The Boxcar Children

This collection features Warner's likable siblings, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. Narrator Aimee Lilly has a pleasant voice and takes pains to distinguish the many characters in these stories. Though her adult voices are fine, she hits some odd notes with her children's voices. The one she creates for young Benny is particularly grating. Adult listeners may find themselves annoyed by this, though young fans of the series will probably overlook such matters and become absorbed in solving the various mysteries presented--from what's wrong with the Aldens' new computer game to what's happening with that cursed mummy in the local museum exhibit. J.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

After a peppy opening song, this kid-detective mystery bursts right out of the gate when the Alden children lose their luggage before arriving at summer camp. Despite Aimee Lilly's able attempts, the story lags after that. Even after repeated listenings, it's hard to tell who's who and what's what. It all sounds like two hours of driveling children. Since you may be playing this tape to entertain yours in the car, you don't need more of that. A.G.H. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

Here we have an audio version of volume 1of The Boxcar Children Series, the chronicle of the four Alden children. Four children from the reviewer's family comment on the titles. Sarah (age 13): "She doesn't do the grandfather very well." Asher (age 10): "The narrator is okay with the girls, but I don't like the way she does boys." In fact, there is little attempt at characterization. Akiva (age 6), followed by Aryeh (age 4), carried the player around the house for days, enjoying the stories immensely. Akiva's and Aryeh's opinion of the tapes: "Fine." Newman's saccharine narration irritates the adult ear but evidently is quite acceptable to six and four-year-olds. This set is strictly for small children; they love it. D.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine