1. A method comprises: applying speech recognition by a hand-held device that includes a processor device and memory to an audio recording to generate a text file including as text in the file recognized speech from the audio recording and determine an elapsed time period from a reference time in the audio recording to text in the file of recognized speech; comparing by the hand-held device text of recognized speech to expected text; generating by the hand-held device a timing file that is stored on a computer-readable storage medium, the timing file comprising the elapsed time information for the expected text; rendering on a display device associated with the hand-held device, text; rendering on the display device, a menu that displays graphics of multiple characters each of which is associated with a different audio recording; receiving by the hand-held device an indication of user-selected text, the user-selected text corresponding to portions of the text that are rendered aloud from corresponding portions of the audio recording for a first user selected character; determining by the hand-held device an elapsed time in the audio recording by referencing the timing file associated with the user-selected text; and providing by the mobile device an audible output corresponding to the audio in the audio recording at the determined elapsed time in the audio recording for the user selected portions of text for narration with the corresponding portions of the audio recording.
1. A method comprises: applying speech recognition by a hand-held device that includes a processor device and memory to an audio recording to generate a text file including as text in the file recognized speech from the audio recording and determine an elapsed time period from a reference time in the audio recording to text in the file of recognized speech; comparing by the hand-held device text of recognized speech to expected text; generating by the hand-held device a timing file that is stored on a computer-readable storage medium, the timing file comprising the elapsed time information for the expected text; rendering on a display device associated with the hand-held device, text; rendering on the display device, a menu that displays graphics of multiple characters each of which is associated with a different audio recording; receiving by the hand-held device an indication of user-selected text, the user-selected text corresponding to portions of the text that are rendered aloud from corresponding portions of the audio recording for a first user selected character; determining by the hand-held device an elapsed time in the audio recording by referencing the timing file associated with the user-selected text; and providing by the mobile device an audible output corresponding to the audio in the audio recording at the determined elapsed time in the audio recording for the user selected portions of text for narration with the corresponding portions of the audio recording. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein when a user selects text, the one or more computer systems begin playback at the first word in the user-selected text and reads continuously from that point.