Iron Ring

"Look into the tiger's eyes. I wish to show you lives different from your own," Soma-Nandi tells the boy-kingTamar.When you joinTamar on his enchanted journey, you too can look into the tiger's eyes. But beware, for along the way, nothing is as it appears to be: forest creatures speak and populate hidden kingdoms, hacked-down vines regenerate before your very eyes, and holy men spring up from ant hills. In a dream, Tamar has lost everything to the impressive King Jaya in a game of dice.Tamar feels honor-bound to obey the king's command: he must give up his kingdom to travel to a Jaya's domain. His obligation is confirmed when he awakens to find an iron ring on his finger. Inspired by the classic mythology of India, virtuoso storyteller Lloyd Alexander creates dazzling visions of high adventure and deep humanity. A sprinkling of Hindi and singsong verses add spice to this epic tale. Narrator Ron Keith's clear, compelling English accent adds vivid atmosphere and makes the extraordinary real."An enjoyable fantasy…"-School Library Journal"Keith's reading is every author's dream: Thoughtful, precise, and beautifully nuanced, juggling the cornucopia of character voices and dialects-young, old, male, female-with seemingly effortless skill."-Kliatt