The Dragon of Doom

Moongobble and Me #1

by Bruce Coville, Katherine Coville (Illustrator)

Edward is bored with life in the little town of Pigbone.
Then Moongobble the Magician and his faithful toad, Urk, move into the cottage on the hill.
Soon Edward has a job helping Moongobble. And Moongobble needs a lot of help, because it turns out he is not a very good magician. (His spells keep turning things into cheese!)
Edward has never been so busy -- or so happy. But then someone threatens to stop Moongobble from ever casting another spell. Edward can't let that happen. He'll do anything to save his friend's magic -- even face the deadly, dreaded Dragon of Doom!

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Childrens, Chapter Books, Audiobook, Fiction, Magic

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great readaloud for 3rd grade and up, and a great choice for a good 3rd grade reader. The funny adventures are just beginning for Edward, a lonesome little boy in the village of Pigbone, when he meets Moongobble, Pigbone's newest resident and aspiring magician. Several passages made my son practically expire from laughing (of course involving bodily functions). 4 in the series, this is the first.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward becomes the assistant to a new magician who just moved into a cottage outside of the village. But Moongobble is not a very good magician. He is still learning magic and hoping to be admitted into the exclusive magician's guild. He has to complete several quests in order to prove his worth to the other magicians, and Edward is coming along to help!

I love the imaginative plot and delightful fairy-tale characters. The story is simple, but meaningful and full of fun! I like how each book in the series builds on each other as we meet more characters and visit more enchanted places in this fantasy world. These books are really funny too! The characters are sassy with some great dialogue and fun jokes.

The magic is very innocent, and the stories are never too scary. I love how almost every villain they encounter throughout the series turns out to be a misunderstood monster or a cursed person who needs help. They go questing around doing good for others and solving magical mysteries.

I think it's very sweet how Edward and Moongobble establish a trust right away. Although Moongobble is the adult and Edward is a child, it is often Edward who takes care of and protects Moongobble. But Moongobble is also very protective over Edward, so between the two of them, they come safely through all their adventures.

The writing is simple enough for a first-grader to read, but enjoyable enough for an adult to read. I loved this fun series!

[Rachel Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first read for the Magicathon!

Cute story. Liked when the dragon was revealed. I want one!

[Taneka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Edward is bored in the town of Pigtoe. There is no adventure and nothing interesting happens. One day a new neighbor moves in to the house on the hill and he is a magician. He asks Edward to be his helper and Edward is happy he has adventure. Moongobble has been studying for two years and has to pass a test to be accepted into the Society of Magicians. For his first task, he has to gather the Golden Acorns of Alcoona which are in a cave guarded by the Dragon of Doom. Will Edwards’s mother allow him to go on this quest? Will they make it back alive?

I think that it is exciting that a child from a small village can find adventure. I can relate. I grew up in a small town and wanted to leave for a very long time. There was no adventure and it was really boring. I was glad to read that Edward would be paid, since he and his mother were poor. Growing up in such a state can leave a horrible scar on a child. The text, however, was a bit boring. The magician is an older man and it would have been better if it were someone younger that was taking Edward on as an apprentice.

Without the use of magic itself, this book really would not qualify as fantasy. The language is not challenging as magic would be, spells seem to be made up with no effort or imagination, which does not add credibility to the fantasy. To make him invisible, the spell he magician uses is Iggle! Biggle! Furball! The magician seems to be clumsy and incompetent. He lacks the ability to pull off a perfect spell and stumbles through the ones that he has written down. He actually turns himself into cheese in the attempt to become invisible. The setting is in a village, but the quest takes place in a cave in the nearby woods. There is little description of the scenery. The reader has to attempt to create their own visuals of how the surroundings may appear, but the story is told in Edward’s voice, which the lack of detail may be consistent from a child’s viewpoint.

[Angelina Justice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good practice chapter book for on level 2nd to 3rd graders, but also makes a great read aloud for younger or struggling readers. There's opportunity for different voices, and element/emotional expression via the humor and adventure. This is a good alternative for very young readers that have an interest in Harry Potter, but are really too young for much of the content.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a life altering read, but it has enough stinky cheese and fart jokes to become Jack's new favorite series.

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

First chapter book read to my kid, and it gets big points for making him want to get read to even more. He really dug the humor, followed pretty easily and liked asking and answering questions about what was going on. Doesn't compare to my memory of Coville's books, but is certainly written for a younger audience than I was when I remember reading Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher. Might have to read that one over myself.

Edited to add: we're done the series now. There were a couple where we had to have a talk about name-calling, but that's an OK conversation to have.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Moongobble and Me series by Bruce Coville. It's a fun, short story about magic, dragons, knights, and magicians and is sure to appeal to beginning readers.

