`Alex & Zig’ offers tales with messages> Tape contains stories of boy and his angel

Like many small children, Alex didn’t particularly care for bedtime.

He’d fuss, complain and stall any way he could before his parents would finally prod him into the bedtime routine — pajamas donned, teeth brushed, stories read, and songs sung — before submitting to evening slumber.

Alex wanted something different to happen, but all he had were his invisible friends to understand his secrets. Until one night, when Zig appeared at Alex’s second-story window, his nose pressed against the glass.

From that first night, Alex and Zig lived their nighttime adventures, flying among the clouds and talking away until the sunrise.

Following the adult trend, Barbara Murray Klopp’s tale of “Alex & Zig,” an angel, can be heard on tape.

Produced by Earbooks of Camden, “Alex & Zig” contains four stories that tell of more than nighttime journeys. Each story also includes a message geared toward its young audience.

Shortly after Alex begins flying about with Zig, he begins to look forward to the night, brushing his teeth and putting on his pajamas without being asked by his parents. While Mom and Dad begin to get a little suspicious, Alex soon begins to enjoy getting ready by himself, and even feels more grown up.

Later, Zig teaches Alex to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

Written for children ages 3 to 12, “Alex & Zig” is one of six tapes produced by Earbooks. From “The Founding of the Bar Harbor Mouse Bakery” to Dylan Thomas’ “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” the tapes are a new way for children to hear great stories, particularly during car rides.

My own 4-year-old son, Elijah, loves books and videos, but it took awhile for him to actually sit down and listen to the stories.

Midway through the second side of “Alex & Zig,” Elijah stopped the tape and said to me, “Well, John, let’s listen to a few more parts and then we’ll play.”

But after a bit, he could tune in while still playing about, and he enjoyed Kopp’s tales. Elijah also liked the tales’ background music, which was written and performed by classical radio personality Leitha Christie.

And, with a little coaching, he was able to understand the messages within the stories, which also played to his preschool imagination.

The tapes are available for $9.95 each, plus $2 shipping and handling, from Earbooks, P.O. Box 976, Camden 04843. They also can be found at some area bookstores.