Enthusiasm

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.

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.

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.”

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.

I Said I Could and I Did: True Stories of 20th Century Americans

In this inspiring collection of true stories of 20th Century Americans whose gifts transformed the world you will meet six remarkable Americans. These stories will have you shaking your head in wonder at the vast (and vastly entertaining) variety of ways in which humans can strive for greatness.