MATILDA

Who better than Kate Winslet to narrate Dahl’s beloved children’s classic in its 25th-anniversary year? Winslet draws on her impressive experience to bring precocious Matilda and her crusade against insensitive and manipulating adults to new ears. Meet, or re-meet, Matilda’s obtuse family and battle-ax headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. Rejoice as Matilda, with the guidance of her understanding teacher, Miss Honey, rises above her situation and provides a model of spunk and determination. In the narrator role, Winslet is straightforward, precise, and calm. She saves her panache for her characterizations. While Winslet’s Matilda is modestly soft-spoken, she scales her vocal register as the ranting Wormwood parents, booms as Miss Trunchbull, and breathily voices the adored Miss Honey. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2014 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2013]