THE CITY UNDER THE BACK STEPS

Lampman's ecological story, first published in the 1960s and now out of print, has been brought to audio, narrated by actor David Boyll. Cousins Craig and Jill mysteriously shrink and find themselves prisoners in a colony of ants that live under the back porch stairs. Boyll's narration follows the two humans as they are thrown into the daily activities of the ants. They live and work alongside the colony, protecting the larvae, milking the cows (aphids), and searching for food (grubs are tasty), hoping their good deeds will encourage the queen ant to turn them back to their normal size. Boyll’s rendition is a bit reserved, and his range of voices slender, yet listeners will be enchanted with this exciting adventure—part fantasy and part fact. L.A.C. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2009]