BIG TREE

Multiple Oscar winner Meryl Streep brings vocal star power to this tale of two prehistoric sycamore seeds. When an errant dinosaur’s jostle casts Merwin and Louise’s seedpod loose from Mama, it sends them on an odyssey through several Cretaceous biomes. Their search for a place to grow is furthered by agents ranging from a lacewing named Spot to a T. rex. It’s both an adventure and a meditation on time, given texture by Streep, whose distinct characterizations pop against her soothing narration. Dreamer Louise has a high, piping voice, while pragmatist Merwin’s creaky tones betray his timorous nature. Listeners who consult the print edition will discover that narration has been added to carry them over stunning wordless sequences, but the audiobook’s consistent seed’s-eye view lends it a beguiling intimacy. V.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2023]