A story is a wonderful thing. As a child, I spent many hours wrapped up warmly in the delectation of the written word. It's positively amazing how mere pages bound together in a book can take on a life of their own and cause you to fall headlong into the worlds they create. When that happens, you've snagged a great story, and the stories on this CD are great stories. Written by tried and true authors such as Beatrix Potter, Rudyard Kipling, Charles H. Bennett and Frank L. Baum, in their own wonderful and captivating fashion, these classics weave imaginative tales that are chock full of clever humor, high drama and important life lessons. As a producer, I've attempted to retain the spirit in which these tales were originally written, and at the same time forge a few elements of my own that will enhance, and hopefully not hinder, the narrative for today's discerning ear. As a result, I believe both children and adults will enjoy the listen. If I've succeeded in my effort, it's not because of any great talent on my part, but the genius of the source material which inspired me. If the listeners of this audio project, whether young or old, are stirred into cracking open more written volumes because of what they hear, then I feel I've accomplished my task. Remember the words of Dr. Seuss: "The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." Special thanks to Jody Robinson and Erica Therrell for kindly lending their voices to this project. Jon Lawhon