At Rodman Library

Summer is in full swing. If you’re planning any road trips with your children, whether it’s a long-distance trek or short daytrips to local spots, a great way to make the time fly is by listening to books as you travel. The Children’s Department has recently added a number of books on CD for your listening pleasure.

Author Beverly Cleary has been captivating children with her stories for over fifty years and they are still as fresh today as when they were first written. Listen to a trio of stories about a mouse named Ralph and his human friend, Keith. Ralph learns to ride Keith’s toy motorcycle and so begins a series of adventures read in winsome style by B. D. Wong. The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Ralph S. Mouse, Runaway Ralph (for ages 6-12, each title runs 2 hours)

Four other Cleary titles have been added to our book on CD collection. Stockard Channing makes 8-year-old Beezus Quimby and her pesky little sister Ramona come to life in two titles packaged together: Beezus and Ramona, and Ramona and Her Father (for ages 6-12, 4 ½ hours total). Henry Huggins and his beloved dog Ribsy are narrated in a humorous style by Neil Patrick Harris. Henry and the Paper Route, (for ages 8-12, 3 ½ hours) relates the story of Henry Huggins, who will try almost anything to have a successful paper route, even giving away a free kitten with every new subscription. Ribsy ( for ages 8-12, 3 hours) is Henry’s dog. He’s off on adventures of his own after becoming separated from his owner.

For a good old-fashioned family story, try The Penderwicks : a Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall (for ages 6 and up, 6 ¾ hours). Join practical Rosalind, contrary Skye, artistic Jane and shy little Batty as they enjoy a summer holiday with their widowed father in the pastoral setting of Arundel. The girls soon develop a friendship with Jeffrey Tifton, son of the owner of the estate. Mrs. Tifton is not at all pleased, however, as she considers the Penderwick girls much too rambunctious for the likes of her son.

Kate DiCamillo’s Newbery Award winning novel The Tale of Despereaux (ages 7 and up, 3 ½ hours) is the unusual adventure tale of a mouse, Despereaux Tilling, who loves music, stories and a princess named Pea. Of course, what’s an adventure story without bad guys (or rats, in this case)? Despereaux is taken prisoner by the rats, but has to find some way to escape and save Princess Pea from Roscuro and the other rats from the castle dungeon.

AT THE LIBRARY

July 3, 2008

What’s new in the Children’s Department at the Rodman Public Library: