Princess Naomi Helps a Unicorn

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the concept of a *dance-along audiobook* at first. But *Princess Naomi* won me over by committing fully to its weird, wonderful premise. The story starts with a bang—Naomi’s sibling rivalry feels authentically childlike, not sanitized—and Smolinski’s narration sells it. She doesn’t just *read* Naomi’s huffing and eye-rolling; she *embodies* it, making the princess’s emotional U-turn from fury to focus feel earned. The unicorn’s voice, by contrast, is soft and melodic, a smart contrast that keeps the characters distinct. Where the audiobook stumbles slightly is in balancing its dual goals. The dance instructions (e.g., “Now tiptoe like a fairy!”) are clear and fun, but they sometimes disrupt the narrative flow. A kid deep in the story might resist pausing to act out a “rainbow leap,” and the transitions between plot and movement cues can feel clumsy. That said, the production quality is polished—no tinny music or awkward silences—and the background score swells at just the right moments. For parents desperate to burn off a child’s energy without screens, this is a godsend. For kids who love unicorns *and* drama, Naomi’s mix of sass and heart makes her a standout heroine. Just be ready to clear some space for impromptu living-room choreography.