Three fanciful tales harking back to the spirit of Poe and Hawthorne are linked by the central theme of a sculpted figure and by a pervading atmosphere of mystery and suspense in this Newbery Honor Book. The author's elegant figurative prose is fashioned with fluency and skill. New art opens each story, and an author's afterword is included.

Gr 5-8-Three tales of the supernatural are rejuvenated in this spellbinding performance of Newbery Medalist Paul Fleischman's 1982 novel that is now back in print (Candlewick, 2006). The voices of actors Paul Michael, Susan Denaker, and Lincoln Hoppe provide a cushioning effect for these eerie stories about the secret lives of statues. Hoppe nails the youthful voice of a love-struck boy in "Saint Crispin's Follower," and Denaker's narration of "The Binnacle Boy" gently introduces listeners to the hidden knowledge of a shipboard statue. Michael has an uncanny ability to dramatically change his voice and switch easily between accents. He presents an especially compelling performance as a sculptor and his model in the final story, "The Man of Influence." The rich and mysterious lives of graven images are detailed further in the production's closing remarks as Fleischman divulges what inspired him to write his short stories. Older readers who have moved beyond Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories will find more than enough spooky thrills in this fascinating audio production.-Celeste Steward, Alameda County Library, Fremont, CA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.