JULY 2021 - AudioFile
The sixth audiobook in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive, narrated by William Jackson Harper, features young Franklin Endicott. Frank has an ever-growing list of worries. Then an errand with a neighbor results in Frank ending up with a key he doesn’t recognize. “Whose key is it?” Frank worries. He must face his fears to solve the mystery. Opening music places listeners in the idyllic setting of Deckawoo Drive. Harper aptly voices the unique personalities of a variety of characters. Most notably, his performance captures Frank’s careful, contemplative disposition. His narrative style is both unhurried and expressive, making for an easy listen, especially as a read-along for younger listeners who have the printed book. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
The latest book from “Tales from Deckawoo Drive” might be DiCamillo’s most charming offering yet in the series. . . . The tale is as uplifting as it is literary, and the author tells a genuine story that may inspire readers to be like Franklin, a child open to receiving his very own mysterious, life-changing key. . . . DiCamillo pens a glorious love letter to childhood uncertainty and the powerful and transformative world of reading.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
School Library Journal
★ 06/01/2021
Gr 1–4—The latest book from "Tales from Deckawoo Drive" might be DiCamillo's most charming offering yet in the series. The tale focuses on Franklin, a young biracial boy and the older brother of the unflappable Stella, also neighbor to sisters Eugenia and Baby Lincoln. Unfortunately, this serious boy is struggling with his overwhelming worries (among them, lions, leprosy, submarines, and black holes), which he fastidiously catalogues in a notebook. Franklin's itemizing of fears eventually evolves into nightmares that keep him awake. He finds himself turning to hot milk for relief and visits Eugenia, who is suffering from insomnia. The unlikely pair have a seemingly mundane but divinely inspired adventure that breaks the routine of Franklin's anxiety and opens a door previously unknown to him. Van Dusen's familiar illustrations bring the Mercy Watson universe to life in shiny-cheeked caricatures, honoring the small-town vibe of the series. The book is rife with challenging vocabulary, such as cavalier, efficacy, procure, and eclecticism. The tale is as uplifting as it is literary, and the author tells a genuine story that may inspire readers to be like Franklin, a child open to receiving his very own mysterious, life-changing key. VERDICT A must-have for libraries looking for engaging early chapter books, and a compelling read-aloud. DiCamillo pens a glorious love letter to childhood uncertainty and the powerful and transformative world of reading.—Rachel Joiner, Advent Episcopal Sch., Bessemer, AL
JULY 2021 - AudioFile
The sixth audiobook in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive, narrated by William Jackson Harper, features young Franklin Endicott. Frank has an ever-growing list of worries. Then an errand with a neighbor results in Frank ending up with a key he doesn’t recognize. “Whose key is it?” Frank worries. He must face his fears to solve the mystery. Opening music places listeners in the idyllic setting of Deckawoo Drive. Harper aptly voices the unique personalities of a variety of characters. Most notably, his performance captures Frank’s careful, contemplative disposition. His narrative style is both unhurried and expressive, making for an easy listen, especially as a read-along for younger listeners who have the printed book. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
