Selections from the

Title:

26 Fairmount Avenue: Books 1-4

Format:

Sound Recording

Summary:

“Author and illustrator Tomie DePaolo narrates this story of his childhood in suburban Connecticut in the 1930’s with the same wit, flair, and charm that characterize his visual art.”-ALSC 2003 Notable Children’s Recordings Committee

Other Features/Information:

Unabridged Edition (3 hours)

Tape

CD

Mr. DePaolo is an author/illustrator. His picture book “Strega Nona” received a Caldecott Honor.

Author:

Tomie dePaolo

Publisher:

Listening Library

Narrator/Performer:

Tomie dePaolo

Date:

2002

Grade Level:

2-5

Vendor:

Books on Tape, Inc.

P.O Box 25122

Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122

1-800-88-BOOKS

www.booksontape.com

Awards/Honors:

ALSC Notable Children’s Recording

Newbery Honor

Suggested Prices/Product Numbers:

3 Tapes-$27.00, #YA358CX

4 CDs-$31.50, #YA358CD

Review:

From Publishers Weekly
Nobody tells an anecdote better than the person who lived through it. This is one of the reasons that author-illustrator dePaola's picture-book autobiographies (26 Fairmount Avenue; Here We All Are; On My Way) have been such a success. On this audio adaptation of those first three books, plus the just-released What a Year! (Putnam, Mar.), dePaola, as narrator, lets his easygoing storytelling style and effervescent personality shine through. He recounts in vivid detail memories from his childhood in Connecticut, describing family members and major events in his life, including the hurricane of 1938, seeing Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for the first time, the birth of his baby sister and his first foray into trick-or-treating (as Snow White). Contemporary kids will be enthralled by these accounts of long-ago because they are told with such childlike charm; parents and grandparents will likely want to listen for nostalgia's sake. And everyone will be entertained, taking away a sense of what it was really like to be a kid in the late 1930s/early 1940s. Ages 7-up.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review:

From School Library Journal
K-Gr 4 Tomie dePaola's loving recollections of his childhood - 26 Fairmount Avenue, Here We All Are, On My Way, and What a Year (Putnam, 1999-2002) come to life in this delightful audiobook. The author reads his own works, and it is clear from his voice that writing these books was a true labor of love. The tone is conversational as dePaola takes listeners back to another time when "Little Orphan Annie" was on the radio and doctors made house calls. His large extended family - both Irish and Italian - are featured in these stories, but the hero is clearly little Tomie. He exults in a starring role in a dance recital, dresses up as Snow White for Halloween, and has the occasional run-in with his teachers who insist on spelling his name "Tommy." There are tense moments here, as Tomie's little sister battles pneumonia, and joyous celebrations when the family moves to Fairmount Avenue. The entire production, including original music and a closing interview with the author/illustrator, is extremely well done. It offers listeners, both young and old, a warm glimpse of a loving family. It also provides insights into the background that influenced dePaola's later work. -Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Title:

Because of Winn-Dixie

Format:

Sound Recording

Summary:

“After moving to a new town, India Opal Buloni doesn’t stay lonely for long after she adopts a smiling dog at her supermarket. Cherry Jones flawlessly performs the role of Opal as she settles into her life filled with friends, love, and acceptance.” -

ALSC 2002 Notable Children’s Recordings Committee

Other Features/Information:

Unabridged Edition (3 hours)

Tape

CD

Tape/Book

Ms. Jones won a Tony award and an OBIE. Her most recent movie role was in “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”.

Author:

Kate DiCamillo

Publisher:

Listening Library

Narrator/Performer:

Cherry Jones

Date:

2001

Grade Level:

4-8

Vendor:

Books on Tape, Inc.

