CHU'S DAY

It's always a treat when Neil Gaiman narrates his own work, and CHU'S DAY—a bite-sized nibble all of three minutes long—is no exception. Chu is a young panda with a truly impressive sneeze. Gaiman's voice is friendly while still maintaining a touch of the mysterious. He makes "There was old-book-dust in the air" sound like it could be the beginning of a spooky novel. His enthusiastic rendition of the windup to Chu's sneezes ("Aah- aaah- aaaah-") will have listeners of all ages giggling. Clever sound effects convey the result of Chu's sneeze, but listeners should be sure to seek out the picture book, too, to see Adam Rex's menagerie of rich, colorful animal illustrations. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2013]