Good DVD review

A while ago I had a cryptic phone message from School Library Journal, asking for a high-resolution photo of the cover of The Bully Billy Goat and Other Stories. I sent one and asked if this meant I would be getting a review. No answer--until today, when my letter carrier handed me a big white envelope from SLJ.

They didn't use the picture (darn!) and they didn't mention the bonus track, The ghost with the one black eye, but I'm not complaining:

Priscilla Howe is a skillful storyteller who has the ability to capture the attention and imagination of the audience. She captivates a group of children using the school library as a backdrop as she tells them seven stories from around the world. Among the tales are "The Bully Billy Goat" (Poland), "The Pancake" (the Netherlands), "The Bellybutton Bird" (Japan), "Drakestail" (France), and "The Village of No Cats" (Bulgaria). She incorporates fun, interactive moments into "The Poor Little Bug on the Wall" (United States), which helps keep the children engaged. She also uses delightful puppets in telling some of the stories and as an interlude between the tales. A wonderful addition to all collections.--Veronica Schwartz, Des Plaines Public Library, IL.

I think this is the best published review I've ever had. This isn't just vanity on my part: when I was a children's librarian, the reviews in SLJ, Booklist and Kirkus made all the difference in what we ordered. If the review called something "slight" or "an additional purchase," we didn't usually buy it. "A wonderful addition to all collections" would get at least one librarian's initials for purchase.