By: Beverly Cleary
Libby audiobook 2 hours
Read by: B.D. Wong
Published 1965 (this version 2007)
Genre: Children's fantasy
I had originally requested this to listen to with my grandson. After letting someone else on hold have it first, I decided to just listen to it myself. It has been more than four decades since I last read this book! (Unless I read it to my sons? That would have been about three decades ago.)
For the most part, I enjoyed revisiting this story. The two things that I didn't like were the dated references and the vocalization for Ralph.
Written in 1965 (before I was born!), Cleary used things like telephones with wires to the ground and a television set in a big wooden box up on legs which were common at that point in history. They aren't things that young readers experience nowadays.
That wasn't a big deal, but the reader made Ralph sound like a completely rude jerk. His interpretation didn't make me like the little mouse at all. That's too bad, because I have fond memories of these stories from my own childhood.
I think what probably appealed to me the most was a little mouse being able to drive a motorcycle by making vrmm noises to go! Also, there is the question of doing the right thing, keeping your word, and maturing.
I'm glad I listened to it alone. Now I can just read it to my grandson! (When I get to spend time with him.)
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