I TALK LIKE A RIVER

Canadian poet Jordan Scott exquisitely demonstrates the feeling of having words in your mouth that just won't come out. Our young protagonist wakes up with the sounds of words all around him, but when he gets to school, the words are stuck in his throat. His wise, gentle father takes him to his favorite place, the river, and explains how he speaks like the river, "bubbling, churning, whirling, and crashing." Musical accompaniment and sound effects echo the rising and falling of both water and emotions. Scott's narration showcases the difficulties faced by those who, like himself, stutter; the production closes with an excellent author's note. This remarkable audiobook stands well on its own, but listeners won't want to miss the luminous watercolor paintings by Sydney Smith. S.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2020]