Reading a book aloud to a child stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word. Even after a child learns to read by themselves, it's still important for you to read aloud together. Reading aloud to a child is truly the single-most important activity for building understanding and skills essential for reading success that a child will carry with them all throughout their life.

Please enjoy our selection of recorded books that you and your child can listen to and read along with our Mini Tales reading friends, Mazy, Dolly and Boone.  We hope they will inspire your child and cultivate a lifelong love of reading.  Reading is the key for lifelong learning, and if you can instill a love of reading at an early age, then a commitment to lifelong learning is sure to follow. Reading aloud presents books as sources of pleasant, valuable, and exciting experiences. Children who value books are motivated to read on their own, and will likely continue to practice independent reading throughout the rest of their lives.

​Click on the book you wish to listen to, or, read along with us. 
​Be sure to expand to a full screen.

 Susan Lowell writes delightful books about the southwest for kids and adults from her ranch in Tuscon. 
We hope you enjoy these three southwestern versions of stories you may already know. 
All her books are available on Amazon.  THANK YOU to Karen Nabity for buying these books for our Mini Tales library.

Boone wants to know if you are ready for some donkey-fun books?  Ready to BURRO into some great stories?  Hee Haw! 
​We hope you enjoy this delightful series of laugh out loud books from Craig Smith as much as we do.  These books can be purchased through Amazon if you'd like to include them in your reading library.  

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Welcome, little wanderer, to the Karimbo Kingdom! It's a land filled with adventure and imagination. In this story, the grumps start spreading at the royal ball. They get to everyone except for Jester! How will Jester help get rid of the grumpiest grumps the king has ever seen? Join him on his quest to bring back joy.

Omar is the son of my dear friend, Amal.  I watched Omar grow up when I lived and worked in the Middle East.  I couldn't be happier to share his first book with you. 

This book is available on Amazon.com.  

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Adventurous dreamer Dee loves the rodeo and her favorite event is Barrel Racing.  She has been dreaming about her first race with her best friend Hank for as long as she can remember. They have worked hard, practiced and persevered.  But will it be enough?  Is the blue ribbon within their grasp?

This book is perfect for cowboys and cowgirls ages 4-8 and those who are interested in rodeo and equestrian sports like barrel racing.   You can order a copy from Amazon or from her website: whisperinghorsebooks.com    Let the adventure begin!

​Also available is a fabulous companion activity book.  We recommend this for all your young buckaroos!

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Everyone knows the story of the three little pigs, but now you're going to meet the three little javelinas (pronounced ha-ve-LEE-nas)--loveable, wild, southwestern cousins of pigs. Living in homes built out of tumbleweeds and saguaro ribs (from the fallen giant cacti), the first two javelinas are soon running from the hungry coyote, who had hoped to eat them with red chile sauce. And where do they go for shelter? Why, to their wise sister's house, made strong with adobe bricks.

This clever and humorous tale is sure to delight children of all ages, especially those familiar with the Southwest. Dressed in cowboy duds and prepared for life in the rugged desert, these characters are more than any coyote bargained for. 

 Susan Lowell has published more than 15 books for kids and adults.  Her books are available on Amazon.com.  I am sure you'll want to order several for your reading library. 
         For more information visit: https://susanlowell.com 

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​Oscar the Mouse is a joyful story about a mischievous little mouse, who becomes a little girl’s first pet, and the adventures they share. Mimi teaches Oscar the importance of inclusion and acceptance, while Oscar helps Mimi overcome her fear of the Boogeyman. Together they have tons of fun and many laughs.

Sam Baker has had an amazing life and continues to bless the world with his hope of bringing love, joy and imagination of a better world to children and adults. This 98 years young WWII  Marine Corps Veteran has spent his life serving people across the world and now shares his books with early readers. 

To order this book, visit: https://sambakerbooks.com

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​In this quirky tale of friendship and love, you will meet one incredibly charming (and somewhat befuddled) cowgirl and her very best friend, her horse, of course.

There are so many things a cowgirl has to do for her horse. It's hard to keep them all straight! But this cowgirl has what it takes.

Jean Ekman Adams is an award-winning and beloved children's book author and illustrator. She spends the summers in southern Colorado, and the winters in Arizona with a growing family of formerly abandoned animals, including a donkey, a mule, and two rescued dachshunds.

This fun book is available on Amazon.com and a great children's home library addition

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We wish to thank the authors for their kind permission to record these books.  And thank you to our wonderful, supportive friends, Michael Noonan, for lending us his professional recording device. and to Dennis Eckel, for his generous gift photographing each book page and producing these delightful videos.  ​