THE HEY JACK COLLECTION #2 Books 6-10

Narrator Rupert Degas's thoughtful delivery is perfect for these short--3 chapters each--stories, each of which begins by announcing 7-year-old Jack's mood. In "The New Friend," Jack, who is Australian, sounds grouchy because his friend is on vacation and he's left with his dad. The loving relationship between father and son is apparent in their conversations after they find a lost dog. Jack is excited in "The Worst Sleepover," in which Degas dramatizes young boys' emotions and realization that they need to consider each other's feelings. In "The Lost Reindeer," Jack, his family, and his friend Billie go on a Christmas picnic. Jack and his dad get separated, a situation that Degas conveys flawlessly from its sad outset to its joy at their being reunited. Young listeners will enjoy hearing about a different country's everyday life and holiday traditions. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2018]