Nine-year-old Leo is the absolute worst candidate in the entire kingdom to become a Royal Guard. While his older brothers stand like iron statues in polished silver armor, Leo is relegated to the castle kitchens, peeling endless mountains of potatoes and carrying firewood. But Leo possesses a rare gift: he notices the small things everyone else steps over. When a mysterious, musical humming draws Leo into the forbidden Whispering Caves, he discovers a beautiful, midnight-blue egg that hatches into a ridiculous, metal-eating baby dragon named Barnaby.
With a stomach that glows based on his mood and a nasty habit of munching on the King's royal silver ladles, keeping Barnaby a secret is a recipe for absolute chaos. When the fierce Royal Guard-led by Leo's own brothers-tracks the magical beast to the castle, Leo and his clever friend Ama must escape into the perilous Whispering Mountains to return Barnaby to his sanctuary. Along the way, a sudden crisis forces Leo to use his emotional intelligence and a little "science of synergy" to stage a spectacular rescue.
Packed with humor, heart, and cinnamon-scented dragon sneezes, this charming fantasy adventure shows that true leadership comes from the most unexpected places.
Nine-year-old Leo is the absolute worst candidate in the entire kingdom to become a Royal Guard. While his older brothers stand like iron statues in polished silver armor, Leo is relegated to the castle kitchens, peeling endless mountains of potatoes and carrying firewood. But Leo possesses a rare gift: he notices the small things everyone else steps over. When a mysterious, musical humming draws Leo into the forbidden Whispering Caves, he discovers a beautiful, midnight-blue egg that hatches into a ridiculous, metal-eating baby dragon named Barnaby.
With a stomach that glows based on his mood and a nasty habit of munching on the King's royal silver ladles, keeping Barnaby a secret is a recipe for absolute chaos. When the fierce Royal Guard-led by Leo's own brothers-tracks the magical beast to the castle, Leo and his clever friend Ama must escape into the perilous Whispering Mountains to return Barnaby to his sanctuary. Along the way, a sudden crisis forces Leo to use his emotional intelligence and a little "science of synergy" to stage a spectacular rescue.
Packed with humor, heart, and cinnamon-scented dragon sneezes, this charming fantasy adventure shows that true leadership comes from the most unexpected places.