TALES FROM THE ODYSSEY

In a warm, welcoming tone, Osborne, author of the popular Magic Tree House series, reads a thoughtful introduction in which she shares her passion for mythology and her inspiration for this latest project. She then hands off the reading reins to "my friend and favorite Shakespearean actor" Simmons, who brings dramatic heft to these retellings. Fans of Osborne's writing—she has great talent for presenting scientific facts and historic detail in an exciting, fast-paced format for kids—will rally round this top-drawer audiobook interpretation of Book One: The One-Eyed Giant, and Book Two: The Land of the Dead. Simmons conveys the author's enthusiasm for the subject matter, offering a sonorous, never pompous-sounding reading voice. Kids will thrill at the scenes featuring the Trojan War (including the Trojan horse) and the Cyclops, and adults may find this distilled version of Homer's epic a zippy refresher course. Ages 7-11. (Dec. 2002).