THE SPIRIT OF THE GREAT AUK

This unusual piece of storytelling from master storyteller Jay O'Callahan is less a story for children of all ages than it is a cautionary tale for environmentalists aged 10 and up. In a blend of straightforward narrative and classic O'Callahan embroidery, we hear the story of Dick Wheeler, the "great auk man," who traveled the migratory route of that seabird, hunted to extinction by 1844, in a 17-foot kayak. O'Callahan recounts a story of the incredible daring of one man and the unthinkable loss to us all as our wildlife disappears from the earth. With classic fervor and enthusiasm, O'Callahan makes us care immensely about Dick Wheeler, the outcome of his journey and the bird that is gone forever. T.B. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 98]