PICCOLO AND ANNABELLE Vol. 2: The Disastrous Party

Piccolo, who has been cared for by his disorganized, chubby guardian angel, Annabelle, since his parents' mysterious disappearance, is in for another adventure in this offbeat story. Annabelle loves to enter contests, and when she wins a party, a mysterious former acquaintance named Elspeth invites herself to it, causing all sorts of trouble. Narrator Stanley McGeagh has fine pacing for this sometimes suspenseful story and creates a variety of engaging voices. His children's voices are pleasant, especially that of the anxious Piccolo, and his elderly angels' voices are downright funny--from Annabelle's wobbly falsetto to Elspeth's crooning (and sometimes hard-to-hear) whisper. Also enjoyable is the fun, though slightly sinister, merry-go-round music that plays between chapters. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 07]