Celebrating One Of My Favorite Narrator

Celebrating Black Audiobook Narrators: Joniece Abbott-Pratt

As Black History Month comes to an end, I want to highlight one of my favorite Black audiobook narrators. If you’re like me and love to escape into a good book—especially after a long day—then you know how important a great narrator is. Audiobooks are my go-to, and Joniece Abbott-Pratt is one of the best voices in the industry.

An AudioFile award-winning narrator, Abbott-Pratt has brought countless stories to life. You may recognize her voice from The Davenports series by Krystal Marquis, The Amen Corner by James Baldwin, or Legendborn and Bloodmarkedby Tracy Deonn. But her talents don’t stop there—she’s also narrated children’s books like Onward by Suzanne Francis and The Garbage Pail Kids series by R.L. Stine.

With a background in theater and acting, Abbott-Pratt has mastered the art of storytelling, captivating audiences on stage, in film, and through her narrations. Of course, you can Google her extensive résumé, but I want to focus on why I personally love her work.

For me, a great narrator grabs my attention from the very first pages—and Abbott-Pratt does exactly that. She has a unique ability to make every character feel alive, immersing listeners in the world of the story. When I hear her narrate, it feels like a sister is telling me a story—warm, engaging, and full of emotion. She reminds me of Cree Summer, whose voice I adored growing up. When I listen to Joniece, I can actually see the story in my head. She paints the narrative with her skilled acting and voice work, bringing romance and soul into her narrations.

I believe The Davenports series showcases her range, demonstrating how she seamlessly transitions from soft to hard tones, from masculine to feminine voices. The Davenports was my absolute favorite from her, and she truly transported me back in time with that story. As someone who loves the arts and theater, I realize that audiobook narration is a creative form of acting and a fantastic alternative when movies and TV no longer feel entertaining. A narrator can make or break a book, and Joniece never disappoints which is why she is my favorite so far.

Joniece has a gift for storytelling, and I can’t wait to hear more from her in the future. Maybe one day she’ll even release a project of her own! In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you who is your favorite audiobook narrator?