The Castle Corona

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Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT -- School Library Journal, 2/15/2008

The Castle Corona (unabr.). 5 cassettes or 4 CDs. 6 hrs. Recorded Books. 2007. cassette, ISBN 978-4281-7166-4: $41.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4281-7171-8: $51.75.

Gr 3-6–Long ago and far away there lived a king, a queen, the heir to the throne, the second prince, a beautiful princess, and two orphan children. The cast of delightful characters in Sharon Creech’s gentle fairy tale (Joanna Cotler Books, 2007) will intrigue and entertain listeners. When a supposed thief (unheard of in the simple land) charges out of the castle on horseback with a mysterious pouch, the royal community is in an uproar. Meanwhile, Pia and Enzio, the two orphans from a neighboring village, discover the stolen pouch dropped by the thief and find themselves suddenly connected with the castle in ways they never imagined. Jennifer Wiltsie does a wonderful job of giving voice to the inimitable players in this often humorous tale. She perfectly captures the tone and pace of the story, transporting listeners to a land both enchanting and droll.