THE MOUSE AND THE MOTORCYCLE

Jaunty opening music sets the tone for the adventures of Ralph the mouse as he discovers the magical toy motorcycle belonging to a young guest at the hotel where Ralph lives. When Ralph takes a terrible fall—into the wastebasket—the boy, Keith, must rescue him. While it’s easy for a boy to help a mouse, later Ralph must brave the dangers of “the outside” and the dreaded “ground floor” in order to help his new friend. BD Wong narrates at a pace that allows listeners to appreciate how truly funny Cleary's story is. The old inn is peopled with a several guests and a housekeeping staff, each of whom expresses a particular attitude toward mice in a unique voice. Especially distinctive are the voices of Ralph's extended family, who certainly must have had ancestors in the Catskills of New York. R.H.H. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2008]