Gr 1-6‘This unabridged audio recording of Natalie Babbit's Knee Knock Rise (FS&G, 1970) is a wonderful way to enjoy this fable about man's need for belief systems. A young boy ventures from a tiny village to discover the source of a mysterious cry at the top of a rocky mountain. Despite evidence that the sound is an explainable, natural occurrence, the townsfolk refuse to believe it is anything but the wailing and moaning monster, the Megramum. Suzanne Toren, who received the 1988 Narrator of the Year Award for the narration of 900 Talking Books for the Library of Congress, gives an outstanding performance as the narrator and the voices of each realistic and well-defined character. Her voice is pleasant and animated. The clear recording, with even volume, will stand alone or as a companion to the book. In the school setting, teachers and librarians can use it as an introduction to the author, with small or large groups. Reluctant readers will find this a helpful tool and it also would be a great addition to a family library.-Lisa J. Radmer, Opstad Elementary School, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The village of Instep is the setting for this fantasy about Eagen, a young boy who comes to visit relatives and sets out to find the answer to the mysterious Megrimum, a creature that roars atop Kneeknock Rise. The story is old- fashioned in tone and written with imagination and suspense, and the ironies underscoring the plot will add dimension to class discussions.