PETUNIA

Petunia does not appreciate the moniker “Silly Goose.” And she knows that Mr. Pumpkin has said, “He who owns books and loves them is wise.” So when Petunia finds a book in the meadow, she knows it’s for her. But does just carrying a book make Petunia wise? As she shares her opinions around the barnyard, the other animals come to question Petunia’s wisdom. Diana Canova narrates the barnyard menagerie with verve. She adds a bit of pain as the horse with a toothache, a distraught mew for the kitten marooned in a tree, and the fluster of the mother hen who seeks Petunia’s help to count her chicks. As Petunia, her growing pride is reflected in her voice, but in the end she sounds as contrite and truly wise as a reading goose must be! Barnyard sound effects make a fine backdrop. A.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE/JULY 05]