THE PENDERWICKS IN SPRING The Penderwicks, Book 4

Narrator Susan Denaker does a splendid job with this fourth in the Penderwick series. Although part of a large blended family, each of the Penderwick kids is distinct, along with their many friends and neighbors. At center stage is Batty, who sounds determined and earnest as she begins a dog-walking business (with hilarious consequences) to help raise money for the family. Adorable little brother Ben and spoiled baby Lydia add to the confusion and fun. Denaker is impressive with the foreign languages that the family members occasionally use. She's also very moving as Batty copes with the double loss of her mother--who died at her birth--and her beloved dog, Hound. Listeners will enjoy the feeling of nostalgia that permeates this contemporary novel. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2015]