The Dragon of Doom

by Bruce Coville Narrated by Ryan Sparkes

Overview

The first book in this charming series introduces Edward and Moongobble, as well as the Rusty Knight and Urk, the Faithful Toad. Filled with laughs and adventure, this delightful recording also features an extensive original score by Todd Hobin.

Editorial Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

A little boy named Edward is the first-person narrator of this transitional chapter book that also includes a bumbling beginning magician, backfiring spells, and a talking toad. The magician, Moongobble, is assigned the task of procuring three golden acorns from the Dragon of Doom who guards them, and Edward goes along on the quest journey as an assistant. Lots of dialogue, very short chapters with cliff-hanging endings, and pencil illustrations interspersed throughout the text help keep the action moving. But the plot and characters are really nothing new or particularly exciting in the world of wizard-wannabe fiction-though the subject will have instant appeal at this age range. The Dragon of Doom turns out to be a small, rather shy creature who merely projected his huge shadow with "smoke and mirrors" to scare people away. The troop of adventurers returns to Edward's village to await Moongobble's next assignment to prove himself worthy of membership in the Society of Magicians, and further volumes expanding the series seem destined to develop Edward's own interest in becoming an apprentice magician. (Fiction. 6-9)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170024797
Publisher:	Full Cast Audio
Publication date:	01/01/2004
Series:	Moongobble & Me , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1: The Cottage on the Hill

I live in a little town called Pigbone.

Its full name is Pigbone-East-of-the-Mountains. I don't know if there is a Pigbone-West-of-the-Mountains. How could I? No one in our town ever goes anywhere.

"Why should we go somewhere else, Edward?" said my mother every time I complained about this. "We have everything we need right here."

I disagreed. What we didn't have was excitement.

Mother and I live in a little cottage at the edge of town.

Everyone in Pigbone lives in a cottage.

The only other kids in Pigbone are two older boys, who are kind of mean, and one new baby. So until Moongobble showed up, I sometimes got pretty lonely.

Behind our cottage is a big hill, very steep.

On top of the hill, right at the edge, sits another cottage, so big it's almost a house. It even has a kind of tower.

A long, twisty path winds up to this cottage, which had been empty for as long as I could remember. This cottage was where I went when I wanted to be alone. In fact, I spent so much time there I almost felt as if it belonged to me. So I was surprised, and a little upset, the day I saw smoke curling out of its chimney.

I ran to my mother.

"Someone has moved into the empty cottage!" I cried.

"Ignore it, Edward," she said. She wiped her hands on her apron and turned back to what she was cooking.

Mother was always cooking or washing or something. Sometimes I could help. Sometimes she just wanted me to get out of the way.

I decided this was a good time to get out of the way.

I also decided that the most out-of-the-way place I could get was up the hill.

I started up the narrow path that led to the cottage. The grass besidethe path was as high as my shoulders. Bugs buzzed around me. The sun was warm. I started to sweat.

When I was about halfway up the hill, I turned to look down at Pigbone. I counted the cottages. Fifteen, just like always. Our cottage was the closest. The one farthest away-the biggest and nicest one-belonged to the Rusty Knight.

I started to climb again.

I was out of breath by the time I got to the top.

I had planned to go right up to the cottage door and ask who was living there. Then I saw something that slowed me down. Bursts of green light were coming out of the window!

I decided to do some sneaking. This was something I had practiced a lot, so I was very good at it.

Dropping to my knees, I crawled toward the cottage. I moved very quietly.

As I got closer, I heard voices.

"You know that's not going to work," said one voice. It was deep and raspy.

"Don't be so gloomy!" said the other voice. It was softer and had a friendly sound.

"I'm not gloomy," said the first voice. "I'm honest."

I crept closer. Soon I was just beneath the window.

Vines covered the side of the cottage. Using the vines for support, I lifted my head to peek over the windowsill.

I couldn't believe what I saw!

Copyright © 2003 by Bruce Coville

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