A Welsh dragon and a chemistry-mad toad use moxie and firepower to outwit a meglomaniac corn baron.
When Dewi is clobbered by a falling rat, the nosy young Welsh dragon snoops his way into a challenging predicament. Helped by a toad with a passion for chemical wart cures, Dewi discovers that a meglomaniac baron is secretly breeding mutant corn at an unfriendly castle. To thwart the genetically modified-corn baron's sickening plan, he must use moxie and firepower in a series of catastrophe-skirting capers.
Excerpt
Dewi rummaged through the papers on the writing desk. If the baron had written a plan, the mystery could be solved. His search was interrupted by the sound of spurs jingling on the stone floor of the entrance hall. The spurs and whoever was wearing them were coming toward the library. Dewi looked around the room. There was no place to hide. There were no handy cabinets to sneak behind and the writing desk was open on all sides. Dewi knew if he crouched under it, he'd be as easy to spot as a cherry in a white bowl. If he hid behind the drapes, they'd bulge in all directions like a sack full of monkeys. Dewi wished a big hole would suck him up, but the library floor was solid stone and he didn't have a jackhammer.
The spurs were now clanking right outside the library door. Heavens! Dewi looked up. The ceiling had no handy hole in it, but it was supported by rows of strong rafters. In a flash he flew up to a dark corner and rooted himself on one of them. Down below the spurs entered the room. The fellow attached to them looked like the person in the portraits on the wall. He clink-clonked his way to the writing desk, tossed some papers around, and yelled, "Peegor! Get in here! Peegor! ... Where is that pea-brained good-for-nothing? He's never around when I need him. PEEGOR!"
The door to the rat room opened and Peegor dragged himself out. "You called, Master?"
"Yes, you useless, snot-nosed bag of rat pellets, I can't find copies of the contract. Did you finish making them?"
Peegor's bulging eyes didn't blink as he answered very slowly, "Most gracious baron, your humble servant licks your spurs, but ..."
"What's the matter, Peegor? Is your dungeon too warm and your straw mattress too comfy for you to get up until half the day has gone?" A very nasty laugh crawled through the gap in the baron's rotten teeth.
Professional Reviews
The Next Geronimo Stilton
I was pleasantly surprised when I opened this very charming and witty book to read on the skytrain. But I have to say it was kind of embarrassing. I couldn't stop giggling out loud at Maggie Lyon's humour. People kept looking at me, and I tried my hardest to hold in the laughter, but it was impossible. What a delightful story! What child wouldn't love this. It's a story for 6-10 year olds. It's a great book to read to your children when they're young or by themselves when they're older. If your child likes Geronimo Stilton, they'll fall in love with Dewie the little dragon and his friend Jones the toad. I hope Maggie Lyons will turn this into a series.
- unicorngirl
Dewi and the Seeds of Doom
This is a great little book that I shared with my niece. Dewi is a very smart Welsh Dragon, a curious little sleuth with good upbringing, who finds himself out to solve a mystery. Dewi meets several interesting characters that really had us laughing. This book is well written and flows easily along. Ms. Lyons conjured a great tale that is marvelously creative. My niece now loves this book and is begging for me to buy her a "Dewi the dragon" plush toy. Ms. Lyons, write another Dewi story and start making plush toys too! Most of all, thank you for a wonderful afternoon solving a mystery with my niece.
- T. F. Simmons
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Reviews for "Dewi and the Seeds of Doom"
Reviewed by Wayne Walker
1/26/2013
What could dragon, a sick rat, a toad, and bad corn all have in common? Dewi is a young Welsh dragon, the son of Owen, Dragon of Pembroke. One day, Dewi is hit in the nose by something that falls from the sky. He hopes that it is meteorite, but it turns out to be a very sick rat that was dropped by a kestrel because it seemed poisoned. What is wrong with the rat? With the help of his friends, Llewellyn Cledwyn, or Billy Know-All the goat, Squiffy the water vole, and Mr. Jones the toad, Dewi finds clues that lead him to the the Casstle Gloomsgor where the evil Baron Doom and his servant Peegor are secretly breeding mutant corn. What is the Baron planning to do with it? Will Dewi and his friends learn what the plan is and be able to stop it? Or will they get caught?
Dragon stories are all the rage among kids today. And everyone likes a good mystery to solve. As a detective, Dewi is smart and curious with a good upbringing. He knows how to search for clues and figure out what they mean. Also, he is persistent in not giving up when difficulties arise but pressing on. Yet, he realizes that he needs the help of his friends to achieve his goals. A few euphemisms and childish slang terms (“old fart,” “my butt’s sticking out,” gosh) are found. But basically this is a fun tale that middle grade youngsters will enjoy. Author Maggie Lyons, who was born in Wales and grew up in England before coming to Virginia, first wrote about Dewi the Red Dragon in the online children’s magazine knowonder! Dewi and the Seeds of Doom is well written with characters that will keep the reader laughing, and a plot that flows easily along.
