NOAH BARLEYWATER RUNS AWAY

Andrew Sachs sets a proper "once-upon-a-time tone" for this combination of fairy tale and fable. His soft narration has an air of mystery as he tells a story that is both realistic and fantastical. As 8-year-old Noah sets out on an adventure, Sachs portrays him as both curious and preoccupied with worry. A talking donkey and dachshund lead him to a magnificent toy shop. Sachs creates the whistling, hoarse voice of the store’s elderly owner—a wise and enigmatic carver. Gradually, listeners learn that Noah’s mother impending death has propelled his flight. Sachs’s successful emphasis on the magical will help listeners overlook the tale’s didactic tone and references that are less meaningful than the story being told. S.W. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2011]