Audiobooks narrated by Sarah Ovens

A spellbinding new YA fairytale from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Purdie, breathing new life into folklore and myth – with a touch of magic all her own… Once upon a time, villagers would whisper their desires to The Book of Fortunes, and its pages would reveal how to obtain them. All was well until someone used the book for evil. Afterward, the branches of the Forest Grimm snatched the book away and the village withered. The villagers tried to make amends with the forest, but every time someone crossed its border, they never returned. Despite the warning from her fortune-teller grandmother, Clara embarks on the journey into the deadly forest to procure the Book of Fortunes – to reverse the curse and save her mother and village. Clara’s friend Axel puts aside his longing for her to join the journey – the young travellers have set their minds to defying fate and daring to accomplish what no one else has been able to before. Alas, the forest – alive with dark, deadly twists on some of our most well-known fairy tales – has a mind of its own… A dark and sparkling tale of romance, courage and magic. Perfect for fans of Holly Black, Leigh Bardugo and Hannah Kaner

Kathryn Purdie (Author), Sarah Ovens (Narrator)

Audiobook

Stories for 4 Year Olds

A classic collection of tales to tell children of about four, featuring beloved characters and lively stories chosen by children’s book expert, Julia Eccleshare Paddington Bear has a magical moment, the animals of Brambly Hedge are struggling at the dusty mill: Lara’s godmother sorts out a noisy lion and Rapunzel is rescued from the tower… These classic stories are wonderful to share and enjoy with your child at any time of the year, or would make the perfect birthday gift.

Julia Eccleshare (Author), Ben Onwukwe, Rebecca Yeo, Sarah Ovens, Sid Sagar, Thomas Judd (Narrator)

Audiobook

Stories for 5 Year Olds

A classic collection of tales for young readers of about five, featuring beloved characters and lively stories by Michael Bond, Jill Barklem, Elizabeth Laird and others, chosen by children’s book expert, Julia Eccleshare. Paddington Bear tries to buy a birthday present, the animals of Brambly Hedge set off to the seaside; A greedy queen insists on having the biggest tree in the world, but will Cinderella get to go to the ball? These classic stories are wonderful to share and enjoy with your child at any time of the year, or would make the perfect birthday gift.

Julia Eccleshare (Author), Ben Onwukwe, Rebecca Yeo, Sarah Ovens, Sid Sagar, Thomas Judd (Narrator)

Audiobook

Stories for 6 Year Olds

A classic collection of tales for young readers of about six, featuring beloved characters and lively stories by P.L. Travers, Jill Barklem, Michael Morpurgo and others, chosen by children’s book expert, Julia Eccleshare. The Banks family are searching for a nanny; Macaw the parrot helps out at the fish and chip shop and a stonecutter dreams of becoming an emperor… These classic stories are wonderful to share and enjoy with your child at any time of the year, or would make the perfect birthday gift.

Julia Eccleshare (Author), Ben Onwukwe, Rebecca Yeo, Sarah Ovens, Sid Sagar, Thomas Judd (Narrator)

Audiobook

Stories for 7 Year Olds

A classic collection of stories by P.L Travers, Penelope Lively, Michael Morpurgo, Michael Rosen, Alexander McCall Smith and others, specially chosen for young readers of around seven by children’s book expert, Julia Eccleshare. Mary Poppins takes Jane and Michael on a gravity-defying tea party on the ceiling; Meet the boy who rescues a beached dolphin: Can the barber keep the secret of the Rajah’s big ears? These classic stories are wonderful to share and enjoy with your child at any time of the year, or would make the perfect birthday gift.

Julia Eccleshare (Author), Ben Onwukwe, Rebecca Yeo, Sarah Ovens, Sid Sagar, Thomas Judd (Narrator)

Audiobook

Stories for 8 Year Olds

A classic collection of stories by Michael Rosen, Alexander McCall Smith, Michael Morpurgo and others, specially chosen for young readers of around eight by children’s book expert, Julia Eccleshare. Mary Poppins takes Jane and Michael on a topsy-turvy day; a boy watches over a beautiful swan… These classic stories are wonderful to share and enjoy with your child at any time of the year, or would make the perfect birthday gift.

Julia Eccleshare (Author), Ben Onwukwe, Rebecca Yeo, Sarah Ovens, Sid Sagar, Thomas Judd (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Sister Returns

The Sister Returns by Joanna Rees is the third novel in A Stitch in Time – a sweeping historical trilogy. To have a future, she must confront her past . . . It’s 1929 and after running away from her family in Lancashire, becoming a dancer in London and having a riotous time in Paris with her best friend Nancy, would-be fashion designer Vita Casey is now living a much more sedate life in New York with her baby son, far away from her evil brother, Clement, and her nemesis, Edith. When the disastrous events of the Wall Street Crash change their destinies, Vita and Nancy flee to Los Angeles, where Nancy is determined to make it in the talkies. Schmoozing their way into the ranks of the Hollywood elite, Vita is starting to think that she can begin to fulfil her fashion ambitions. But when the love of her life is hired as a writer on Nancy’s new movie and Clement exacts his ultimate revenge, Vita’s past and present collide. She has no choice but to tell the truth and try to reclaim what is rightfully hers before it’s too late.

Joanna Rees (Author), Sarah Ovens (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Art of Loving You

The brand-new emotional and heart-breaking novel from Amelia Henley ‘An ode to finding the meaning in grief, in our life’s purpose, and in deciding to live and love fully, The Art of Loving You broke my heart and then rebuilt it again. Just gorgeous’ Laura Jane Williams, bestselling author of Our Stop ‘A heart achingly beautiful story of love, grief and hope that reflects on the power of love, family and friendship’ Jules Wake, bestselling author of The Spark 'Wistfully uplifting, with a sprinkling of the extraordinary – Libby and Jack’s story is a testament to the power of love and the comfort of hope. I loved it!' Holly Hepburn, author of Coming Home to Brightwater Bay * * * They were so in love . . . And then life changed forever . . . Will they find happiness again? Libby and Jack are the happiest they’ve ever been. Thanks to their dear friend, eighty-year-old Sid, they’ve just bought their first house together, and it's the beginning of the life they've always dreamed of. But the universe has other plans for Libby and Jack and a devastating twist of fate shatters their world. All of a sudden life is looking very different, and unlikely though it seems, might Sid be the one person who can help Libby and Jack move forward when what they loved the most has been lost? The Art of Loving You is a beautiful love story for our times. Romantic and uplifting, it will break your heart and then put it back together again. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Serle,Josie Silver and Sophie Cousens. * * * Readers have fallen in love with The Art of Loving You ‘Wow this book is amazing and 5 stars in my eyes, I absolutely loved this book and would recommend everyone reads this’ NetGalley reviewer, 5* ‘The Art of Loving You is a love story but not as you know it! A story that packs an emotional punch and will leave you breathless’ NetGalley reviewer, 5* ‘A heartbreaking and emotional read. This book will stay with me for a long time’ NetGalley reviewer, 5* ‘A five-star read that will break you, but I promise it will put you back together again. This one blew me away … [and] should come with a packet or two of tissues’ NetGalley reviewer, 5*

Amelia Henley (Author), Sarah Ovens, To Be Announced (Narrator)

Audiobook

BBC Classics Children's Library: A timeless collection of 21 tales for all ages

An irresistible anthology of folklore, fables and perennial favourites, including four novels and 17 short stories This superlative collection of children's stories brings together a feast of fantastic fiction, read in full by a host of top narrators and with a comprehensive track listing for ease of listening. Comprising everything from fairytales for little ones to thrilling adventures for pre-teens, these unabridged readings are ideal for families to keep, treasure and dip into as their children grow. Listed by suggested age range and with track numbers provided, the stories are as follows: Ages 4+ 1-12 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (read by Carolyn Pickles) 13 Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (read by Jonny Holden) 14 The Elves and the Shoemaker by the Brothers Grimm (read by Sam Dale) 15 Too Clever By Half by E Nesbit (read by Helen Capp) 16 Tom Thumb by the Brothers Grimm (read by Shaun Mason) Ages 7+ 17-25 The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (read by Michael Bertenshaw) 26 How the Camel Got His Hump by Rudyard Kipling (read by Kenny Blyth) 27 The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen (read by Shaun Mason) 28 The Raspberry Worm by Zacharias Topelius (read by Debbie Korley) 29 The Tongue Cut Sparrow by Yei Theodora Ozaki (read by Sean Baker) 30 The Elephant's Child by Rudyard Kipling (read by Tony Turner) 31 The Magic Bed by Hartwell James (read by Chris Pavlo) 32 How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin by Rudyard Kipling (read by Tony Turner) 33 The Tortoise and the Rain by MI Ogumefu (read by Kenny Blyth) 34 The Baba Yaga by Katharine Pyle (read by Susan Jameson) Ages 9+ 35-41 The Call of the Wild by Jack London (read by Joseph Ayre) 42 Finn and the Scottish Giant by Harold F Hughes (read by Paul Hickey) 43 The Children's Joke by Louisa May Alcott (read by Catherine Cusack) 44 The Ants and the Treasure by MI Ogumefu (read by Kenny Blyth) 45 The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde (read by Tony Turner) 46-59 The Railway Children by E Nesbit (read by Sarah Ovens) Production credits First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 21 December 2018-1 November 2019 Produced by Simon Richardson (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Tortoise and the Rain, The Elephant's Child, The Ants and the Treasure, How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin, How the Camel Got His Hump, The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Happy Prince), Karen Holden (The Wind in the Willows), Martha Littlehailes (The Call of the Wild), Anne Bunting (The Railway Children), Anne Isger (Too Clever By Half, The Tongue Cut Sparrow, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Children's Joke, Finn and the Scottish Giant) and Mabel Wright (Tom Thumb, The Raspberry Worm, The Magic Bed, The Baba Yaga, Peter Rabbit) The Raspberry Worm edited by Andrew Lang © 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Edith Nesbit, Hans Christian Andersen, Kenneth Grahame, Lewis Carroll, Louisa May Alcott, Oscar Wilde, Rudyard Kipling (Author), Carolyn Pickles, Catherine Cusack, Full Cast, Joseph Ayre, Kenny Blyth, Sam Dale, Sarah Ovens, Shaun Mason, Tony Turner (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst

