was experienced. Then, a gilded statue set on top of a high column allowed him to see all the wretchedness of the poor, the sick and the lonely who inhabited his great city. What develops is a story of sacrifice and redemption that is a parable for our time. This program includes nine of Oscar Wilde's magical and haunting fairy tales. Written for his own sons, Wilde's tales will provide equal delight for children of today. Included here are: 1. "The Happy Prince" 2. "The Selfish Giant" 3. "The Devoted Friend" 4. "The Remarkable Rocket" 5. "The Nightingale and the Rose" 6. "The Young King" 7. "The Birthday of the Infanta" 8. "The Star-Child" 9. "The Fisherman and His Soul"

Oscar Wilde (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Phoenix and the Carpet

In this follow-up to Nesbit’s classic Five Children and It, Cyril, Robert, Anthea, Jane, and the Lamb have more magical adventures in store when a mysterious egg hatches in the nursery fireplace. Out comes a flame-colored bird, the Phoenix, who, though a bit conceited, proves very helpful indeed. The bird kindly explains that the second-hand Persian carpet recently acquired for the nursery is actually a flying one. On it, they may travel to any place and time that they wish. But once again, the children find that magic does not always go as planned. They find hidden treasure in France, and with it restore the fortunes of a little boy. Meanwhile, their own house is invaded by a thousand Persian cats, a cow, and a burglar, who eventually marries the cook on an island in the South Seas. Full of wit and wonders, The Phoenix and the Carpet is a magical ride for children of all ages.

Edith Nesbit (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Song of Bernadette

The Song of Bernadette is considered one of the twentieth century's greatest novels of triumphant religious faith. How the book came to be written is itself an inspirational and even miraculous story. In 1940, famed Austrian author Franz Werfel and his wife were on a desperate flight from the Nazi invaders, whom Franz had publicly denounced. Repeatedly thwarted in their attempts to cross the French border, they found temporary refuge in Lourdes, home of the famous shrine where Bernadette received visions of the Virgin Mary and where millions come in faith to seek a miracle. Werfel became fascinated with Bernadette's story and began to visit the sacred grotto every day, swearing that, should he and his wife be granted escape from the Nazis, he would write the story of Bernadette for all the world. Franz's prayers were answered, and in America he wrote his masterpiece, The Song of Bernadette, a beautiful fusion of faith and craft. Translated by Ludwig Lewisohn "A sincere but worldly book that Johanna Ward reads with equal respect to subject and writer...Well worth the listen."-AudioFile

Franz Werfel (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Magic World

These twelve magical stories contain some of the best things ever written in fairy tales. There are enchanted lands inhabited by kings and queens, princes and princesses who have to outwit wicked fairies and evil magicians. Princess Belinda is condemned to be ugly during the week and beautiful only on Sundays. Kenneth turns into a fish and has to be caught before he can transform back into a boy. Annabel opens a wardrobe and discovers an enormous railway station inside. Open the door to your own imagination-what magic world will you find? The magic, humor, and delightful characters that populate Edith Nesbit's stories will appeal to listeners of all ages. Those already familiar with the tales will be enchanted anew, and those coming to them for the first time will be captivated by the mystical world they find. "In this delightful collection of fantasies, the listener is introduced to the formal milieu of Victorian England, then whisked away to a series of fantastic worlds."-AudioFile

Edith Nesbit (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Little Princess

Sara Crewe is the brightest, richest, and most generous girl in Miss Minchin's school for girls, and her father gives her everything she might desire. But when her beloved father dies, Sara's friends and prized possessions are suddenly taken away, and she is banished to the attic and forced to work as a common drudge. Fed only crumbs, she still saves enough to feed her pet rat, and she tells wonderful stories to comfort Becky, the kitchen maid. Using her special ability to play make-believe, she transforms her hardships into an unforgettable adventure. And soon, even her wildest wishes begin to come true, as her real identity is revealed once and for all. This touching classic has been a favorite with generations of children and adults who have delighted in Sara's happiness, wept over her sorrows, and perhaps shared her need: to be recognized as someone unique and special-a little princess or prince. "A beautiful tale of courage against adversity."-Guardian (London)

Frances Hodgson Burnett (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Enchanted Castle

