The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

September 1, 1987
Mystery, suspense, legend, romance and humor can all be found in Wolkstein's fine retelling of Washington Irving's classic folktale. Through the gluttonous Ichabod Crane and the devilish prankster Bron Bones, children are transported into a foul nightmare: being chased by a headless horseman who's searching a shadowy forest for his lost head. Wolkstein weaves reality and imagination with simple, eloquent sentences. Alley's graphic watercolors skillfully portray both the humorous Icabod with his pointed nose and long feet, and the gothic underworld of the haunted forest where even the horses become demonic. Ages 6-9.

Airing on NPR, the "Tales of American Masters" series is the one-man band of producer/reader/composer Winifred Phillips. In it she reads classic short stories underscored by her own synthesized music and sound effects. Durkin Hayes is releasing individual stories from the series one at a time. Phillips's crystalline soprano trips lightly on the ear but is not particularly expressive. The artistry with which she combines her voice with background elements gives her productions distinction. In this version of Washington Irving's evergreen, all the wit and humor come from the music, which makes for an enjoyable, undemanding listen. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine