PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS

Having proven his talent for portraying all manner of colorful British characters with panache, Grammy-winning narrator Dale (the Harry Potter books) serves up another cast of winners on this recording. Authors Barry and Pearson take a wild flight of fancy in co-creating a prequel to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan . Gruff and vain pirates, wicked mermaids, talking dolphins, treasure and magic are at the heart of this adventure tale introducing orphan Peter and a spunky girl named Molly, obviously one of Wendy's ancestors. Dale seems to relish the humor and derring-do of this energetically paced story, which is sprinkled with comic scenarios. Fans of Barrie's original will get a kick out of learning the imagined origins of Neverland, Captain Hook (and his crocodile nemesis) and Peter's airborne prowess. Racing from ship to shipwreck on a mysterious island, listeners will be enthralled, eager to see what comes of the dust-ups and battles between these clashing crews. Ages 10-up. (Sept.)