Pecos Bill

The Sony Storybook Classics collection continues to set the standard for quality adaptations of children's stories. Like its predecessors in the series, Pecos Bill combines top-notch illustration animation, quality narration, and great music. Tim Raglin's pictures perfectly complement the story of Pecos Bill--a hero from the tall tale school of American West taming, who is raised by coyotes, becomes a cowboy, uses a snake for a lariat, invents the cattle drive, and, for good measure, rides a cyclone. The narration, by Robin Williams, is both clever (with many asides that will have adults howling) and dexterous. A master of voices, Williams can slide from the dumb palooka voice of Bill to the street-wise black imitation of an annoyed cougar: "Get offa my back!" Ry Cooder's (Crossroads) lively acoustic guitar licks round out this helluva good time for kids, grown-ups, neighbors, pets, neighbors' pets... Highly recommended.