P.O Box 25122

Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122

1-800-88-BOOKS

www.booksontape.com

Awards/Honors:

ALSC Notable Recording

AudioFile Earphones Award

Newbery Honor

Suggested Prices/Product Numbers:

2 Tapes-$20.70, YA278CX

2 CDs-$21.60, #YA278CD

2 Tapes/1 Book-$25.20, #YA278SP

Review:

From School Library Journal
In this audio version of Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Honor book (Candlewick, 2000), ten-year-old Opal Buloni's life is changed for the better when she takes in a stray dog she finds running wild in a grocery store. With Winn-Dixie (named after the store she found him in) by her side, Opal starts to make friends in the small town of Naomi, Florida where she has recently moved. More importantly, she is able to come to terms with her feelings about her mother who abandoned her years earlier. Performed by Tony award-winning actress Cherry Jones, this is one of the few audio books that actually transcends the book itself. The story is presented through Opal's first person point of view, and Cherry Jones becomes southern-twanged Opal, sharing the story of her first summer in Naomi. Jones' seamless performance is honest and believable, and she pulls listeners in like a master storyteller. This great production of an award-winning book definitely belongs in every library audio collection.-Lori Craft, Itasca Community Library, IL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Review:

From AudioFiles

India Opal Buloni walks into the Winn-Dixie in her new hometown of Naomi, Florida, for a box of macaroni and cheese, two tomatoes, and white rice and comes out with a dog--a mangy, homeless, smiling dog. And her life changes forever. Motherless Opal and that dog aren't so different, each looking for the comfort of home and people to love them. Tony Award-winning actress Cherry Jones delivers a superb first-person narration that brings the charming 10-year-old daughter of the Open Arms Baptist Church preacher to life. Her simple, sometimes not-quite-grammatical, but always humorous, take on daily experiences and profound life issues rings true. Her gravelly voiced blind friend, Gloria Dump; her animal-charming, big-hearted friend, Otis; her dreamy, book-loving librarian, Miss Franny Block; and squeaky-voiced, lisping Sweetie Pie are all memorably and individually created. A stellar audio interpretation of a Newbery Honor book! T.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2002 Audie Award Finalist © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 01]

Title:

Bud, Not Buddy

Format:

Sound Recording

Summary:

“James Avery’s rich baritone voice vividly evokes the 1930’s setting of this Newbery-award winning book by Christopher Paul Curtis”-ALSC 2001 Notable Children’s Recordings Committee

Other Features/Information:

Unabridged Edition (4.5 hours)

Tape

CD

Tape/Book

Mr. Avery is best known for his role as the father on “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air”.

Author:

Christopher Paul Curtis

Publisher:

Listening Library

Narrator/Performer:

James Avery

Date:

2000

Grade Level:

4-7

Vendor:

Books on Tape, Inc.

P.O Box 25122

Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122

1-800-88-BOOKS

www.booksontape.com

Awards/Honors:

ALSC Notable Recording

AudioFile Earphones Award

Coretta Scott King Award

Newbery Medal

Suggested Prices/Product Numbers:

3 Tapes-$27.00, #YA140CX

5 CDs-$36.00, #YA140CD

3 Tapes/1 Book, #YA140SP

Review:

From Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Audio Awards 2001

James Avery's masterful characterizations add rich flavor to the unforgettable Bud, Not Buddy PLATINUM AWARD, Christopher Curtis' Newbery book set in the '30s. Ten-year-old Bud loses his mother, runs away from cruel foster parents, but keeps his hope and sense of humor. 10 & up.

Review:

From AudioFile
Bud Caldwell, a 10-year-old vagabond orphan in pursuit of his long lost father from Flint to Grand Rapids, Michigan, is the quintessential endearing hero. Bud's first-person narrative demands an enthusiastic and versatile reader. James Avery is all that and more. His Bud is charming and sincere, and the cast of characters, presented with endless variations in voicing, is authentic and memorable. His zippy reading creates the perfect mood. Add in occasional jazz tunes at chapter changes, as well as Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar out of Yourself, and you just may have the best way to experience this award-winning book. T.B. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Title:

The Door in the Wall

Format:

Sound Recording

Summary:

“This reading by British actor Roger Rees evokes the medieval atmosphere of Marguerite De Angeli’s Newbery award-winning tale about a boy proving his courage.”-ALSC 1999 Notable Children’s Recordings Committee

Other Features/Information:

Unabridged Edition (3 hours)

Tape

Tape/Book

Mr. Rees has won a Tony award and an Olivier award. His most recent movie role was in “Frida”.

Author:

Marguerite de Angeli

Publisher:

Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing

Narrator/Performer:

Roger Rees

Date:

1998

Grade Level:

4-6

Vendor:

Books on Tape, Inc.

