A Magical Storytelling CD

In an era where kids are up to their ears in video games and instant messages, Jay O'Callahan shows just how powerful a good old fashioned story can be.  O'Callahan's CD, The Little Dragon and Orange Cheeks is a simple little thing with a sketch for a cover. But pop it into the CD player and hold on to your hat.

On a recent trip to Los Angeles with an eternal drive ahead and nothing left to keep my son entertained but a pile of ever dwindling CDs, I pulled this off of the stack. For the next six hours he clung to O'Callahan's every word. We listened to a tale of a baby dragon who couldn't breathe fire, left to save the world from freezing. We heard about a boy who makes a simple mistake and hides it, only to make things worse and worse to the point of outright agony. We laughed like mad at the lazy bee who refused honey duty, but who's voice drove the other bees into a tizzy. And we listened to the tale of a mischevious kid from France intent on tricking his grandma with a secret tulip plan.

There are no special effects in this CD. No amazing orchestra. No full color storybook so kids can read along. And yet, not only was everyone in our family mesmerized, my son asked us to hit "repeat", eight times in a row so he could hear the CD back to back all the way to L.A.

In a world of too many distractions, Jay O'Callahan gives families a glimpse of what it must have been like to gather around a bard in ancient times. He is a fantastic storyteller and I can't think of a better way to pass an hour on your next road trip, than by popping this CD into the stereo. It is pure magic.