Simply Adorable

A big thank-you to crystalclear for suggesting this book both on CBR and in person (by means of shoving the audio book case at me in a parking lot). I toted it around in my car for about a week before reading her review, and I’m glad I took the few hours to listen to this on my commute. The book is absolutely adorable.

Kenny is a young rabbit living in a little farming village, and like most children’s book characters, he doesn’t fit in. He’s a book worm and a smarty-pants, while the rest of his village is more concerned with bringing in the crops and tending the sheep. Aside from his friend George, the local bookshop owner, Kenny is adrift in the world. Until his father comes home claiming there’s a large lizard who has moved onto Shepard’s Hill. Kenny’s investigation turns up Graham, the friendly dragon, and a summer-long friendship begins over a shared love of reading and culture. Even Kenny’s parents get in on the action. But, as is true of anything different anywhere, when word gets out that there’s a dragon in the vicinity, the town goes bonkers, calling for a knight and a killing. Kenny finds himself stuck between his friend and the town, and must use all his smarts to save friendly Graham from imminent destruction.

Read by Alan Cumming, the audio experience (which I don’t normally enjoy), was fabulous. Mr. Cumming did excellent voices for each character, truly bringing the work alive. The characters are heartwarming and kind, even the ones who aren’t supposed to be very nice, and DiTerlizza does a fantastic job of poking fun at some of the fairy-tale genre’s most cliche plot points. It was a refreshing read, filled with fun and well contained craft. DiTerlizza never forgets his audience, but also doesn’t talk down to them, creating a wonderful imaginary world of brilliance and light. And even though it’s for children, I loved it as an adult.

5 stars for successfully hitting the “all ages” category with flying colors.

Bingo Square: Cannonballer Says