P.O Box 25122

Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122

1-800-88-BOOKS

www.booksontape.com

Awards/Honors:

ALSC Notable Recording

Newbery Medal

Suggested Price:

2 Tapes-$20.70, #YA237CX

2 Tapes/1 Book-$25.20, #YA237SP

Review:

From AudioFile - Susan Pochapsky
De Angeli's classic was written for middle-grade readers, but this is a children's story the whole family can enjoy because the unabridged production is simple, elegant, robust and finely crafted in every way. Actor Roger Rees is expressive but never overly emotional. (That's a good choice--a sentimental reading would turn off some youngsters and most adults.) Spare, tasteful sound effects (church bells, chant) and touches of specially composed music give an immediate feel of the medieval time and setting. Well-conceived, well-produced, well-performed. S.P. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review:

From School Library Journal
This reading by British actor Roger Rees evokes the medieval atmosphere of Marguerite De Angeli's Newbery award-winning tale about a boy proving his courage.

Title:

Everything on a Waffle

Format:

Sound Recording

Summary:

“While waiting for the return of her parents who are lost at sea, Primrose Sharp expands her view of the people around her. Interspersed with recipes, Kathleen McInerney’s reading perfectly captures Primrose’s youthful, naïve tone in this unusual fairy-tale-like story.”-ALSC 2003 Notable Children’s Recordings Committee

Other Features:

Unabridged Edition (3 hours)

Tape

CD

Ms. McInerney is a stage actor and has appeared on the daytime drama “As the World Turns”.

Author:

Polly Horvath

Publisher:

Listening Library

Narrator/Performer:

Kathleen McInerney

Date:

2002

Grade Level:

3-7

Vendor:

Books on Tape, Inc.

P.O Box 25122

Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122

1-800-88-BOOKS

www.booksontape.com

Awards/Honors:

ALSC Notable Recording

Newbery Honor

Suggested Price/Product Numbers:

2 Tapes-$20.70, #YA363CX

3 CDs-$27.00, #YA363CD

Review:

From AudioFile
Start with that wacky name—Primrose Squarp—and the fact that her best friend's restaurant serves everything on a waffle (even if you order a waffle!)—and it's a good guess that listeners are in for a tall tale. Eleven-year-old Primrose, a Coal Harbor, British Columbia, orphan, believes that both of her parents, thought to have been lost at sea, will one day return to her, from the belly of the whale, as it were. Life with her mothball-ridden, squeaky-voiced, acrimonious guardian, Miss Perfidy, is dreary, with only the gruff, tough Miss Bowzer and her recipes to cheer her. When the vibrant but self-important Uncle Jack arrives to take over her care, he further complicates the plot with his real estate dealings and neglect. Kathleen McInerney's reading of the confident, earnest, and pragmatic first-person narration includes the delivery of a series of recipes between chapters. A wild romp through unlikely and humorous waters. T.B. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

Review:

From School Library Journal
Gr 4-6 "Didn't you ever believe anything just because you knew it was true?" Eleven-year-old Primrose asks this question of the inhabitants of Coal Harbour, British Columbia whenever the topic of her parents' disappearance comes up. They were lost in a storm at sea, and she is the only one who believes they will return. Polly Horvath's Everything on a Waffle (Farrar, 2001) is Primrose's sweet and often quirky observations of the townspeople who help her cope with her loss. Moving from Miss Perfidy, the elderly babysitter, to Uncle Jack, her reluctant only relative, to foster parents Bert and Evie, with plenty of input from Miss Honeycut, the school counselor, and Miss Bowzer, the owner and operator of The Girl on the Red Swing, Primrose develops a philosophy of life that will satisfy young and old alike. This is a coming-of-age story of a child who believes with her heart while trying to make sense of the world around her. Primrose has a very strong voice, and Kathleen McInerney is the perfect narrator. She is girlish without being cloying, and conveys Primrose's youthful innocence and sense of humor without sarcasm or cynicism, Her reading of the recipes that appear at the end of each chapter not only binds the work together but illustrates Primrose's spirit. This unusual novel is a must for elementary school libraries. If you only have enough money in your budget for one audio purchase this year, make sure to buy this high quality and uplifting performance. -Maura Martin Smith, Somerset Elementary School, Shawnee Mission, KS Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Title:

Holes

Format:

Sound Recording

Summary:

“Kerry Beyer’s perfectly appointed reading brings out the offbeat humor and dramatic power of Louis Sachar’s 1999 Newbery Award winning story of the incredible but wonderful coincidence of an ancient family curse and a prison camp friendship”-ALSC 2000 Notable Children’s Recordings Committee

Other Features/Information:

Unabridged Edition (4.5 hours)

Tape

CDs

Tape/Book

Mr. Beyer’s most recent television role was on the daytime drama “Port Charles”.

Author:

Louis Sachar

Publisher:

Listening Library

Narrator/Performer:

Kerry Beyer

Date:

1998

Grade Level:

5-12

Vendor:

Books on Tape, Inc.

P.O Box 25122

Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122

1-800-88-BOOKS

www.booksontape.com

Awards/Honors:

ALSC Notable Recording

Newbery Medal

YALSA Audio Book and Alternative Media Recordings

Suggested Price/Product Numbers:

3 Tapes-$27.00, #YA994CX

4 CDs-$31.50, #YA994CD

3 Tapes/1 Book-$31.50, #YA994SP

Review:

From AudioFile - Toni Buzzeo
Digging a hole five feet deep and five feet across is a formidable task. Digging innumerable holes under the Texas summer sun in a dry lake bed infested with rattlesnakes, scorpions and poisonous yellow-spotted lizards is meant to challenge one's instinct for survival. When Stanley Yelnats, wrongfully convicted of theft, is sentenced to time at Camp Green Lake Juvenile Correctional Facility, his focus is endurance, but his lessons extend to family history and the great wheel of justice. Kerry Beyer's smooth narration draws the reader into Stanley's unfortunate experience without theatrics. As a result of Beyer's unvarnished delivery, the listener believes in Stanley's unlikely existence, and Sachar's improbable cast of secondary characters is individualized in entertaining fashion. An admirable reading of the 1999 Newbery Award novel. T.B. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review:

From School Library Journal
Stanley Yelnats is an unusual hero-dogged by bad luck stemming from an ancient family curse, overweight, and unlikely to stick up for himself when challenged by the class bully. Perpetually in the wrong place at the wrong time, Stanley is unfairly sentenced to months of detention at Camp Green Lake (a gross misnomer if ever there was one!) where he's forced to dig one hole in the rock-hard desert soil every day. The hole must be exactly five feet in diameter, the distance from the tip of his shovel to the top of the wooden handle. Each boy is compelled to dig until his hole is completed, no matter how long it takes. According to the warden the digging "builds character." Stanley soon begins to question why the warden is so interested in anything "special" the boys find. How Stanley rescues his friend Zero, who really stole Sweet Feet's tennis shoes, what the warden is desperately looking for, and how the Yelnats curse is broken all blend magically together in a unique coming of age story leavened with a healthy dose of humor. Kerry Beyer's narration of Louis Sachar's Newbery Award-winning novel brings each of the characters vividly to life, and his pensive portrayal of Stanley brings out all that's most appealing about this unlucky loser who becomes a winner by the story's end. A first purchase for all public library collections.-Cindy Lombardo, Orrville Public Library, OH Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Title:

Maniac Magee

Format:

Sound Recording

Summary:

“Challenging the ignorance and racial prejudice in his segregated town, Manic Magee becomes a legend as he makes friends in both ends of town and finds a new home. S. Epatha Merkerson’s skilled reproduction of ethnically diverse speech enlivens the characters in this 1991 Newbery Award winner.”-ALSC 2003 Notable Children’s Recordings Committee

Other Features/Information:

Unabridged Edition (4.5 hours)

Tape

CD

Tape/Book

Ms. Merkerson won an OBIE award in 1992. She currently can be seen in her television role on NBC’s “Law & Order”.

Author:

Jerry Spinelli

Publisher:

Listening Library

Narrator/Performer:

S. Epatha Merkerson

Date:

2001

Grade Level:

3-7

Vendor:

Books on Tape, Inc.

P.O Box 25122

Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122

1-800-88-BOOKS

www.booksontape.com

Awards/Honors:

ALSC Notable Recording

AudioFile Earphone Award

Newbery Medal

Suggested Prices/Product Numbers:

3 Tapes-$27.00, #YA331CX

4 CDs-$31.50, #YA331CD

3 Tapes/1 Book-$31.50, #YA331SP

Review:

From School Library Journal
Gr 3-6-Half tall tale, half novel, Jerry Spinelli's Newbery award winner (Little, 1990) is beautifully narrated by film and television actress S. Epatha Merkerson. The story, which explores such complex concepts as home and race relations, is consistently fresh and surprising. Maniac's search for an address to call his own is poignant, while his feats such as untying Cobble's knot and hitting an "inside-the-park home-run but" with a "frogball" are pure tall tale. Merkerson's word-for-word narration is excellent. She gives subtle distinction to the accents and speech of such varied characters as McNab, Mars Bar, Amanda Beale, and Grayson. Her voice could serve as a definition of the word mellifluous, which makes listening to the story even more pleasurable. No music or other sound effects interrupt the text. Technical quality is excellent throughout. This would be an excellent choice for group listening in classrooms, and is equally good for individual listening. Definitely a first purchase choice for all audiobook collections serving elementary grade students.-Louise Sherman, formerly Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Review:

From AudioFile - Carolyn R. Angus
Separating the truth from the fiction about the life of a hero is always difficult, and setting the record straight on Jeffrey Lionel Magee Maniac Magee is no exception. It’s not just that this homeless 12-year-old kid can hit a ball better and run faster than anyone else in Two Mills, Pennsylvania, but that he does unthinkable things, like crossing the boundary between the white West End and the black East End, confronting prejudice and racism head on. Sigrid Heath reads with energy and enthusiasm. She uses pauses and inflections well and neatly captures both the humor and drama of Spinelli’s Newbery Medal-winning novel. A good match has been made between book and reader; too bad this is an abridgment (something that is acknowledged at the end of the tape, but not on the package). C.R.A. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Title:

Pictures of Hollis Woods

Format:

Sound Recording

Summary:

“Hollis Woods is running away. Again. Hope Davis reads Patricia Reilly Giff’s novel with grit and tenderness, capturing the raspy heartbreak and the healing power of home.”-ALSC 2003 Notable Children’s Recordings Committee

Other Features/Information:

Unabridged Edition (2 hours)

Tape

CD

Ms. Davis’ most recent movie role was in “About Schmidt”.

Author:

Patricia Reilly Giff

Publisher:

Listening Library

Narrator/Performer:

Hope Davis

Date:

2002

Grade Level:

3-8

Vendor:

Books on Tape, Inc.

P.O Box 25122

Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122

1-800-88-BOOKS

www.booksontape.com

Awards/Honors:

ALSC Notable Recording

Newbery Honor

Suggested Prices/Product Numbers:

2 Tapes-$20.70, #YA396CX

2 CDs-$20.70, #YA396CD

Review:

From Publishers Weekly

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff, read by Hope Davis (Listening Library). Davis becomes the 12-year-old protagonist of this heartbreaking, quietly triumphant story about a girl in foster care.

Review:

From Books on Tape

Hollis Woods was named after the place where she was abandoned as a baby. Hollis is now 12-years-old and has been in many foster homes. She's a mountain of trouble, quick to run away, even from the Regans, the one family that offered her a permanent home. Next Hollis finds herself with Josie, an elderly artist, and she wants to stay. But Josie is growing forgetful, and if social services finds out, they'll take Hollis away and send Josie to live in a home. Well, Hollis Woods has escaped the system before; this time, she's taking Josie with her. Yet behind all her plans, Hollis longs for her life with the Regans, fixing each moment of her time with them in pictures she'll never forget.

Title:

Rascal: A Memoir of a Better Era

Format:

Sound Recording

Summary:

“Consummate storyteller Weiss imbues Sterling North’s Newbery Honor story of a boy and his raccoon with warmth and compassion.”-ALSC 1999 Notable Children’s Recordings Committee

Other Features/Information:

Unabridged Edition (4.5 hours)

Tape

Tape/Book

Mr. Weiss is a noted and award-winning storyteller.

