The story of Hamelin, rid of its plague of rats by a mysterious piper who then entices away the town’s children when the mayor refuses to pay the promised 500 gold ducats, is a well-known homily on reaping what you sow. But surely the children have a story to tell. CBC host and raconteur Bill Richardson has created an intriguing fantasy out of a possible answer to the question: what happened to the children?

While the city fathers negotiate with the piper, Penelope prepares for the most important day of her life – her 11th birthday, the day she will visit the sage Cuthbert to be told of her special gift. But on her birthday morning Penelope wakes up deaf and when the piper starts to play, enchanting all the town’s children including Penelope’s beautiful older sister, Penelope hears nothing and is left behind.

Penelope learns that her gift is for deep dreaming and that only she can follow the children across the border into the dreamland where the Pied Piper holds them hostage. On her quest she has one companion, her cat, harp strings given to her by a blind harpist, and her skill as the best skipper in Hamelin: all of these she turns to clever use on her perilous quest.

This well-plotted fantasy makes compelling reading. The piper turns out to be truly evil, but along the road there’s lots of fun, especially when the cowardly dragon, Quentin, turns up. As well, by casting Penelope (by this time now 101 years old) as the narrator, Richardson is able to use inventive wordplay and a rich, storytelling voice that makes this story perfect for reading aloud. For younger listeners, preface it with a retelling of the original Pied Piper tale.