THESE HAPPY GOLDEN YEARS

The eighth in the Little House series is read by the consistently excellent Cherry Jones, whose earnest, slightly husky voice is a perfect match for the stories. Jones finds just the right pitch and tempo to capture the various personalities, and one can hear her smiling when she narrates. In this story, Laura is a grown-up young lady, who at 16 works for a living, teaching school and sewing on the weekend to supplement the family's income. She's also courted by a beau, Almanzo Wilder, who takes her out for buggy rides on the prairie. This production, enhanced by fiddle music that punctuates the chapters, provides hours of family entertainment. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 06]