Regular price: $27.95

Membership details Membership details
  • A 30-day trial plus your first audiobook, free.
  • 1 credit/month after trial – good for any book, any price.
  • Easy exchanges – swap any book you don’t love.
  • Keep your audiobooks, even if you cancel.
  • After your trial, Audible is just $14.95/month.
Buy Now for $27.95
Select or Add a new payment method

Buy Now with 1 Credit

By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Buy Now for $27.95

Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Add to Library for $0.00

By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Editorial Reviews

Life is hard for Hans Brinker and his little sister, Gretel; they are dirt poor and their father is sick. When Hans saves up just a little money, he decides to pay his father's doctor instead of buy those skates he desperately wants. Mary Mapes Dodge's famous story paints a beautiful picture of Dutch life in the 19th century. It also teaches children a valuable lesson on generosity. Listening to John McDonough's performance is like sitting by the fire on a snowy day. His mature, warm voice and carefully placed pauses spark the listener's imagination. With McDonough's help, this fanciful best seller is accessible to a new generation of young people.
Show More Show Less

Publisher's Summary

Can young Hans Brinker win the silver skates that are the only hope of saving his family from ruin? Hans and his little sister Gretel live in Holland, a colorful and exciting country of windmills and great canals. Unfortunately, the Brinkers are very poor and their father is ill, and Hans wonders whether they'll survive the long, harsh winter. Then he finds out about an ice skating race, and the prize - a pair of shiny silver skates - that might help his family survive. But the determined, devoted boy and his sister must overcome several nearly impossible challenges before the race even begins. This heartwarming children's classic provides a fascinating look at 19th century Dutch life, while inspiring millions of young people with its story of hard work, goodness, and family unity.
Public Domain (P)1996 Recorded Books, Inc.
Show More Show Less

People who bought this also bought...

Audible.com Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful
3 out of 5 stars
By Ellen Spertus on 03-13-03

Entertaining except for the digressions

This is an entertaining children's story, interrupted by long digressions on Dutch history and culture. This is one of the few occasions where I would have preferred an abridgement.

Read More Hide me

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

5 out of 5 stars
By Amazon Customer on 12-10-17

fantastic book

this book not only had a classical tell a family and perseverance but had fantastic history of Holland I can't wait to visit the country

Read More Hide me
See all Reviews