PADDINGTON ON TOP

Hugh Bonneville's wholehearted narration begins with when a local official arrives to summon the beloved, good-natured Paddington Bear to school. Paddington, Mrs. Brown, and Mrs. Bird, the housekeeper, scramble to get Paddington ready. Bonneville jumps into these roles with gusto. Paddington's adventures include his first and only day at school, waterskiing, the purchase of an inflatable boat, and a visit to court to mention a few. In each story, characters sparkle with personality. Bonneville employs his inestimable skills--intonation and pacing, accent and intensity, and love of story. Paddington's opinionated Aunt Lucy, from Peru; the short-fused codger living next door; and the warmhearted bookstore owner, for example, come fully to life. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2018]