THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF AMERICA

Former U.S. drug czar and Secretary of Education Bill Bennett takes on the task of imparting an "American identity" to young people through myths, legends and biographies. He largely pulls it off. Bennett has obviously made a deliberate effort to represent America's multiethnic composition--two of the four readers are non-white, and more than half the selections are stories of women and minorities. John McMartin does a nice job reading "Paul Bunyan" and "Yankee Doodle." "Cosby" costar Phylicia Rashad reads four stories, including "Lewis and Clark" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." Modern listeners may find the expressions of westward expansion outmoded and the presentation at times preachy. But the intended target--America's young--will find the stories enchanting and edifying. S.E.S. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 99]