THE BIG BALLOON RACE

It’s the day of Alice’s mother’s important balloon race. Alice would like to be an aeronaut, too, but both her parents tell her she must wait until she’s older. But maybe, just maybe, this might be the day for Alice to witness a race at close hand. Bonnie Kelley-Young’s energetic narration moves at a fast clip, and she’s an eager commentator on the event. Kelley-Young adds gusto to the mayor’s race-opening remarks, authority to Carlotta’s directives during the race, and excitement to Alice’s airborne adventure. She’s also resourceful as she suggests sound effects for specific words. Gentle music and background sound effects complete this read-along. A.R. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2010]