Ordinary Days is short—just under eight minutes—but in that small space, it manages to feel rich, grounded, and quietly radiant. Written and narrated by Angela Joy, this audiobook offers a poetic glimpse into the childhood of Prince, not as a superstar, but as a sensitive, observant boy growing up in Minneapolis. Joy’s narration has a gentle, almost lullaby-like cadence, drawing you into the rhythms of ordinary life—a creaking floorboard, a lilac bush, the sound of music rising through conflict.

The strength of this piece lies in its restraint. Joy doesn't try to cover Prince’s whole life, nor does she over-explain. She zooms in on one ordinary day and lets it speak. The language is evocative without being overworked, and the subtle ambient sounds—birds, distant traffic, city weather—give the story a textured, sensory feel without overwhelming the narrative.

That said, the brevity may leave some listeners wanting more. It’s not a biography and doesn’t aim to be. There’s no dramatic arc, no punchy factoids or childhood anecdotes for superfans to dissect. Instead, it’s mood over information, impression over detail. For what it is—a meditative, lyrical snapshot—it works beautifully.

Ordinary Days is best approached like a poem or a vignette: something to sit with, not race through. It’s ideal for a reflective moment, or to share with younger listeners who may not know much about Prince but understand what it means to feel out of place, or to find refuge in sound. Quiet, elegant, and emotionally resonant, this audiobook is a lovely little offering—and one that stays with you longer than its runtime suggests.

My first impression listening to this audiobook is that Angela Joy's voice is very soothing to listen to.
I also really love the music and ambient city noises behind the narration. It makes the listening experience really dynamic.

This was such an interesting take on a biographical story. It's so lyrically written and, while short, the audiobook creates a vignette of what a young Prince may have heard around him on an ordinary day.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the audioARC. All opinions are my own.

Author-read audiobooks seem to always fall to either end of the extreme, and this audiobook is phenomenal. Although I would LOVE to see the illustrations accompanying this excellent biography, the soundscape is gorgeous.

The writing is lyrical and has sound effects to enhance the storyline.

I want to add the picture book to my library and wish I had a better way to distribute audiobooks.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the audioARC. All opinions are my own.

Ordinary Days tells the tale of the boy who would become known as the music sensation Prince. This book takes you on the journey through the streets of Minneapolis with the young Prince where there is always a song in his thoughts.

This was a very short book, describing the area Prince Rpgers Nelson grew up in. The narrator of this book was reallygood. I like the tone of her voice and the way she handed the story.. I loved that you also were introduced to his family, as they are important in his musical development. I really liked this book and do recommend it to any child that is interested in Prince or considering a musical career in Minnesota, which is a great place for music.

The lyrical language of this book lends itself well to reading aloud. It is less of a biography and more of an introduction to Prince.

I listened to the audiobook read by the author, who did a nice job.
It is a love letter biography to Prince and was fund to listen to, the rhyming and rhythmic picture book did not give details of Prince's life as an adult, the success of his music, or how he died but more about him as a young person which make sense since it is a picture book. I think it would have been fun to read it as a picture book and would like to take a look at it. I think it could be a good edition for kids to listen to but I think would be best as an add-on or extra for the picture book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc audio copy.

This was such a fun audiobook! It was the first time I've ever experienced a children's audiobook, and I loved it. The sound production, the background music and ambient noises added so much to the story. The written pieces of the story felt almost like prose set against the background, it was lovely. What a cool look into Prince's cultural upbringing!

This was a really interesting presentation. Where does a legend like Prince come from? With background music and fun, fast words, it's like an experience of the place that grew Prince. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook, which has a fantastic, friendly-sounding narrator. I think the best experience would be to have the audio and print versions

Thank you to Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners and to NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook.

This book was cute but really short. I thought it was well done and I liked the narrator.

What a wonderful way for young listeners to learn about a legend. It was lyrical and and picturesque. I think all those Littles who love music should listen to this. It teaches them to follow their dreams.

♡ 𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ♡
5 🌟
•children nonfiction
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Highly recommend.
The audiobook is phenomenal. It definitely gives you the graphic audio vibes, and I mean what child wouldn't enjoy that type of auidobook that will keep their attention.
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♤ 𝚁𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 July.30 ♤
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Thank you, Netgalley, and MacmillanAudio for the (ALC)-Audiobook for my honest review.