Jimmy, Gerald, and Cathy hope to find adventure when they set off to explore the woods, but they get far more than they bargained for when they discover the Enchanted Castle. At first, they seem to be in a fairy tale come true, until a friend turns invisible, thanks to a magic ring she can't remove. Adventure follows adventure as they seek to control the magic-but the magic has a will of its own, and it is all they can do to keep up. Faced with sleeping princesses, magic rings, and moonlit gardens filled with magic, the children must use all their courage and ingenuity to control the magic and solve the mystery surrounding the Enchanted Castle. "The popular British author's adventures of childhood have always been good read-aloud choices; the audiobook format superbly showcases them."-AudioFile

Edith Nesbit (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

Five Children and It

Curious to see if people on the other side of the globe walk upside down, Robert, Anthea, Cyril, Jane, and their baby brother start digging a hole to Australia. They don't get too far, however, before they dig up a furry brown creature with bat's ears. It is a Psammead, an ancient Sand-fairy. The Sammyadd, as the children call it, grumpily tells them that he is obliged to grant their wishes, because making people's wishes come true is what Sand-fairies do. However, there is one catch: the wishes come undone at sunset. No matter how carefully the children plan, their wishes keep backfiring, and they realize that you have to be careful what you wish for'you may get it. '[Nesbit is] the children's writer with whom I most identify.''J. K. Rowling, in O, The Oprah Magazine

Edith Nesbit (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Leper of Saint Giles: The Fifth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

Setting out for the Saint Giles leper colony outside Shrewsbury, Brother Cadfael has more pressing matters on his mind than the grand wedding coming to his abbey. Yet as fate would have it, Cadfael arrives at Saint Giles just as the nuptial party passes the colony's gates. He sees the fragile bride, looking like a prisoner between her two stern guardians, and the bridegroom, an arrogant, fleshy aristocrat old enough to be her grandfather. And he quickly discerns that this union may be more damned than blessed. Indeed, a savage murder will interrupt the May-December marriage and leave Brother Cadfael with a dark, terrible mystery to solve. The key to the killing-and a secret-is hidden among the lepers of Saint Giles. Now, Brother Cadfael's skills must ferret out a sickness not of the body, but of a twisted soul. "Successful and gripping...Once again Ellis Peters has combined a proper, carefully plotted detective story with a carefully detailed, convincing evocation of medieval life."-Times Literary Supplement (London)

Ellis Peters (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

St. Peter's Fair: The Fourth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

"In the summer of 1139, there is a pause in the civil war racking the country, and St. Peter's Fair promises to bring some much-needed gaiety to Shrewsbury-that is, until the dead body of a wealthy merchant is found in the river Severn. Was Thomas of Bristol the victim of murderous thieves? If so, why were his valuables abandoned nearby? Brother Cadfael, that shrewd but kindly monk, offers to help the merchant's lovely niece, Emma. But as he searches for the killer, Thomas of Bristol's wares are ransacked and two more men are murdered. Emma almost certainly knows more than she is telling, and others will soon discover this, too. Cadfael desperately races to save the young girl, knowing that in a country at war with itself, betrayal can come from any direction-and even good intentions can kill. " "Stylishly authentic....a graceful and informative case for Peters' engaging, herb-gardening monk."-Kirkus Reviews

Ellis Peters (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Secret Garden

Mary Lennox, a spoiled, ill-tempered, and unhealthy child, comes to live with her reclusive uncle in Misselthwaite Manor after the death of her parents. There she meets a hearty housekeeper and her spirited brother, a dour gardener, a cheerful robin, and her willful, hysterical, and sickly cousin, Master Colin. With the help of the robin, Mary finds the door to a secret garden, neglected and hidden for years. When she decides to restore the garden in secret, the story becomes a charming journey into the places of the heart, where faith restores health, flowers refresh the spirit, and the magic of the garden, coming to life anew, brings health to Colin; and to Mary, happiness. "It will rapt most children away, for after fifty years its spell is still as strong; a blend of power, beauty, vivid interest and honest goodness. Yes, if this is magic, it is good magic."-"-New York Times Book Review

Frances Hodgson Burnett (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

How to Be a Billionaire

How to Be a Billionaire is the first comprehensive picture of the real strategies and tactics that built the great business fortunes of modern times. Packed with engaging accounts of titans like Ross Perot, Richard Branson, and Phil Anschutz, it will show you principles that can increase your wealth and business acumen to the mogul level. Martin Fridson looks at the careers, the methods, and the minds of self-made billionaires to distill the common keys to titanic accumulation of wealth. He identifies the methods, beliefs, and behaviors every businessperson must understand and emulate to reach the pinnacle of riches. How to Be a Billionaire is a manual for success that every aspiring tycoon will benefit from.

Martin S. Fridson (Author), Johanna Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Johanna Ward