Wall in the Middle of the Book, The
1 Hardcover/1 CD (see all formats)

The two opposing sides of the wall in this picture book book are differentiated by sound effects. One side has a friendly duck quacking with jaunty music, and the other side has a menacing tune with threatening animals growling. The young knight’s childlike voice confidently espouses his worldview that he is on the safe side of the wall. As water rises in the illustrations, sound effects build from gentle streaming to rushing water. After the young knight is pushed over the wall, one hears water dripping from his body. He then meets an affable ogre with a jolly laugh, who is reminiscent of Hagrid from Harry Potter. As the knight realizes this side of the wall is safe, the animals noises change from growls to warm purrs. Celebratory music plays as the knight goes off with the ogre to explore. A picture book of few words is skillfully given depth with sound effects and dialogue between two talented voices.

Narrators Everest de Montebello and Marc Thompson provide a young knight with a youthful voice and a large ogre with a deep and gravelly voice in this examination of children's perception. At the beginning of the audiobook, the characters confidently inhabit their own sides of a brick wall. As the story unfolds, things are not exactly what the knight thinks they should be. Listeners will chuckle as de Montebello voices the knight's disgust with the ogre and share in his amazement as his side of the wall changes dramatically. Then they'll relish Thompson's gusto as the ogre shares his side. Sound effects provide background AND fade-away giggles. This is an audiobook that works wells as a read-along with pictures that tell all!