Customer Reviews

Frances Audio Collection CD (I Can Read Book 2)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was so thrilled to find this collection. As a little girl, I had the books along with the records. The records were great...especially when Frances would sing...and the background music and sound effects were magical. When I played this tape, I was disappointed. There is no music or sound effects...just a woman with an English accent that reads the story to you...and she reads very quickly. The songs are sung differently than they were on the records but the more and more I listen to this tape, the more I am just happy to have something that reminds me of my childhood. I am still searching for the original recordings though!

The stories are narrated by Glynnis Johns, she played the mother in Mary Poppins. My children listened intently and laughed a lot at irrascible Frances. They asked for the stories over and over.

My four year old has loved the Frances books since she was two; this CD is absolutely perfect and she asks for it at least once a week, and finally we have a sort-of tune for all of wonderful Frances' songs. PS if you are a real Frances fan as a parent, check out Mr. Hoban's "Riddley Walker" adult novel. Trust me, you will love it, and in 10 or 15 years, your current Frances fan will too.

My 6 year old son loves the Francis stories, even though he is usually more attracted to stories like Henry Huggins, or Mouse Tales; etc. However, he was a bit put off by the change in narrators between the Francis audio collection and a different Francis tape and book. The audio collection employs an older English lady with a rather coarse voice for it's narration.
He wrinkled his nose and said "who's that"? when listening for the first time. I think he prefers the pleasant voice narration on "A Bargain for Francis", and some other Francis selections.

While teaching preschool for many years, this tape was the start of most naptimes! Now ordering it for my child, I can't wait to see them enjoy it as well... The reading is beautiful and after listening you can't help but hear that voice when reading it yourself.

My kids are grown now and I am ordering it for them as more of a nostalgia thing. We origianlly listened to it on a record we got from the library, and the many phrases in the tapes narrated by Glynnis John have become a part of the vocabulary of our family. The tapes are actually better than the books because Frances becomes more of a kid and less of a badger, but the books are great. We loved them and am glad a recording is still available.

I grew up listening to Glynis Johns tell the story of Frances. Some mentioned that she has a dry Brittish voice but that's what I love about it, it lends an odd sophistication to Frances who has the world figured out but is still learning new lessons about friendship and sisters and relating to parents. I was delighted to find out that the Frances ditty about bread and jam is sung by the mother from Mary Poppins, something I never put together before. My one-year-old is a bit young for this but listening to one story at a time does hold her interest in the car.

I guess I did not read the description carefully, because I assumed the CD came with the books to look at while listening. So after it arrived, I ordered all the books as well.
As for the CD, I think the reader presents the story a little to quickly for very young listeners, not giving them enough time to contemplate the thoughts presented in the dialog. I would prefer she read it slower. Her voice is a bit raspy, and she does not sing the songs, instead recites them as a poem. I guess I am used to the way I read the book, changing voices sometimes for each character, especially when singing the made-up songs that are a special part of Frances' personality.

All in all though, I would highly recommend the CD but buy the books as well of course.

Frances was a favorite of mine as a child, so I bought the books for my daughter who is 2yrs old. She doesn't quite get it yet, but likes listening to it nonetheless, and I've discovered that these stories are fun for the grown-up reading them too.

I remember this from my childhood, and it was a joy to be able to purchase it for my child. It has held up well over time.