Quest Kids and the Dragon Pants of Gold

by Mark Leiknes

Overview

Comics artist Mark Leiknes delivers a laugh-out-loud story set in a fantastic world of dragons, rock creatures, and golden loungewear.
 
The Quest Kids are ready for their first real quest. This time, they won’t oversleep, they won’t be put off by a little rain, and they won’t accidentally burn down the village that hired them. All they have to do is find the Golden-Fleeced Rage Beast, shave it, and make a really nice golden tracksuit to appease a furious dragon. Simple, right?
 
Meet the Quest Kids crew: Gil, a wizard (well, wizard in training . . . the beard isn’t his); Terra, a 700-year-old elf kid; Boulder, a rock troll who is more of a cook than a fighter; Ash, a flatulent pig-dog-maybe-lizard hybrid; and, Ned, the intrepid and overly optimistic leader with his own personal quest to find his missing parents. With humor, magic, mystery, and at least one acid swamp filled with skeletal alligators, Quest Kids and the Dragon Pants of Gold is a richly illustrated saga of fantasy friendship for readers from all kingdoms! 
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454946250
Publisher:	Union Square Kids
Publication date:	09/13/2022
Series:	Quest Kids
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	136,523
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.00(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	720L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Mark Leiknes lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with his wife and three kids. He produced a nationally syndicated comic strip (Cow & Boy) for eight years and now he writes and illustrates books for kids. Mark studied graphic design in college and honed his comedic chops studying improv and sketch comedy at the acclaimed Groundlings School. Visit him online at markleiknes.com.

Editorial Reviews

Young readers dipping their toes into fantasy realms will find plenty to enjoy here….The illustrations bounce along as quickly as the text, making this a bubbly read, one that quickly grabs attention and doesn’t require much hand-holding.... A rip-roaring good time.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Begin with a wizard, add a 100-year-old elf, a rock troll named Boulder who loves to cook, and a pig-dog-maybe-lizard. Give them a brave leader and you’ve got the Quest Kids . . . . Lively format.” —Twin Cities Pioneer Press

From the Publisher

2022-07-13
A gaggle of youngsters set off on their first quest.

The Quest Kids crew are a varied lot: There’s Gil, a wizard-in-training; Terra, a 700-year-old elf child; and Boulder, a friendly rock troll who is better at preparing meals than vanquishing enemies. There’s also Ash, a pig/dog/lizard sort of thing that brings a lot of flatulence to the table. And finally, there’s Ned, the boldly (and somewhat overly) optimistic leader with his own personal quest to find his missing parents. The adventurers are tasked with discovering the golden-fleeced rage beast. Once the beast is quelled or slain, they must shave it and create a golden tracksuit jacket as an offering to a disgruntled dragon. The party bounces from scene to scene, flashing gags at a breakneck pace, with characters spouting funny one-liners. Young readers dipping their toes into fantasy realms will find plenty to enjoy here. The characterization is sharp, the jokes land, and the inner workings of the magical kingdom make just enough sense that things don’t completely fall apart. The novel is presented in a familiar half-prose, half-comics style. The illustrations bounce along as quickly as the text, making this a bubbly read, one that quickly grabs attention and doesn’t require much hand-holding. Ned reads White; Gil and Terra have slightly darker skin.

A rip-roaring good time. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews