THE GREAT TURKEY WALK

Fifteen-year-old Simon Green loves birds, poultry in particular, but he's simple. Everyone knows that. His Aunt Maybelle and Uncle Lucas. His cousins. Even his golden-haired schoolmarm, Miss Rogers. But only Miss Rogers knows that while Simon is simple, he's not at all stupid. Narrator Tom Stechschulte does Simon justice as the boy sets out to escort a thousand turkeys from Missouri to Denver and make his fortune. With his down-home drawl and his slow-but-solid thinking, Simon is an appealing hero. Stechschulte also brings to life a distinctive cast of characters: the genteel Miss Rogers, the gruff-voiced drunken muleskinner, and Simon's oily, villainous father. The leisurely narration is a splendid match for the pace of this feathered trip. T.B. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 00]