On the Banks of Plum Creek

At long last, these famous stories about the Ingalls family are making their way into audio. Narrator Cherry Jones finds the right pitch for every occasion. She reads about Laura's many escapades with a tone of gentle amusement. A serious, quiet tone sets the mood when grasshoppers destroy the first wheat crop, and a tone of anxiety draws out the moments when Pa is lost in a snowstorm. The production gives a sense of the joys and dangers of life on the frontier, and it also brings to life Laura's sense of wonder, curiosity, and fun. This is an excellent choice for families to share. A.F. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

February 15, 2004
Gr 3-6-Laura Ingalls Wilder fans will rejoice at the fine presentation of her novels in audio format. Cherry Jones brings to life Pa, Ma, Laura, and all the other characters. Performed at the right tempo for the intended audience, Jones changes her voice just enough for each character so they can easily be distinguished. Singing period songs as Pa, exclaiming with delight over some new discovery as Laura, or gently scolding as Ma, Jones keeps listeners entranced. Pa's fiddle music, performed by Paul Woodiel, enhances the presentation. As with the print versions, putting the books' content into the context of events which happened over 100 years ago will help intermediate students understand why a song about "darkeys" would be included (Little House in the Big Woods), and why certain attitudes toward minorities, particularly Native Americans, are acceptable to the characters in the books.-.Judy Czarnecki, Chippewa River District Library System, Mt. Pleasant, MI

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2004
Gr 3-6-Laura Ingalls Wilder fans will rejoice at the fine presentation of her novels in audio format. Cherry Jones brings to life Pa, Ma, Laura, and all the other characters. Performed at the right tempo for the intended audience, Jones changes her voice just enough for each character so they can easily be distinguished. Singing period songs as Pa, exclaiming with delight over some new discovery as Laura, or gently scolding as Ma, Jones keeps listeners entranced. Pa's fiddle music, performed by Paul Woodiel, enhances the presentation. As with the print versions, putting the books' content into the context of events which happened over 100 years ago will help intermediate students understand why a song about "darkeys" would be included (Little House in the Big Woods), and why certain attitudes toward minorities, particularly Native Americans, are acceptable to the characters in the books.-.Judy Czarnecki, Chippewa River District Library System, Mt. Pleasant, MI

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.