Author:

Sterling North

Publisher:

Listening Library

Narrator/Performer:

Jim Weiss

Date:

1998

Grade Level:

3-12

Vendor:

Books on Tape, Inc.

P.O Box 25122

Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122

1-800-88-BOOKS

www.booksontape.com

Awards/Honors:

ALSC Notable Recording

Newbery Honor

Suggested Prices/Product Numbers:

3 Tapes-$27.00, #YA946CX

3 Tapes/1 Book-$31.50, #YA946SP

Review:

From AudioFile - Pam A. Johnson
North's story of his raccoon, Rascal, and their year together holds as much delight today as it has for many years. Weiss uses his natural talent as a professional storyteller to weave the many emotions of humans and animals into this alluring and nostalgic tale. His enjoyment of the text seems to spontaneously infect the listener with enthusiasm while capturing the quiet peace and contentment found in North's remembrance. His Irish and German accents, used for some secondary male characters, sound realistic, while his softened voice and controlled tones serve well for female voices. A remarkable classic tale offers pleasant listening. P.A.J. A 1999 ALA Notable Recording cAudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review:

From School Library Journal
Gr 2-6-At 11 years of age, Sterling North found himself the caretaker of a baby raccoon. His long-enjoyed Newbery Honor book (Dutton, 1963) provides the details of a year in the life of a boy and a raccoon. Set in 1918, Sterling's father is often absent and perpetually involved in research for a novel about Fox and Winnebago Indians. Sterling's mother is deceased, and he is often left to his own devices. Rascal therefore enjoys such comforts as sleeping in Sterling's bed and attending the county fair. As Rascal ages, Sterling is aware that the raccoon is having normal springtime urges and is not happy residing in the pen Sterling was forced to construct. Storyteller Jim Weiss narrates at a leisurely pace without sound effects or musical accompaniment. His very slightly stilted inflection delivers the story as a reminiscence rather than events related by a young boy. The audio rendering of this beloved animal story will please the tale's admirers and win fans new to the timeless adventure.-Fritz Mitnick, Shaler North Hills Library, Glenshaw, PA

Title:

A Single Shard

Format:

Sound Recording

Summary:

“Graeme Malcolm interprets Linda Sue Park’s measured, graceful prose with expert timing. His voice subtly evokes the gruffness of Potter Min, the kindliness of Min’s wife, the philosophical musings of Crane-man, and the youthful respectfulness for his elders as well as the firm determination of Tree-ear”-ALSC 2003 Notable Children’s Recordings Committee

Other Features/Information:

Unabridged Edition (3 hours)

Tape

CD

Mr. Malcolm is a stage actor. His most recent television role was on “Law & Order”.

Author:

Linda Sue Park

Publisher:

Listening Library

Narrator/Performer:

Grame Malcolm

Date:

2001

Grade Level:

5-12

Vendor:

Books on Tape, Inc.

P.O Box 25122

Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122

1-800-88-BOOKS

www.booksontape.com

Awards/Honors:

ALSC Notable Recording

Newbery Medal

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award

YALSA Audio Book and Alternative Media Recordings

Suggested Prices/Product Numbers:

3 Tapes-$27.00, #YA349CX

3 CDs-$27.00, #YA349CD

Review:

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Linda Sue Park's 2002 Newbery Award-winning story (Clarion, 2001) about Tree-ear, a 12th century Korean orphan who finds his future through his intuitive interest in the potter's trade, is nicely rendered by Graeme Malcolm. Tree-ear's early years have been spent in the care of the homeless but inventive Crane-man, who has taught him to find a meal among what other villagers have rejected as scrap and shelter beneath a bridge or in an old kimchee cellar, as the season dictates. Now about 12 years old, Tree-ear extends his social and labor habits to an elderly and idiosyncratic potter, first because Tree-ear must repay Min for a pot he damaged when he touched it without permission, and then as Min's helper, a job for which he is paid in food and the motherly affection of Min's wife. In a village renowned for its pottery, those in the trade eagerly anticipate a visit from the representative of the Korean court, each potter hoping that his designs will be selected for royal use. Tree-ear discovers a rival potter's invention of a new surface design technique that he knows Min could use to better effect than does the inventor. Eventually, the technique is revealed and Min is able to adapt it to his excellent work, sending Tree-ear on a long and dangerous journey to court with two sample pieces. By the time Tree-ear arrives, he has but a single shard to show the court's pottery expert. Malcolm's light British accent is clear and adds a sense of "another place, another time" to this tale. However, many of the issues transcend centuries and cultures: What is home? Can one own a creative idea? How much of an art object must be seen in order to judge its quality? This book will engage both individual readers and discussion groups; the audio version makes it accessible to a broader audience, while giving style and substance to those who have read the print version. Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Review:

From AudioFile
This year's Newbery Medalist is also a winner on tape. Set in twelfth-century Korea, it's the story of orphaned Tree-ear, who lives under a bridge with Crane-man, but dreams of becoming a Master Potter, like the ill-tempered artist, Min, he so admires. British actor Graeme Malcome gives his reading admirable dignity, although it's surprising to hear lower-class Koreans with cockney accents. But accents are forgotten as the listener is drawn deep into Tree-ear's world, where clay pots can be easily smashed, and a homeless boy likewise. M.C. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

Title:

A Year Down Yonder

Format:

Sound Recording

Summary:

“Hard hit by the Depression, fifteen-year-old Mary Alice’s family sends her to live with her eccentric grandma in rural Illinois. Lois Smith captures Grandma Dowdel’s character and spirit, as well as Mary Alice’s ambivalence in this thought-provoking, humorous story.”-ALSC 2001 Notable Children’s Recordings Committee

Other Features/Information:

Unabridged Edition (3 hours)

Tape

CD

Ms. Smith has been nominated for several Tony awards and won the National Society of Film Critics award in 1970. Her most recent movie role was in “Twister”.

Author:

Richard Peck

Publisher:

Listening Library

Narrator/Performer:

Lois Smith

Date:

2000

Grade Level:

5-12

Vendor:

Books on Tape, Inc.

P.O Box 25122

Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122

1-800-88-BOOKS

www.booksontape.com

Awards/Honors:

ALSC Notable Recording

Newbery Medal

Suggested Prices/Product Numbers:

2 Tapes-$20.70, #YA256CX

3 CDs-$20.70, #YA256CD

Review:

From AudioFile
Winner of the 2001 Newbery Award, A Year Down Yonder is the charming companion to Peck's 1999 Newbery Honor winner, A Long Way from Chicago. This time, Mary Alice regales us with tales of life with Grandma Dowdel during a long year spent in Grandma's "hick town," where no one is as modern, as sophisticated, or as clever as Mary Alice is. However, Grandma Dowdel is every bit as snappish, quirky, and gruff as always. While the same wonderful storytelling quality infuses this volume, and Lois Smith's clearly middle-aged voice is very effective in reading Grandma's crusty dialogue, Mildred Burdick's surly sneer, and Miss Butler's teachery tones, it is a bit less effective for Mary Alice's youthful first-person narration. Nevertheless, the humor of Mary Alice's situation and her many scrapes with a cast of eccentric small-town characters are guaranteed to entertain. T.B. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

Review:

From School Library Journal
Gr 5-8-Richard Peck's Newbery Award-winner (Dial, 2000) is a multi-layered story of small town life spiced with humor, love, and a bit of history. Although 15-year-old Mary Alice Dowdel is none too happy when she must spend a year with Grandma Dowdel. It's 1937, and her parents are only able to afford a small room in Chicago, and her much-loved older brother, Joey, is off serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps. Mary Alice worries about fitting in at the two-room schoolhouse, and wonders how she'll cope with her crusty, sometimes embarrassingly eccentric grandmother. Harsh Depression era realities are not ignored, but listeners will spend most of their time laughing at the way Grandma outwits a classroom bully, some Halloween pranksters, and the local D.A.R. An itinerant artist, a risqu postmistress, and a community full of memorable characters provide more laughs. After twelve months, Mary Alice feels at home in this tiny Illinois town, and has developed a new respect and abiding affection for her maverick grandmother. Lois Smith's masterful comic timing has a country flair that conveys Peck's humorous and heartwarming book perfectly. This is a must buy for every library with audiobook collections. Even high school and adult audiences will enjoy A Year Down Yonder.-Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library. Rocky Hill, CT Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.