THE GREAT GOOD THING

What if the characters in books were literally alive—and ready for new adventures—not only within their stories, but also in a reader's dreams and memories? In his children's book debut, Townley takes this idea and runs with it, presenting a tales-within-a-tale tome, ripe for audio adaptation. Actress Blair Brown initially sounds stiff and detached, but after a few chapters warms to the material and reads with emotional gusto as 12-year-old Princess Sylvie ventures from her role as heroine of the storybook The Great Good Thing into the dreamscape of Claire, the book's Reader. The great unknown brings Sylvie both excitement and peril, teaching her important lessons about the lives—and dreams—of humans. Exploring beyond her character's dimensions helps Sylvie appreciate that staying within the boundaries of her oft-told tale serves a great purpose, even if it can get a little boring. Brown's capable and ultimately vibrant performance will have listeners cheering for Sylvie as well as imagining their own reading experiences in a whole new light. Ages 8-up. (June)