The Jamie Lee Curtis Audio Collection

All of Jamie Lee Curtis's books included in this audio collection affirm the young child. Each story delves into a special child-important area, whether it be the first days of an adoption, childhood moods that are so intensely experienced, or the emerging sense of self. The whimsical WHERE DO BALLOONS GO? follows the travels of an escaped balloon. Rhyme and repetition are writer's tools incorporated into each story and are comforting and confirming to the listener. Two delightful songs performed by Margaret Dorn and Katie Spencer will tug at the heartstrings of adult listeners. The personal quality of Curtis's books begs interaction between reader and listener. Curl up together--adult and child--to listen. Better yet, have a copy of one of the books, with Laura Cornell's fanciful illustrations, in hand. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine


One of the joys of being around young children is seeing the world from a new perspective. Jamie Lee Curtis's books take some of the questions children ask, answer some, and ask even more. Most importantlyâ she asks children and adults to think and observe their world and actions. Reading with childlike enthusiasm, Curtis queries, pouts, shines, and explodes with emotion through all seven of her books. Although the pace is a little fast for younger listeners with no printed book in hand, she makes up for that with her personalized stories and comments in between. The songs and musical interludes by David Nochtern provide a lovely addition to a charming audio collection. W.L.S. 2007 Audies Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

January 1, 2003
K-Gr 2-Jamie Lee Curtis's acting skills serve her well in this audio collection containing all of her humorous picture books, including the most recent title, I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem (HarperCollins, 2002). Curtis introduces each story by posing a question to listeners, and then shares a bit of related information from her own family experiences. This creates a pleasing sense of intimacy between the narrator and listeners. Curtis reads with enthusiastic inflection except for her quietly gentle rendition of her book about adoption, Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born (HarperCollins, 1996). Other titles included here are When I Was Little (HarperCollins, 1993), in which a four year old reminisces about her life, Where Do Balloons Go? (HarperCollins, 2000), and Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make My Day (HarperCollins, 1998), a wonderful book about the many emotions preschoolers experience each day. Each side of the cassette ends with the same two lullabies, performed by Margaret Dorn and Katie Spencer. One can't help but miss Laura Cornell's exuberant watercolor illustrations which add so much to Curtis's repetitive, rhyming texts, but this recording will nonetheless make for pleasant and peaceful listening. If the books are available to pore over while listening, all the better.-B. Allison Gray, South Country Library, Bellport, NY

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.