The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts.

THE TEACHER'S FUNERAL: A COMEDY IN THREE PARTS. Richard Peck. 2004. Read by Dylan Baker. 3 tapes. 2.66 hrs. Listening Library. 1-4000-9103-9. $30.00. Vinyl; plot, author, reader notes. JSA 

Peck's tale centers around a one-room schoolhouse in 1904. When the teacher dies in August, Russell Culver is at first delighted at the thought of school being cancelled, and then dismayed to find his 17-year-old sister installed as teacher. What follows is a year filled with adventures, educational trauma, romance, and humor. There are snakes, exploding stoves, privy fires, close encounters between buggies and automobiles, and all sorts of shenanigans. It's an old-fashioned story filled with old-fashioned activities and language, which may puzzle some younger listeners. It does make for excellent multigenerational listening, though.

The narrator starts out a bit monotonously, but hits his stride about one-quarter of the way through the book and settles into voiced interpretations of the characters. His country-folk drawl turns out fine and he brings the old-timey Illinois countryside and people to life. Carol Reich, Youth Svcs., Hillsboro PL, Hillsboro, OR

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advance students and adults. This code will help librarians and teacher working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.