DOOBY DOOBY MOO

This work by the award-winning Cronin begs for music and gets it—and more. Music, voice, and soundscape blend into a magnificent story symphony. Randy Travis narrates with a drawl that fits the wacky farm where the animals are musical. Sheep baa “Home on the Range‚” cows moo “Twinkle, Twinkle,” and Duck, always the star of the barn, does a rendition of “Born to be Wild” that wins the animals a prize: a “slightly used” trampoline. The humorous asides embedded in the book’s illustrations don’t give Travis a second’s pause. He speed-reads the small print of the trampoline’s warranty and leaves room for snippets of Duck’s interspersed sarcastic comments and bizarre musical interpretations. Other tracks include read-along versions of the story and more of Duck’s performance, which may inspire singing along. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2008 Odyssey Honor, 2008 ALA Notable © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 08]