AudioFile's Best Audiobooks of 2022

A IS FOR OBOE: THE ORCHESTRA'S ALPHABET by Lera Auerbach, Marilyn Nelson, read by Thomas Quasthoff

Narrator Thomas Quasthoff's voice has a musicality perfectly suited to this rich alphabet book with its own symphonic score. This is a poetic tribute to the orchestra—from the titular oboe, offering its musical “A” at each symphony’s beginning, to musical notation, the conductor, the instruments, and the audience. In concert with the authors' passages, Quasthoff's German-accented baritone moves through alliterative phrases, describing singing piccolos, mournful English horns, and trilling woodwinds. There is simply no better way to experience this book than to hear it.

A DIFFERENT POND by Bao Phi, read by Bao Phi

Music, sound effects, and poet Bao Phi’s soothing voice transport the listener to a boy's early morning fishing trip with his father. The audible smiles in Phi’s tone and the evocative way he says “slimy” bring joy to a story that also describes poverty and xenophobia. For the boy's family, fishing means food on the table, not sport, and his parents work all day, even on Saturday. The father's past in war-torn Vietnam also comes through the edges of the tale. Sweet music helps maintain the glimmer of childlike wonder that overlays the somber elements.

EYES THAT SPEAK TO THE STARS by Joanna Ho, read by Justin Chien

With warmth and sensitivity, Justin Chien presents this tender story about honoring oneself and one’s heritage. A Chinese boy tells his Baba that he is saddened by a friend’s drawing of him with eyes “as lines stretched across his face.” Standing him in front of a mirror, the boy’s Baba explains that his eyes “rise to the skies and speak to the stars.” The boy realizes that his legacy, culture, and deep family ties are represented by his eyes. Chien’s smooth narration and soothing tones showcase the descriptive story and the close relationship between the boy and his family.

HOW DO YOU LIVE? by Genzaburo Yoshino, Bruno Navasky [Trans.], Neil Gaiman [Fore.], read by Brian Nishii

Brian Nishii narrates this uniquely thoughtful audiobook, translated from a 1937 Japanese classic. It is surprisingly relevant today. Fifteen-year-old Copper’s experiences with school friends and bullies alternate with philosophical conversations with his beloved uncle, who also writes essays. Nishii creates a heartfelt Copper, respectful and pleasant in both manner and voice, yet we hear painful remorse and shame when he deserts his own lofty ideals.

THE LAST MAPMAKER by Christina Soontornvat, read by Sura Siu

Sura Siu captivates as she narrates this breathtaking seafaring adventure. Sai is a bright-voiced, bold 12-year-old girl who is hoping to carve a new course for her life and leave her past behind. She’s thrilled when her assistantship to the bristly, demanding mapmaker Paiyoon yields an opportunity to join an expedition charting the Southern seas for the Mangkon kingdom. Sai soon hears rumors of a secret, dangerous plan to divert their course to find the Sunderlands, a fabled continent guarded by dragons.

WINNIE-THE-POOH by A.A. Milne, read by Barbara Rosenblat

Children of all ages love the classic and iconic character Winnie-the-Pooh in many forms, and here is a fully engaging audiobook. Beautifully narrated by Barbara Rosenblat, this collection of short stories will linger in the hearts and minds of all listeners. She masterfully delights in and embodies wonder, innocence, and imagination. Rosenblat’s tender performance is paced perfectly for young children as they sit cross-legged on the floor or curl up next to their loved ones at bedtime.