NO MORE PENCILS, NO MORE BOOKS, NO MORE TEACHER'S DIRTY LOOKS

Diane de Groat's story captures the emotional ups and downs of Gilbert and his first-grade classmates on the last day of school. Jason Harris and Peter Pamela Rose combine their craft ably. Their pacing and tone are good, and their vocal characterizations match the written personalities. The teacher sounds a bit like a schoolmarm but could be heard in a humorous light by the younger set. Sound effects do not necessarily enhance the story. Birds chirping as Gilbert walks down the street at the end of his last school day are probably meant to evoke a new beginning and hope, but they seem like early-morning sounds and, therefore, out of place. J.K.R. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2010]