The Cave of Aaaaah! Doom!

February 27, 2017
This goofy launch to the Ella and Owen series follows twin dragons as they embark on a quest to find a cure for the stubborn cold that is causing Owen to sneeze fire. During their swift-moving adventure, Ella and Owen have run-ins with ogres, sprites, a monster waffle, and an “evil vegetable wizard” with broccoli for a head. Kent, a pseudonym, keeps the silliness front and center and packs in lots of banter between the siblings: “You wanted adventure and excitement, right?” says Ella, after the two get trapped in the ogre’s cage. “I didn’t want any of those things!” wails the comparatively timid Owen. Though Owen’s sneezing troubles are eventually resolved, the story ends midkerfuffle, to be picked up in the next installment, Attack of the Stinky Fish Monster, available simultaneously. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 6–8.

November 1, 2016

Gr 2-4-Ella and Owen are twin sibling dragons. Owen has a cold, and when he sneezes, balls of fire shoot from his snout. He prefers to stay in bed and read. Ella seeks adventure. She persuades her brother to join her on a quest to find Orlock Morlock, the wizard who can cure Owen's cold, tempting Owen with the opportunity to add ogre toenails to his collection. Ella neglects to tell her brother that the wizard lives in the Cave of Aaaaah! Doom! Things quickly turn hazardous when the two run into a dragon-eating ogre, get caught, and are outsmarted by Owen's worst nightmare-a vegetable wizard. Sketchy black-and-white drawings on almost every page supplement and enhance the text. This is the first book of the series, and the ending will leave readers wanting to find out what happens next. VERDICT Filled with witty banter, gross-out humor, and lots of dragon "facts," this quirky, action-packed title will keep kids reading.-Paula Huddy, The Blake School-Highcroft Campus, Wayzata, MN

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2017
Dragon siblings Ella and Owen have a wacky adventure.Energetic Ella's tired of Owen staying in bed with his cold (and the germs and fire sneezes that come with it). Bookworm Owen's more than happy to stay put reading fairy tales about dragons defeating knights in shining armor. Ella bribes Owen out of bed with the chance to obtain more ogre toenails for his collection, and off they go to find the wizard Orlock Morlock to cure Owen's cold. (What Owen doesn't know is that Ella fibbed, telling him that their destination's the Cave of Caves instead of the aptly named Cave of Aaaaah! Doom!) After escaping a dragon-eating ogre, they reach the cave, where a winged Wicked Wizard Waffle terrifies them. Driving it away, they then learn that Orlock Morlock is an evil vegetable (literally) wizard rather than a dragon wizard. They end up helping him, negotiating for their freedom, Owen's cure, and his agreement to restrict his evilness to Mondays (and evil holidays). Then they set off for home and one last twist--they're lost again. The simultaneously publishing sequel, Attack of the Stinky Fish Monster!, starts up right at that cliffhanger to quickly resolve it and launches into the siblings' misfortunes while trying to bake their mother a birthday cake. While the emphasis is clearly on maximum silliness, Kent's depiction of the siblings' relationship will ring true to many readers. Just the ticket for chapter-book readers in need of some giggles. (Fantasy. 6-8)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.