I enjoyed listening to the full cast audiobook edition of this story and I will certainly look for more books in this series on our local library's OverDrive website.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book, it has a nice fantasy story. It's about a boy named Edward who is the protagonist of the story. He lives in a little town called Pigbone East-Of-the-Mountains, and everyone in the town never goes anywhere. Edward would complain about this and his mother would always tell him, " Why should we go somewhere else, Edward?" and, " We have everything we need right here." Edward didn't agree with that, and in his town there wasn't much excitement. Edward and his mother lives 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. Behind Edward's 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. There's a long twisty path that winds up to this cottage, which had been empty for as long as Edward could remember. The huge cottage was where Edward would go if he wanted to be alone. He goes there so much that Edward felt like he owned the place. He was surprised and a bit upset when he saw smoke coming out of the huge cottage chimney. He decided to go see who moved in. He sneaked up the hill and got to a window. When he looked he couldn't believe what he saw. He saw a pudgy old man holding a smooth a stick. The bursts of green light coming from the stick immediately made Edward think “magic!” The man was wearing a brown robe and a pointing hat. Edward also saw sitting in a little armchair was a fat toad. The toad was talking to the old man. The man then casted a spell on a stone and he turned that stone into cheese. The toad then noticed Edward peeking through the window. Edward got scared and pleaded the wizard not to turn him into cheese. The wizard to calm down and that it was alright. After that Edward was hanging with the wizard and the toad a lot. The wizard has been practicing his magic because kept turning stuff into cheese. Then someone threatens to stop the wizard from ever casting another spell. Edward didn't want that to happen and will do anything for his magic friend.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I loved the signs like ‘You fool! Now you are entering the forest of night’ or ‘don’t say we didn’t warn you. You’re trapped now’ and then two monsters come out of the ceiling or something.

I loved moo gobble. He loved cheese so much that literally all his spells turn into cheese. So that becomes his best defense! But sometimes he also even turns himself into cheese.

One funny part is the knight has really bad ears and Moongobble said he needed a nap but the knight heard map.”
-JoJo

This series also got my reluctant reader to love reading. Finally and hurray!!! There’s no stopping him now!

There is something to ownership that also really helped. When I told him he could keep this book for his very own “library”, it was a big motivation for him. Once he was hooked by the humor and plot, and knowing he would get to keep this funny book for his very own, he persevered with pride to finish. By the time he had finished the book, his reading speed and comprehension had skyrocketed exponentially.

[Bridget Neace · Rating 3 out of 5]

While doing a genre studies enrichment group with 3rd/4th graders, I became faced with the challenge of finding a fantasy book that could be finished within a couple of days (we only meet once a week and we do a different genre every month).

I loved Coville's "My Teacher is an Alien" series growing up and when I saw this book, the first in another series by him, I figured I'd found a winner.

Nothing life-changing, but quick read and my students enjoyed it; I'd probably rank it higher if I were an actual member of the target audience. :) I am curious enough about Edward and Moongobble's fates to continue the series, though, so that says something. :)

[Lisa Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward lives in a very small village with his mother, when his life changes forever because a wizard moves into the empty cottage nearby. The wizard, Moongobble, along with his toad, Urk, change Edward's life forever, and add some much needed excitement into his life - including a quest to find the Dragon of Doom.

Such fun book, and a great read-aloud for young kids (4-8yrs) or a wonderful beginning reader chapter book. My five year old son loved it, and I think we will continue the series.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the cutest beginning reader dragon story ever! Moongobble is an aspiring magician that moves into the neighborhood. He wants to be a great magician, but all of his spells end up making cheese. He fails his magic test, and is required to perform the task of facing the Dragon of Doom. I love how Edward is so loyal and brave. Super Cute! Every beginning reader who loves fantasy is going to love this story.

[Bookslut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cute, nothing revolutionary. It's a good story, some very funny parts, and my son was pleased. The writing seemed a little over-simple, but it's perfect for a five year old kid. We'll be moving on in the series. I think, especially with consideration for the simple writing style, he did some very nice character building here. I loved the Rusty Knight, Moongobble, and Urk.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in preparation of teaching third grade. I enjoyed it as a great beginner mystery book for young readers. Coville creates characters that you cheer for. I'm looking forward to using this book in the upcoming school year.

[Lance Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never gonna not love a Bruce Coville book, his whole library should be required reading for any budding reader with a penchant for the fantastic. Not even ashamed that I’m a 43 year old many reading a child’s book.

[H. Givens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, good for a beginning readers who like fantasy and dragons, but nothing extraordinary.

[Lucinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an adorable little book, very cute but fun adventure.

[Susan Forsgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book for those elementary students that think their life is dull.

[Maggie Maxfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quincy got a huge kick out of the dragon reveal. The best part was that it didn't take long to get there.

[Délice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute and simple elementary adventure. I didn't finish it but would love to collect the series for my boys later on.

[jackie norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun early reader chapter book. One we all enjoyed together. The whole series was worth reading.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 for me- it was cute and simple. For kids I think it would be much higher. I think most young kids would have a lot of fun with this.

[Mary Wyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it years ago. I liked saying the name Moongobble and the dragon was so cute.
Enjoy :)

[Danelle Our-Wolves-Den · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids read aloud

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this out loud to my 7yo and 5yo and they loved it! It is funny and fun to read, with short chapters, beautiful illustrations, and fun characters.

[Vijay Movia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book to Begin with reading

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Full Cast Audio productions and this story and its characters are adorable.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked it up because the audiobook is narrated by Full Cast Audio (and a Coville book I'd never read didn't hurt!)

Didn't disappoint. Fun fantasy for elementary students.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

6 year old was a big fan.