THE DRAGONLING

Darek wants nothing more than to go out on a dragon hunt with his father and older brother. But when he finds an orphaned baby dragon, an enemy of his people, he instantly becomes protective of the small and helpless creature and decides to leave home and return the baby to the valley controlled by the dragons. Narrator Jeff Woodman doesn't have much to work with in this story: There are few characters, and the prose is pedestrian. The nasally voice he gives Darek and his portrayal of the dragon's vocalizations endearingly add life to the story. A solid, if unexceptional, production. A.F. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 02]