MADAM PRESIDENT

The narrator of one of Lane Smith's picture books has a vital role in the book's success as an audiobook. Enunciation of the text requires precision, and well-placed pauses allow the listener to pore over the detailed illustrations. This production presents a child-friendly explanation of the presidential office. Anna Chiodo takes Smith's humor to heart and exaggerates his punctuation, both of which help to emphasize the story’s lighthearted view of the topic. An interview with the author shares the experiences that gave rise to the story—aspects of Smith's childhood and personal connections to Hurricane Katrina—as well as his delight in combining facts with humor. Catchy background music completes the recording. A.R. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2008]