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.
Caring / Compassion
Once Upon a Fairytale
Beloved storyteller Jim Weiss weaves an enchanting spell with four classic tales of magic, bravery, and kindness.
Aesop’s Fables
Master storyteller Jim Weiss brings these classic stories to a new generation. From the greedy dog to the hardworking ants, from a contest between sun and wind to a boy who cried wolf, each tale will entertain the whole family while also teaching a gentle lesson about wise living.
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.
Jim Weiss Presents: New Stories from New Friends
Acclaimed storyteller Jim Weiss is joined by three talented new voices for a spellbinding new audio collection. All four stories reflect an ongoing theme of friendship and character.
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.
The Dragon Diaries
Thrill to dragon stories from around the world and throughout the centuries, spun by Master Storyteller Jim Weiss. From misty Scottish lochs to the sea-caves of Japan, and from the steppes of Russia to the Gold Coast of Africa, these seven stories span more than five thousand years of human fascination with dragons. Jim Weiss adapts folk tales and myths of helpful dragons, ferocious dragons, greedy dragons, and clever dragons–and the men and women who encounter them. You’ll be amazed as you range from one of the oldest surviving written tales in human literature, reflecting the never ending allure of dragons, to Jim’s own spellbinding tale, set in Scotland and compounded from archetypal tales from multiple lands. Your family will love this exhilarating ride on the wings of dragons!
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.
My Father’s Dragon
Master storyteller Jim Weiss brings Ruth Gannett’s Newbery Honor-winning classic to rollicking life in this new, unabridged audio adaptation. Hang on to your hat as Jim gives voice to 28 different characters, including a whole menagerie of animals, in 54 minutes!
Young Elmer Elevator must use all his resourcefulness and cleverness (along with a little bit of chewing gum) to survive a journey to the mysterious Wild Island, where he aims to rescue an enslaved dragon. Jim Weiss’s endless variety of voices depict the crocodiles, warthogs, tigers, monkeys, and other colorful creatures whom Elmer meets along the way.
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.”
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Prison escapes! Secret identities! Hidden treasure! And a quest for justice. Jim Weiss brings you this thrilling adaptation of the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas.
The Reluctant Dragon
Can a brave knight, a misunderstood dragon, and a clever boy find a way to win a fight without actually fighting? Enjoy Jim Weiss’ new unabridged audio performance of this beloved story by Kenneth Grahame (author of The Wind in the Willows) that includes a brand-new song, “The Waltz of the Dragon.”
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.
Fairytale Favorites in Story & Song
The Three Musketeers / Robin Hood
Violence is downplayed and the characters in the two swashbuckling stories are portrayed as humans with thoughts and feelings.
She & He: Adventures in Mythology
Upbeat and exciting yet deeply moving, this unique collection of myths addresses the equality of the sexes and the value of love and honor.
Best Loved Stories in Song & Dance
Enchanting favorite tales, plus delightful songs to dance to and sing along with.
Arabian Nights
Transports the listener to the magical world of the Arabian Nights.
Greek Myths
Makes Hercules, King Midas, and Perseus and Medusa understandable to children, with strong emphasis on character over violence.
Rip Van Winkle / Gulliver’s Travels
Three classics in one! The sly humor of Rip Van Winkle, Gulliver’s adventures among the tiny Lilliputians, and the wisdom of a Jewish folk tale.
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.
A Christmas Carol and Other Favorites
Dickens’ beloved story of miserly Scrooge, ghostly visitors and human compassion. The 0. Henry and Bret Harte masterpieces make holiday literature year-round favorites on this masterful recording.
Famously Funny: A Collection of Beloved Stories and Poems
Prepare to laugh out loud! Jim Weiss has mixed together some of the funniest stories and poems from the world’s wittiest authors for a recording that will delight the entire family.
American Tall Tales
These uproarious American folk stories will have you laughing out loud and pondering.
Uncle Wiggly’s Storybook
These charming modern classics offer gentle lessons amid laughter as the clever, courteous rabbit ingeniously helps his animal and human friends.
First Stories to Last a Lifetime
A lush bouquet of stories for young listeners! Experience Jim’s hilarious tellings of The Gingerbread Man, The Three Little Pigs and the African folk tale Why Flies Buzz, each with a multitude of character voices, and many more. Blooming with warmth, wit and color, this bouquet will provide your whole family with favorites to last a lifetime.