Showing results by narrator "Richard Stibbard" in All Categories

Small in size… but full of pride. In The Darning Needle, Hans Christian Andersen crafts a clever and subtly humorous tale about a needle who believes itself far more important than it truly is. As the needle moves through the world, its vanity and self-importance lead to a series of ironic and...

In one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most brilliant detective tales, C. Auguste Dupin faces a crime that is as much about intellect as it is about cunning. When a highly sensitive letter is stolen from the royal apartments by a shrewd and unscrupulous minister, the police search tirelessly—yet fail to find it. Called upon for help, Dupin applies his unparalleled powers of observation and deduction, proving that the best hiding place may be in plain sight.

When John Openshaw receives a mysterious envelope containing five dried orange pips, he fears he has inherited more than his family estate. His uncle and father both received the same warning… and both died under sudden, unexplained circumstances soon after. Now the threat has come for him.

Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson, narrated by Richard Stibbard, is a foundational work of transcendentalist philosophy that explores the profound connection between humanity and the natural world. In this timeless essay, Emerson encourages readers to look beyond the superficial and appreciate the deeper spiritual and philosophical lessons that nature offers. By finding unity and harmony with nature, Emerson suggests, individuals can achieve greater self-awareness, insight, and enlightenment.

On the banks of the great Wagai River, curious Taffy and her patient father Tegumai begin a game: turning everyday noises—ah, sh, ya, yo—into simple drawings scratched on bark. What starts as a private amusement slowly becomes something far greater. Through shared discovery, gentle humor, and careful observation, pictures begin to stand for sounds, sounds for words, and words for meaning carried across distance and time.

On the banks of the turbid Amazon, long before animals were quite what they are today, a prickly Hedgehog, a solid Tortoise, and a very puzzled Painted Jaguar collide in a battle of wits rather than claws. What begins as a night of confusion and clever wordplay becomes a tale of adaptation, cooperation, and surprise—one that explains how two unlikely creatures became something entirely new.

When a proud beetle takes offense at the Emperor’s horse receiving golden shoes, he sets off into the world convinced that he, too, deserves recognition, luxury, and admiration. What follows is a series of encounters—comic, frustrating, and revealing—in which the beetle repeatedly misunderstands the world around him, mistaking misfortune for persecution and coincidence for destiny.

A simple kitchen mishap sends three unlikely companions into the world together: a straw spared from the fire, a coal that leapt from the hearth, and a lone bean that escaped the pot. Each has survived by chance, and each believes fortune has finally turned in their favor.

In the High and Far-Off Times, before elephants had trunks, there lived an Elephant’s Child who was full of satiable curtiosity. He asked questions about everything—questions that earned him more than his share of spankings, but never dulled his desire to know more about the world.

When an aging donkey is cast aside by his master, he decides to seek a new life as a musician in the great city. Along the road, he is joined by a weary dog, a clever cat, and a proud rooster—each fleeing a similar fate. Though none are young or strong anymore, together they form an unexpected fellowship bound by hope and determination.

Beyond just a paranormal guide, Haunted Golf Courses is a homage to the beautiful game of golf itself. If you're a golf lover, this book offers a new lens to view and appreciate the courses you love. For the non-golfers too, this book promises a thrilling journey into social history, human stories, and communities that have grown around these golf courses.

Ella Evie becomes friends with Mr. Snowflake, and her adventure begins! A beautiful and enchanting story for any child.

You will discover the story of Marshall Mouse and the adventure he goes on after deciding to go shopping at Parker Pigeon's store before making his lunch.

Tristan learns how to overcome her fears of trying new things and becoming brave. This story teaches your child that they are not expected to be good at something they try for the first time. And in fact, becoming good at something new usually involves making lots of mistakes, getting lots of help, and working really hard.

In book two, Jinx Valentine is reunited with her Humpty Dooish friends. The children are holidaying at the prized swimming spot, Coolabah Gully, and babysitting Mona the elephant at the same time. Their holiday is upset when Mona starts trespassing, stealing people's rubbish, and swimming 'til all hours. When Mona follows a roaming pony into the bush, the children run after her. Navigating the bush without supplies or guidance puts them to the test. But the real drama is lurking back at the Gully, or rather, under it. What unfolds will change the children forever.

Humpty Doo…the enchanted city on rails where nature has the upper hand and nothing stands still, not even the buildings. A place where toys are part of the population, storytellers can be summoned to amuse you, and flying jelly babies guide you through the ever-changing streets. When the heart of the city, the Imperial Carousel, is damaged, Humpty Doo grinds to a halt and nature starts to take over. Can Jinx and her new Humpty Dooish friends restore the Carousel before the bush rises up and consumes them?

In this clever and gently mischievous origin story, Kipling introduces listeners to a greedy Whale, a resourceful mariner armed with nothing but a raft, a cooking-stove, and a truly clever plan, and the beginning of a rule that all whales have followed ever since.

When pawnbroker Jabez Wilson, with his fiery red hair, joins an exclusive “league” offering generous pay for copying out encyclopedias, the opportunity seems too good to be true. But when the League suddenly vanishes without explanation, Wilson turns to Holmes and Watson for help. What begins as a bizarre curiosity soon unravels into a clever scheme with much higher stakes lurking beneath the streets of London.

Set in a quiet English village during the 19th century, The Bonfire by Francis E. Paget is a heartfelt Victorian moral tale that weaves tradition, community, and repentance into one deeply moving narrative. When a group of young boys mistreats the reclusive Jasper Crabbe and accidentally sets off a fire during the annual Guy Fawkes Night celebration, the resulting blaze destroys the winter hay supply of a poor widow, Dinah Marjoram.

In The Crystal Egg, H.G. Wells delivers a chilling, contemplative tale of obsession and cosmic mystery. When Mr. Cave, a reclusive and mistreated shopkeeper, discovers that a strange crystal egg in his possession reveals visions of an alien world, he becomes consumed by the silent vistas of Mars—and the winged beings who may be watching us in return.