Abel's Island

While attempting to retrieve his wife's scarf, the wealthy, indolent Abel is carried away in a flash flood. He finds safety on a little island which, for the next year, becomes a place of endeavor and self-discovery. Steig's classic fable of Abelard Hassam di Chirico Flint, a stuffy, smug mouse, makes marvelous reading aloud. As read by the ever-talented Guidall, it's superb. Steig's vocabulary is considerable and, while some of the concepts may escape a younger audience, Guidall's smooth rendition, perfectly accented, propels the adventure forward with magical consistency, never losing sight of the protagonist's character. No one could read it better. This is a joy for all ages. S.B.S. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine