Misty of Chincoteague

This story is set in the spectacular landscape of the barrier islands off the coast of Maryland. Edward Herrmann's expressive narration takes the listener through elaborate details of rural island life as well as the lives of the wild ponies of the area. Maureen and Paul Beebe, who live with their grandparents, dream of owning the wildest mare of all, "The Phantom," and they set out to earn enough money to buy her in the annual "pony penning" auction. One can easily differentiate the many island elders, always ready with advice, from the eager children who work hard to make their dreams come true. This classic is well served by the skilled Herrmann, who combines earnestness with a sense of humor. R.H.H. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine


Get out your handkerchiefs. Narrator Daisy Egan takes us into the world of children's hopes and dreams with this fully voiced reading. Two children, Paul and Maureen, work together to bring the wild pony, Phantom, and her newborn foal, Misty, to Chincoteague Island. Daisy Egan, child star of Broadway's "The Secret Garden," reads the story with the simplicity of longing and the thrill of dreams realized. She nearly captures the soft rhythms of Grandpa Beebe's Chesapeake Bay accent; she's dead center for Paul and Maureen. The direct, emotional quality of her reading is very moving. The abridgment by Claire Keller is smooth and does not intrude upon the story. This production invites every child who has longed for a horse to read more of Marguerite Henry's wonderful stories. L.S. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine