From The Critics Publishers Weekly: For those who want to revisit Neverland via J.M. Barrie's original tale, two new recorded editions of Peter Pan are just the ticket. Tim Curry, fresh from narrating the sequel Peter Pan in Scarlet (reviewed above) reads the original for Simon & Schuster Audio, and Jim Dale, the much-lauded voice of the Harry Potter audiobooks, takes on the title for Listening Library. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information. Children's Literature The Darling children, while drifting off to sleep, have often spoken to their mother of Peter Pan but she never quite understands. That is, until the night that the mischievous imp and his companion fairy, Tinker Bell, return to the Darling house to find his lost shadow. It is here that the Darling children, Wendy, John and Michael, receive their first flying lesson, and the first of many other adventures as they are whisked away to Peter's fanciful island of Neverland. This version of Barrie's classic tale is accompanied by the playful illustrations of the highly talented Trina Schart Hyman. Her full-page acrylic paintings particularly depict waif-like characters captured in subtle earthy tones. Her illustrations are done with such careful detail that one cannot help stop reading to study the pictures. Even so, they do not detract from the story itself;they simply add another dimension to the dreamlike quality of Neverland itself. This wonderful version of Peter Pan surely belongs in any home dedicated to the reading of quality literature. 2001, Scribner/Simon & Schuster, $25.00. Ages 7 up. Reviewer:Trina Heidt Tim Curry has a wonderful, sonorous voice. He draws the listener into this unabridged recording of the classic children's story, Peter Pan. With his voice, Mrs. Darling is tender and gay; and her husband, a bit stodgy and humorless. Wendy is carefree, yet responsible; Peter, the boy who won't grow up, is an adventurer-impulsive, petulant, and loyal. Mr. Curry does an excellent job of making Captain Hook fierce and menacing. And he does justice to all of the other characters, John and Michael, Tinkerbell, the Lost Boys, the Redskins, and the pirates. They come to life through Mr. Curry's skillful and talented inflections. But, because the recording is unabridged, there are many places where the story loses its momentum. When the narrator goes on and on explaining or describing things between action scenes, children may lose interest or let their minds wander. This happens early on with the author's prose setting the stage for the arrival of Peter Pan. When it becomes clear that the Darling children are game for an adventure with Peter Pan, the pace picks up. Curry does his best to hold the listener's interest, and for older children, more familiar with some of the sophisticated vocabulary, it will be easier to stick with the whole story. In this fantasy, the Darling children, Wendy, John, and Michael, have a nanny, who also happens to be a dog. The narrator explains that the family is poor, and so cannot afford another nanny. But Nana the dog turns out to be a very competent caretaker. Listeners also learn that Mrs. Darling, like other mothers, "rummage" through their children's minds each night when they are asleep-this being done to put things in order. This is howMrs. Darling first learns about Peter Pan. She actually sees him one night. When Peter, who has all his baby teeth, sees that Mrs. Darling is a grown up, he flees-but not before Nana catches his shadow. Of course, Peter must return for his shadow, and on that occasion, convinces Wendy, who convinces John and Michael, to fly with him to Neverland. A little bi  Brimax Books, Limited 1-85854-603-6 / 9781858546032
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Price: 19.95 USD