HEIDI

Heidi--whose life is transformed when she is sent to live with her stern grandfather in the Swiss Alps--also joyfully transforms the lives of others--her grandfather's, of course, as well as that of Peter the goatherd and his granny. Teresa Gallagher performs all these roles and more with an astonishing range; her Heidi is girlish, bubbling, and impetuous, her Peter terse and sometimes sulky. Gallagher moves smoothly between these voices and then back to that of the narrator, never missing a beat. This carefully abridged version is also top-rate and feels expansive. It includes all one's favorite parts and invites younger and older listeners alike to enjoy this classic children's tale. A word of caution: Your children may want to eat nothing but bread, cheese, and goat's milk for days after listening. J.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]