NEW! A sky full of stars is a magnificent showing of our universe. On such evenings, adults and children marvel at the constellations. The stories on this recordings will open eyes, ears and hearts and make star-watching all the more fascinating and magical.
Idealism
Napoleon and the French Revolution
NEW! Follow the story of the people, ideas, and struggles of the French Revolution and Napoleon’s relentless march of conquest. From the burning desert sands of Egypt and the frozen plains of Russia to the lush jungles of Haiti and the sweeping prairies of North America. Jim Weiss guides listeners through a tumultuous worldwide struggle for liberty.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
New! If your only experience with The Wizard of Oz is the movie, you will be astounded and delighted to find that L. Frank Baum’s book is full of adventures, characters, and charm far beyond the wonder that the big-screen version conveyed.
When a tornado whisks young Dorothy away from Kansas with her faithful dog Toto, she finds herself in the mysterious Land of Oz, where unknown dangers and strange creatures await her. Can she find a way back home? Can her new friends the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man find courage, brains, and a heart? Searching for answers from the mysterious Wizard of Oz, and pursued by the forces of the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy and her companions must work together to complete their dangerous quest.
Jim Weiss’s fresh performance of this American classic introduces a new generation of listeners to the magic, wonder, and adventure of the Land of Oz.
The Adventurous Life of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt boldly led the United States and much of the world into our Modern Age, farsightedly shaping today’s issues a century ago. From the Wild West to the White House, he led a life of non-stop, exhilarating adventures and public service he called “the life of action… striving to do deeds in a worthy cause.” His astonishing life shows how much one determined person can relish life, overcome challenges and benefit society.
The Boxcar Children
At last, one of the most cherished family classics comes to audio in an unabridged reading by acclaimed voice actor Jim Weiss. Jim brings out the unique warmth and cleverness of each beloved character in this best-selling story of four children, recently orphaned, who must run away to remain together, and who find refuge in a deserted railway boxcar in the woods. The friends they make, including a charming stray dog whom they adopt, and the children’s mutual support and ingenuity in turning challenges into surprising triumphs will warm the hearts of every listener. Don’t wait. It’s time to meet The Boxcar Children.
GENIUS, TIMES FOUR: Scientists and Mathematicians Who Fought Diseases, Stopped Time, and Opened New Worlds
Award-winning author and storyteller Jim Weiss sets you right in the middle of the action as Marie Curie and her family triumph over poverty and personal loss to win six Nobel Prizes; as shy Isaac Newton remakes our understanding of the universe and the laws that govern it, then risks his life to destroy a criminal conspiracy that threatens a nation; as Albert Einstein builds the foundations of our modern world and then confronts the results with wisdom and humor; and as Gertrude Elion, Nobel Prize-winning, pioneering biochemist, parlays her joyous love of learning into medical breakthroughs that save thousands of lives and open professional doors for other women.
As dramatic as any great literary classic, and told in Jim Weiss’s warm, accessible style, these stories reveal the personal, professional and societal challenges these geniuses overcame, and shine a light on the nature of genius itself. And as a clear, family-friendly introduction to mathematics and science, listeners will find an inspiring, welcoming world opening up.
Swordsmen, Saints, and Scholars: Great Men & Women of the Middle Ages
When you hear the words “The Middle Ages,” do you picture a knight in armor atop a fiery steed, a stone castle fortified with drawbridge and moat, or an immense cathedral towering above a medieval town? The Middle Ages were all of these and more: a widely diverse cavalcade that lasted for nine or ten centuries, from the fall of Rome to the birth of the Renaissance, and covered many nations.
Bible Stories: Great Men and Women from Noah through Solomon
The Bible brims with stories of people who don’t seem remarkable until God chooses to work through them to further His purposes. His intentions link everyone and everything – which was a startling idea in the chaotic ancient world. A second revelation in these stories was that God cared how human beings behaved toward one another. This enormous, eye-opening change in religion remains one of the greatest gifts ever to enter the world – and one of the most challenging.
Thirty years ago, one of Jim Weiss’ first recordings was “Tales from the Old Testament.” I love the stories and the people in them, but after time and a great deal of thought, Jim says, “I have been led to a new recording-one that I could not have made all those years ago and the result is “Bible Stories: Great Men and Women from Noah to Solomon.” More than ever, I seek the lessons that Bible stories offer us… if we pay attention. Join me in this exploration of stories, some familiar and some new, that form one of the foundations of our world.”
Ten Thousand Stars: A Cornucopia of Best-Loved Poems, Vol. 2
Beloved storyteller Jim Weiss performs “thrilling, engaging poetry for listeners from middle school age through adults. Hear poems by, and learn about he lives of poets from three centuries and three continents.
I, Too, Sing America: Stories and Poems Honoring Black Lives & History
To help students explore African-American history and culture, we have assembled this downloadable audio collection of biographies and folk tales. Jim Weiss tells of Harriet Tubman’s bravery, Satchel Paige’s wisdom, Langston Hughes’s creativity, and more. Included is a downloadable PDF of Susan Wise Bauer’s Teaching Guide on Dunbar’s poem, “Sympathy”, designed to help your students better understand the poet’s work and its place in American history.
Heroes, Horses, and Harvest Moons:A Cornucopia of Best-Loved Poems, Volume I
Classic poems about nature, bravery, love, and the wild journeys of the imagination, all performed by Jim Weiss. MP3 or CD, 70 minutes.
Courage and a Clear Mind: True Adventures of the Ancient Greeks
Jim Weiss narrates thrilling episodes from the history and culture of ancient Greece, including the Olympics, the 300 Spartans, and the wisdom of Socrates.
A Tale of Two Cities
Written by Charles Dickens and told by Jim Weiss, this masterful, historical novel is set in Paris and London during the stormy upheavals of the French Revolution.
Abraham Lincoln and the Heart of America
Laughter, tragedy and astonishing triumphs abound in this storytelling biography of our sixteenth president who used humor, strength and moral clarity to steer a nation and a people through their most trying times.
Thomas Jefferson’s America
Experience the many facets of this remarkable man’s life as you examine his encounters with Washington, Adams, Madison, Franklin, Monroe, Hamilton and Lafayette. A masterly portrait of the founder whose life has come to personify the blessing, and the challenges, of being an American.
Women in Blue or Gray
The passion of the American Civil War comes alive as we look at pairs of remarkable, courageous and dedicated women from both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. These are true, thrilling stories that girls, boys and parents will find exciting and inspiring.
George Washington: First in the Hearts of His Countrymen
Character shapes a nation as Jim Weiss presents the action-filled, moving story of George Washington, a man of remarkable physical strength and equally powerful emotions. By the end, you’ll understand why George Washington truly merits the title “first in the hearts of his countrymen.”
Jewish Holiday Stories
The three astonishing stories on this recording form the basis for three Jewish Holidays: Chanukah, Purim, and Passover.
King Arthur and His Knights
Brings King Arthur and his Knights to life with action and grandeur, at a level which children can really grasp.
Gone West: Bold Adventures of American Explorers and Pioneers
A new nation that would stretch from ocean to ocean: this was the dream. Follow it into reality, from Jefferson and Monroe arranging the Louisiana Purchase through the bold explorations of Lewis & Clark, and Sacagawea.