JANYCE BRAWN Author Website
David and the Foglinian Menace
Tales of the Teleporting Topsider (Book 4)
When his mother buys an antique water fountain, twelve-year-old David Gonzales is drawn into another adventure down the drainpipes. Foglinians are stealing powerful crystals from the talking rabbits of Rabbitosha and attacking the bird people of Paz. Along the way, a set of living chess pieces help him battle magical cats, giant praying mantises, and a thundering triceratops. Can David save his friends without being stranded forever in the Below Lands?
DAVID AND THE FOGLINIAN MENACE [©2023] Tales of the Teleporting Topsider (Book 4) Written & Illustrated by Janyce Brawn | Juvenile Fantasy / Middle Grade reader (Rated G) 110 pages / 33,000 words | Available in ebook and print from the DFP Books label of Dragonfly Publishing
SALES & FORMATS
See inside at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Paperback at Amazon • Paperback at Barnes & Noble • Hardback at Barnes & Noble • eBook at Amazon Kindle • eBook at Apple Books • eBook at Barnes & Noble • eBook at Kobo • eBook at Smashwords
PAPERBACK (Amazon) [EAN 978-1-949187-50-2 | ISBN 1-949187-50-0] 6x9 trim (110 pages) B/W illustrations |Price: $9.99
PAPERBACK (Barnes & Noble) [EAN 978-1-949187-51-9 | ISBN 1-949187-51-9] 6x9 trim (110 pages) B/W illustrations | Price: $8.99
HARDBACK [EAN 978-1-949187-52-6 | ISBN 1-949187-52-7] 6x9 Casebound (110 pages) B/W illustrations | Price: $17.99
EBOOK [EAN 978-1-949187-53-3 | ISBN 1-949187-53-5] EPUB and Kindle (33,000 words) illustrated in color | Price: $3.99
Print editions are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more. Find ebooks at retailers, lending libraries, and subscription services, including: Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Blio, Everand, Kobo Books, Open Library, Overdrive, Smashwords, and more.
READ AN EXCERPT
CHAPTER 1:
MY ball cap almost flew off my head in the brisk breeze, as I jumped off the school bus at my house.
Spring break meant no homework from my sixth-grade teachers. I couldn’t wait to sleep in or go fishing with my friend Marty. I kicked a pebble over the curb into the grass.
"David, can you please help me with this?" Papa called from the front yard. He struggled to lift a three-foot-tall concrete fountain that my mama had bought at an antique store a few days earlier.
I tossed my backpack onto the back porch and then ran to help. A hole in the dirt in front of some bushes under the living room window had a small plastic swimming pool in it. In the bottom of the pool sat a box on a short platform. A pipe stuck out of its top, and a cord ran from the box up onto the grass. Papa gripped the large sculpted leaves at the top of the fountain. Three small cement rabbits hid among the flowers that climbed around the pedestal. At the top, the leaves drooped around a small cluster of flowers. A small bird perched next to a flower that had a hole for water to flow through.
Papa motioned with his head. "Come here. This is hollow, but I need to line up the pipe inside with the pipe on the pump. It should slide on. Grab a side and lift with me."
After a few grunts, we had the fountain in place. Stepping back to check it out, Papa wiped his hands on his pants. "That looks good to me. Get Mama."
A few minutes later we stood beside the fountain. Mama clapped her hands. "It’s perfect, mi amor, gracias." She smiled at Papa. "I have a few flowers you can plant around it, too."
"Bueno. I tested the pump in the sink earlier, so I know that works. Here, David, take the shovel. We’ll have this finished in no time."
Mama set two large pots of flowers next to us and then headed back into the house.
Papa added large blue and green glass stones in the pool and then filled it with water. I shoveled the dirt up to the edges while Papa planted Mama’s primroses and day lilies. He plugged the fountain into an outside socket. Water burbled out through the little flower on the top, slid over the sculpted leaves and tumbled down into the pool. A rabbit on the side of the pedestal wiggled its nose and ears as the water splashed it.
My mouth opened. "Wha—"
Did I imagine that?
[Copyright ©2023 Janyce Brawn | No unauthorized reproduction or distribution]
READ REVIEWS
"When David’s mother buys an antique water fountain, David is thrust into another adventure with magical rabbits and other animals. Can he stop the Foglinians’ thieving and destruction in the Below Lands? DAVID AND THE FOGLINIAN MENACE is a delight for young readers. Janyce Brawn writes stories elementary and middle-grade readers enjoy reading. The plot is easy to follow with adventure, obstacles to overcome, and relatable circumstances steeped in fantasy. The narration is written in a kid-friendly tone with colorful detail. The flow allows young readers to understand what’s going on and immerse themselves in the story. The characters are colorful and leap from the page. Let’s start with the characters. David is a regular young boy who has a loving family. He’s written with a realistic pen and kids will relate to him. His reactions ring true, especially when he interacts with magical rabbits, cats, birds, and the Foglinians. This is so important in a story like this. Kids need to be able to put themselves in David’s shoes and they can easily in David and the Foglinian Menace. The fantasy plot is well-conceived with detailed world-building. Janyce Brawn creates a world that is realistic and filled with fantasy creatures. The good thing about this world-building is that there isn’t any swearing, and the content is rated G, perfect for kids. Parents, rest assured your children will love this fantasy story and you will appreciate the age-appropriate themes in David and the Foglinian Menace. This is my first book by Janyce Brawn and as a fantasy reader, I loved it. A nice balance of action, adventure, comedy, and overcoming obstacles. I can’t wait to read more from this author. If you love reading fantasy, pick up DAVID AND THE FOGLINIAN MENACE." ~ reviewed by Nancy at N.N. Light's Book Heaven [5-STARS]
"In DAVID AND THE FOGLINIAN MENACE, Janyce Brawn’s unsinkable character David Gonzales goes on another adventure after some magical rabbits come to life from an antique fountain purchased by his mother. In his usual good-natured desire to help others, he returns to the Below Lands and finds himself in trouble almost immediately. The author takes David on a roundabout journey that just might take longer than he has — remembering he can only be Below three days or he will get stuck there forever! The reader holds their breath along with David as he battles his way through his obstacles like a champ! Recommend for all your young readers!" ~ reviewed by Suzi Taylor [5-STARS]
"I thoroughly enjoyed DAVID AND THE FOGLINIAN MENACE. And, kids will enjoy it even more as they travel down the drain with David, a brave and resourceful boy. As David is challenged a reader can watch how he uses many skills he will need not only in the “under” worlds but also in life. Kids will root for him and his friends as he meets obstacles and finds solutions to help his friends. Excellent read for kids. Imaginative, action packed, and filled with lots of amazing magical things." ~ reviewed by Willow at Amazon [5-STARS]
"Elementary school-aged Children will love DAVID AND THE FOGLINIAN MENACE! Great story to read to/with young Children." ~ reviewed by William R. Mitchell at Amazon Reviews [5-STARS]
"DAVID AND THE FOGLINIAN MENACE by Janyce Brawn is another outstanding book utilizing concepts of the Golden Rule and how communication and compassion help people with different viewpoints overcome their hostility. I enjoyed the world down the drainpipes once again as Brawn has created unique characters and pictured worlds that are not perfect but have problems that David Gonzales and his new friends must overcome to help those threatened by the Foglinian Menace. The fast pace, and unusual worlds with their specific problems that David leads his friend through continue to amaze me." ~ reviewed by JLP for Amazon Reviews [5-STARS]