JUST SO STORIES

Rudyard Kipling's imperialistic yet fanciful stories for children are presented by Shelly Frasier in this imaginative production. Kipling gives listeners the stories behind the elephant's long trunk, the camel's spots, and the taming of the first dog, to name just a few of the dozen yarns featuring animal escapades in India and Africa. Frasier's reading reflects the Victorian age in which the stories were written. Sounding oh so proper throughout, her tone is reminiscent of a nanny or a school mistress. Her stuffiness, however, might lose a younger listener after a couple of stories, regardless of the clever and entertaining subject matter. H.L.S. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 03]