Showing results by narrator "Kevin R. Free" in All Categories

When a little click beetle falls onto his back, he seeks the help of a wise old click beetle. "Look at me," says the more experienced click beetle, giving a loud click and flipping onto its feet. But try as he might, the clumsy little click beetle just can't get the hang of it - or can he? In the tradition of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Carle creates a winning story of perseverance and pride in achievement as the valiant little beetle clicks and somersaults into your heart.

The stories of politicos and historic events are often turned into snooze-worthy lectures that even Benjamin Franklin would reject. This guide cuts out all the boring details and instead provides you with a thrilling lesson in U.S. history. From Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence to Barack H. Obama and the Great Recession, every second takes you on an unforgettable journey through the moments that completely changed this country. You'll also uncover hundreds of entertaining historical facts and stories that you won't be able to find anywhere else.

Damballah, Hiding Place, and Sent for You Yesterday provide a stunning introduction to the uncompromising work of John Edgar Wideman, whose literary achievements have inspired The New York Times to name him “one of America’s premier writers of fiction”. Damballah’s narratives examine the vexed history of Homewood, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, neighborhood whose origins are rooted in a time when slavery was still legal in the United States of America.

King and Kayla are going to a sleepover at Jillian and Thor’s house. They usually sleep downstairs, but not this time. Jillian says there’s a ghost down there!

Food & Wine editor Ray Isle does for wine what Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma did for food—showing listeners how to choose more delicious, interesting, and environmentally friendly wines without breaking the bank.

Calvin knows how to pass for white. He's done it plenty of times before. For his friends in Chicago, when they wanted food but weren't allowed in a restaurant. For work, when he and his dad would travel for the Green Book. This is different. After a tragedy in Chicago forces the family to flee, they resettle in an idyllic all-white suburban town in search of a better life. Calvin's father wants everyone to embrace their new white lifestyles, but it's easier said than done.

Since its publication in 1982, The Color Purple has resonated with generations of readers across the globe. The novel catapulted author Alice Walker to international fame, brought Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg acting acclaim in the 1985 film adaptation, and inspired theatrical productions around the world, including the Tony Award–winning Broadway musical. This cultural touchstone—which so profoundly touches on race, family, survival, spirituality, sisterhood, and love in all forms—continues to beget new iterations, most recently a feature film.

Multiple times a day, in cities across the US and beyond, a simple yet powerful message is repeated by the well-meaning, the ignorant, and the bigoted: “don’t go”—avoid at all costs those Black and Brown disinvested neighborhoods that have become bywords for social disorder and urban decay. This book is a collection of intimate stories that uncover the hidden influence of both subtle and overt “don’t go” messages and the segregation they perpetuate in Chicago.

It's a sunny day on the farm with The Very Hungry Caterpillar! Who will he meet? From horses near the big red barn to little ducklings in a pond, discover new farmyard friends in this barnyard adventure with The Hungry Caterpillar.

Spend a day at the beach with The Very Hungry Caterpillar!

Spend a day in the snow with The Very Hungry Caterpillar!

It's a busy day at school with The Very Hungry Caterpillar! From greeting the teacher to reading a book, get ready to celebrate learning with The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

In The Art of Good Deeds, leaders in the world of philanthropy share personal stories and real-life experiences of the impact of good deeds—not large donations to charity or grand gestures, but simple and practical acts of kindness. This insightful collection of narratives encourages deeper understanding of both financial and social giving through real-life people making philanthropy and good deeds part of their everyday life. A welcome donor-recognition gift for not-for-profits, crowdfunding campaigns, and others you want to either inspire or thank—or both!

On April 29, 1992, following the acquittal of four police officers charged with the beating and arrest of Rodney King and the earlier killing of teenager Latasha Harlins, the city of Los Angeles erupted in violence. Many of these events were centered on the city’s Koreatown, where tensions between the Black and Korean American communities had simmered for years, fueled by economic challenges and redlining and enflamed by sensationalized and racist media.

After growing up in the care of his nagging grandmother and coasting through school with a mediocre GPA, Keeper Chance gets invited to try out for a spot in his local chapter of EVIL. Keeper’s not sure his unremarkable life makes him villain material, but things get more remarkable, and fast, when Keeper and another new recruit, Toby, face the chapter’s first test—and disasters begin to snowball.

In Speaking of America, the meaning and historical impact of quotes from the first forty-five American presidents are illuminated with wit and warmth. Full of fascinating facts that take listeners behind the scenes of American history, this captivating nonfiction book shows how US presidents have used their words to encourage, explain, assert, and defend—while equipping future leaders with the knowledge that they too have the power to change the world.

Claude McKay’s first novel, Home to Harlem, was published in 1928 during the height of the Harlem Renaissance. McKay portrays Harlem post-WWI through two Black migrants to New York: Jake, a Southern-born African American longshoreman who deserts the U.S. army and returns to his home in Harlem; and Ray, an educated Haitian immigrant. With his innovative use of Black dialects, McKay portrays a complex world of Black people, both native-born and immigrant, who navigate a dynamic society in the midst of radical change.

When Miles and his classmates welcome a few frogs as class pets, it's a reminder that what he really wants more than anything is a dog to call his own. But his parents don't think he's ready, and his attempts to show them that he truly can care for critters all end in disaster. Can Miles pull it together and prove that he's responsible enough for a pet once and for all?