This CD has been awarded the Silver Honor Award from Parent's Choice, 2009! Review: Simon Brooks has applied his own unique polish and plot adaptations to four popular tales that are loved by all ages. Provocative contrasts occur in both the deliveries and story themes, such as "telling the truth" when the monkey breaks his promise to bring his heart to the dragon (The Dragon and the Monkey's Heart), but the heroine keeps her promise to return with her sword to rescue the princess (Shape-Shifting Girl). A dominant theme throughout the CD is the power of the "little guy." In Goat from the Hills and Mountains, several strong creatures failed in their attempts to help protect a family from a menacing goat, but a tiny ant is the one who comes to the rescue. The final story (One Wish) encourages clever thinking when someone is faced with a major dilemma. Brooks' savvy sound effects and distinctive British dialect add to the story interest. Although many versions of these stories exist, listeners will applaud Brooks' transformations of these timeless and relevant tales. Dr. Flora Joy ©2009 Parents' Choice