Audiobook Week: Mid-Week Meme

This week is Audiobook Week over at Devourer of Books and I’ve been meaning to be more involved all week, but I’m jumping in now! Today’s topic is a fun meme about any recent audiobook listens and finds. Being that I’m a novice when it comes to audiobook listening I think this will be a great way to find a few new narrators to pick up next time I need a new audiobook! So lets get going with the meme!

Current/most recent audiobook:
The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen, Illustrated by Dan Hanna and Narrated by Alexander Gould

Deep in the water,
Mr. Fish swims about
With his fish face stuck
In a permanent pout.
Can his pals cheer him up?
Will his pout ever end?
Is there something he can learn
From an unexpected friend?
Swim along with the pout-pout fish as he discovers that being glum and spreading “dreary wearies” isn’t really his destiny. Bright ocean colors and playful rhyme come together in this fun fish story that’s sure to turn even the poutiest of frowns upside down.

Impressions:
Love it! In fact, my kiddos love it so much that they’ve been listening to it non-stop all week. It’s fun to see them excited to repeat the story over and over. The narration is perfect for a very pouty pouty fish and though I’ve heard it over and over again I’m still not tired of it. Which is a good thing because I’m positive they’ll keep up the listening for some time to come.

Current/most recent favorite audiobook:
Bluefish by Pat Schmatz, Narrated by Luke Daniels and Kate Rudd – I actually just shared my review for this listen today. It was one of those books that you can’t get out of your head and has you thinking for days after you’ve finished. I loved it!

Favorite narrator you’ve discovered recently:
Not really recently, but I’m definitely the co-president of the Nick Podehl fan club. When I first listened to his narration of The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness I was completely hooked. His narration completely blew me away and since then I haven’t been able to find enough books narrated by him. Last year I was able to interview Nick here on the blog and it was fantastic to take a look into what a narrator does to prep and preform an audiobook. Some of his other amazing audiobooks:
Swim the Fly and Beat the Band by Don Calame
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Everlost by Neal Shusterman
After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick
The Secret to Lying by Todd Mitchell

One title from your TBL (to be listened) stack, or your audio wishlist:
This is one I just picked up yesterday and cannot wait to start listening to! I’ve heard amazing things about the story, but I love the idea of listening to it during the day with my kiddos around.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio

I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He’s about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you’ve ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie’s just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

Your audio dream team (what book or author would you LOVE to see paired with a certain narrator, can already exist or not):
I honestly have next to no idea, though I definitely love Jen’s recommendation of Will Wheaton with Ready Player One…that would be amazing! Another one I am hoping will come to fruition is the audiobook version of the third book in the Swim the Fly series by Don Calame, Call the Shots. Nick Podehl is incredible at narrating the hilarious antics of teenage boys up to no good and it would be a shame not to have the third in the series continued. Fingers Crossed!

That’s it! Your turn! Do you have a favorite narrator you’d recommend to this somewhat novice audiobook listener?