The Cupertino Courier

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Photograph by Cera Renault

Jack Harris, dressed at professor Dumbledore, calls on children to answer trivia questions based on the Harry Potter books during a book release party at All Ears Audio Books.

Hear ye! Hear ye! Audio books increase reading skills

By Erin Hussey

For the past several weeks, the world has been abuzz with release of the seventh and final installment of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.

What some muggles might not know, however, is that an unabridged audio version also exists.

"The Harry Potter books are really the pinnacle of the art," says Julie Moncton, a Cupertino resident and co-owner of All Ears Audiobooks located in El Paseo de Saratoga center.

All seven of the Harry Potter books have been narrated by Jim Dale, a veteran Broadway actor who holds the record for creating the most voices in an audiobook. His achievement is recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records.

But the world of audiobooks spans much more than the magical tales of witches and wizards.

In fact, Moncton and her co-owners, Ann Wong and Lilly Shoemaker, have more than 5,000 rental and for sale audiobook recommendations to prove it.

"It's such a pampering experience to be read to," says Moncton. "As children we love it, but what people don't realize is that they can still have that same experience as adults.'

Wong first opened All Ears Audiobooks in 2002. As a sales person working in the high-tech industry, she was either in the car or on an airplane.

"I was always listening to business books," says Wong. "I used to buy them and it started to get costly so I started looking into renting them, but there was nothing in the area."

After close to three years of research, Wong opened All Ears, which not only sold audiobooks but, more importantly, offered rental options.

Five years later, the company is still the one of the few, if not the only, store in the Bay Area to do so.

"We have a full range of customers," says Wong. "Our most common are commuters."

Joe Collonge of Los Gatos, who commutes to Aptos for work, loves to read and has been coming to All Ears for several years.

"I'm on the road for 45 minutes twice a day. They keep me from being more crazy than I normally am."

Besides the commuter customers, sight-impaired individuals, non-native English speakers, children, seniors, runners and those who simply love books frequent All Ears.

"Audiobooks are perfect for anything where you might be doing something with your hands and your ears are free," says Shoemaker, a Saratoga resident. Shoemaker, who was one of Wong's first customers, became a partner less than a year after the store opened.

Unlike the audiobooks one might find for sale in franchise bookstores, All Ears offers mainly unabridged versions as well as copies of the actual written book.

"Whenever possible and especially for the children's section, you will find a book along with the audio at no additional cost," says Shoemaker.

Some researchers now believe that listening to audiobooks helps reading fluency, expands vocabulary and increases comprehension.

"It's really good for kids to read and listen at the same time," says Jean Collonge, who is a recently retired children's librarian.

"It means that they can read above their natural vocabulary level; they call it 'listening up.' "

Moncton also notes that this multisensory method of reading helps teach children to love reading.

"The goal is not just to teach them the mechanics of reading but a love of reading forever," she says. "It helps make the books come to life."

In addition to the grade school children that come in with their parents, a number of high school students come into rent Shakespearean plays or complex literature such as War and Peace or Wuthering Heights to help them connect better with the pieces.

With nearly 40 new audiobooks coming in each week, All Ears is looking to expand to other locations. Next month it will start a bookmobile service for Lockheed employees in Sunnyvale.

Whatever one's interest in audiobooks, Wong, Moncton and Shoemaker strive to welcome all their customers like family.

"We really become involved in our customers' lives," says Moncton. It is not uncommon for customers to receive a personal phone call or e-mail with specific suggestions.

"What people really love about our store is that they can come in and talk books," adds Shoemaker. "We will broaden their listening."

For more information and rental rates at All Ears Audiobooks, visit www.allearsaudibooks.com or call 408.370.7003. Most books are available in cassette, CD or MP3 format.