EMILY’S FIRST 100 DAYS OF SCHOOL

Diana Canova brings alive Rosemary Wells’s popular counting book, pulling out all the stops. She sings, does a great imitation of teenaged big sister Eloise’s superior voice, and puts a lot of energy and imagination into the miscellaneous characters we meet along the way, from teacher Miss Cribbage and neighbor Mr. Huffington to relatives and friends alike. Some may wish that Canova had pitched main character Emily’s voice a tad lower; it’s very high and girlish and can get on the nerves of listening adults, but little listeners don’t appear to mind. This story depicts with humor and delightful pictures the role of numbers in elementary school. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 06]