Can We Hear It Again?
Nov 14, 2006
Author: Ruth E. M. Tennis
“Can we hear it again . . . , please?” This is a common question from our children who love books and love to be read to. This time, however, they wanted to hear another audio book. We had just downloaded Edith Nesbit’s poignant story, The Railway Children from Homeschoolestore.com. This innovative company has recently added over 330 Naxos audio book titles to their repertoire of downloadable files. Our family has often used Homeschoolestore’s PDF-format books, so we were delighted to learn their company offered Naxos audio books as well.
Of the many reasons to choose a Naxos title, our family was drawn most by their consistent, outstanding quality. Their audio books have earned world-wide distinction, receiving several best title (“Audie”) and Publisher of the Year awards from the Audio Publishers Associations (APA) in the United States and United Kingdom. Our first download was an unabridged version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. This book proved a fine example of Naxos excellence; the narrator, Anton Lesser, a long-standing Royal Shakespearean and BBC radio actor, thoroughly gripped our attention, making Dickens accessible and enjoyable for even my nine-year-old. We enjoyed this book so much we plan to select one of the six additional Dickens’ novels available.
While some books such as A Christmas Carol are read by single narrators, others, like The Railway Children, are performed by a cast of actors, and all are interlaced with classical music. Many Naxos Junior Classics also add sound effects. A case in point is Ballet Stories, a 2002 APA Audie winner for the 0-7 age listener. The story begins with the crowd talking in hushed anticipation; instrumentalists are tuning and practicing. Soon, the audience excitedly applauds for the conductor. We wait expectantly for the curtain to rise.
Our family feels this same kind of opening-night excitement each time we “open” a Naxos title—no matter the genre. Their fiction list reads like a Who’s Who in Literature: from Sophocles, Homer, Milton, Chaucer, Shakespeare and Austen to Joyce, Hawthorne, Poe, and London. Recognized children’s classics such as The Jungle Book, Pinocchio, and Alice in Wonderland are also abundant. While the bulk of Naxos titles consists of such fiction, the Homeschoolestore site also offers their poetry, drama, mysteries, religious studies, histories, philosophy, and more. Additionally, Naxos also creates original works such as its history series which includes The History of Opera, The History of Classical Music, and The History of Theatre. We selected The History of Classical Music to supplement our school’s music appreciation class. Initially, we were a bit hesitant, thinking a nonfiction audio book might be dry and uninteresting. We found it to be quite the contrary.
Such a wide assortment could make selecting a book unwieldy, but Homeschoolestore simplifies this process. Browse through titles listed by publisher, age range, or subject. Or use the search function to locate a specific title. Homeschoolestore also helps their customers locate that just-right audio book by offering details about age-appropriateness, file size, and, in early 2007, they’ll add audio previews. Most Naxos audio books range from - for the equivalent of 2-4 compact discs (CDs), and since you’re downloading, there are no shipping costs.
After purchasing a Naxos title, obtaining your book is simple. The files are easily downloaded through minimal, straight-forward steps. To begin the process, it is necessary, however, to ensure that your computer allows pop-up windows and has software to open compressed (zip) files. The audio books are in MP3 format, allowing play flexibility. Your family can listen on the computer, on a media player, or burn the files to a CD. If you need assistance, the Homeschoolestore.com Web site offers tutorials and topic-specific forums for Mac or Windows customers. And fear of long downloads need not deter you. Downloading the equivalent of one CD (around 75 MB) took approximately 10 minutes using DSL. Should a problem ever occur, your audio book purchase includes unlimited downloads.
Naxos audio books amplify the beauty and diversity of the written word through superb and affordable audio productions. Whether you are adding to your curriculum or seeking fine literature and family entertainment, Naxos audio books from Homeschoolestore.com will provide rich alternatives for your homeschool family.
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