A SNOUT FOR CHOCOLATE

In this early reader series, John Beach does a great job narrating Grandpa Spanielson's anti-itch stories, designed to distract his “grand-pup,” Barney, from his chicken pox. Beach has a pleasant narrator's voice, but it's his Grandpa that steals the show as the kindly old dog spins yarns for Barney's benefit. Whether expressing Mrs. Piggerman's muffled cries for help or Grandma's bossy request that Grandpa clean the windows, Beach adds humor to this tale. His pacing allows younger readers to follow along while enjoying the book's pictures. The production includes a variety of sound effects—phones ring, windows get washed, sirens wail, and fire-horns blare, all of which will keep young readers engaged with this funny little story. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2008]