- Who is it for?
- Ages 10–14
- How long is it?
- 31 min
- What does it include?
- Synced read-along and a quiz
- What does it cost?
- Premium access in Emma's Library
About this audiobook
In a small Dutch village, young Hans Brinker and his sister Gretel dream of entering the great skating race on the frozen canals to win the silver skates, but they are too poor to afford proper steel blades. Their family has lived in deep poverty for ten years, ever since their father, Raff, suffered a debilitating brain injury falling from a dike, leaving him mute and prone to fits. Hans encounters the famous surgeon Dr. Boekman and begs him to treat his father. Although Dr. Boekman is gruff and grieving his own lost son, Hans's devotion moves him to perform a risky brain surgery. The operation is a success; Raff regains his memory and reveals the location of the family's hidden savings and a valuable watch. With their father cured and their fortune restored, the siblings enter the race. Hans selflessly gives up his chance to win by helping his friend Peter repair his skate, but Gretel skates brilliantly and wins the girls' silver skates. Dr. Boekman discovers that the watch Raff held belonged to his long-lost son, leading to a joyful reunion and a bright future for the Brinkers.
Why it's worth a listen
Journey to the frozen canals of nineteenth-century Holland, where the impoverished Brinker siblings dream of competing for a pair of coveted silver skates. Their aspirations are overshadowed by their father's severe brain injury, which has left their family destitute and desperate for a medical miracle. This heartwarming tale weaves a rich tapestry of cultural pride, sibling devotion, and the unexpected rewards of selflessness.
What listeners will learn
Subjects: literature, storytelling, historical imagination.
- character
- setting
- conflict
- choice
- consequence
- theme
- retelling
- hans
- brinker
- silver
Questions for after listening
- Retell the central conflict in order.
- Name one important choice and what happened because of it.
- How did the setting or tradition shape the story?
A question to keep
Is true nobility measured by the sacrifices we make for our family, or by the personal excellence we achieve in competition?
Chapters
- The Wooden Blades on the Canal
- The Shadow in the Cottage
- The Great Surgeon of Amsterdam
- The Awakening of Raff Brinker
- The Race on the Frozen Ribbon
- A Question to Keep
Editorial review
Quality reviewed · 96/100 on . Certificate EL-88CF-25C5 is bound to the exact narrated script.
The review checks factual care, audience fit, teaching quality, structure, tone and source honesty. Read the editorial standards.
Published 2026-07-13 · Updated