Esther is a middle child, in her own mind a pale reflection of siblings who are bright, shining stars. Her mother doesn't show the slightest bit of interest, no matter what Esther does. Still, she's content to go back to school, do her best, hang out with her friends, and let others take care of things. But her best friends aren't AT school when she gets there. Why didn't they tell her they wouldn't be coming back? Why were they silent all summer? But stuff like that happens. And it's bad luck that her new teacher makes Esther the butt of all kinds of jokes. Mrs. Pollock is rumored to be an ogre-and maybe she IS one. Could be. Then things go from unfortunate to outright dangerous. The mountains surrounding the school-usually sparkling with glaciers and lakes, alive with Faeries, and sheltering a quaint town with really great bakeries-are now crowded with Shadow Mages, casting a noticeable pall, and clearly-to Esther- signifying something very dark and threatening. As the people she might have depended on to help are either strangely absent or in hiding, it's left to ordinary, middle-child Esther ("just Esther") to act. But she'll have to burst out of the box of mediocrity she's been put in, and do something absolutely extraordinary.

Jaclyn Moriarty (Author), Edward Killingback, Imogen Wilde, Sarah Ovens (Narrator)

Audiobook

Handle with Care

This is the story of 25 year old Rochelle as she nurses her mum through a terminal brain tumour having already lost her dad to pancreatic cancer, aged 14. Based on the author's popular blog, this accessible guide provides a unique in-depth look at the reality of being a young carer. After her mum's initial misdiagnosis of a stroke, Rochelle decides to give up her party-girl lifestyle in Leeds, along with her job in Marketing and lovely flat she shared with her boyfriend, and move 200 miles home to the not-so buzzing metropolis of Ipswich. We follow the timeline of the illness, including finding out her mum's cancer was terminal, becoming a full time carer, splitting up with her boyfriend, being by her mum's side as she passed away, planning her funeral and finding her way again after her mum's death. Prepare for a tear-jerking journey as Rochelle navigates the changing family dynamics with her two young sisters, the financial and emotional pressure of being a full-time carer, and the challenges of rebuilding your life after the loss of a loved one. But it's not all doom and gloom. This heart-warming account is bursting with practical tips and advice to ease the pressure when someone you love is ill, as well as laugh-out-loud moments.

Rochelle Bugg (Author), Sarah Ovens, Unknown (Narrator)

Audiobook

These Lifeless Things

Brought to you by Penguin. Eva is a survivor. She's not sure what she survived, exactly, only that They invaded without warning, killed nearly all of humanity, and relentlessly attack everyone who's left. All she can do to stay sane, in the blockaded city that's no longer home, is keep a journal about her struggle. Fifty years later, Eva's words are found by Emerson, a young anthropologist sent to the ruins to study what happened. The discovery could shed light on the Invasion, turning the unyielding mystery of the short war into a story of hope and defiance. © 2021 Premee Mohamed (P) Penguin Audio and Rebellion Publishing 2021

Premee Mohamed (Author), Amrita Acharia, Sarah Ovens (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Sarah Ovens