"Stephen DiLauro has achieved the sought-after but rare quality of creating original tales that sound ages old" -- Paul Shackman, Booklist, American Library Association
“Entertaining, well-told tales . . . witty and delightful . . . entirely worthwhile”
Philadelphia Inquirer
“Mesmerizes right from the start . . . a blend of spookiness and humor that will have listeners on the edge of their seats . . . timeless . . . a marvelous tapestry of sound”
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The telling of these tales is as fresh and imaginative as the stories themselves. DiLauro has a relaxed, easy-to-listen-to style." -- AudioFile

"This is a delightful recording that introduces us to a variety of interesting characters who make us laugh and shudder a bit." -- SingOut, The Folk Song Magazine
"If you love rivers, you'll love River Tales!” -- American Rivers newsletter

“Amusing stories . . . will have listeners reciting along . . . Entertaining . . . useful for introducing folk tales” School Library Journal
“River Tales is fun for children and their families. Bank on it.” Orlando Sentinel

“Rivers of fun for kids . . . Mark Twain revisited!” Big Apple Parents Paper

The editors of the American Library Association's Booklist chose River Tales as one of the ten best audio projects of the 1990s.
All River Tales, including Blue Deer, were first broadcast on WBAI-FM public radio in New York City beginning in July 1995. Subsequently, the River Tales series found a listening audience on nearly 200 public radio stations throughout the English-speaking world and the stories continue being broadcast to this day.
The series won a Parents Choice award and was the subject of a piece by Stephen Levy in Newsweek Magazine.