Beast Quest:

Beast Quest: Rashouk the Cave Troll by Adam Blade

Tom followed her gaze and felt his heart stop for a moment. Rashouk the cave troll hung from two stubby stalactites as if they were vines, his wide, clawed feet dangling from short, muscular legs. He moved across the cave's roof like a monkey, from stalactite to stalactite.

Beast Quest: Equinus the Spirit Horse by Adam Blade

As the cloud of dust parted, Tom could see the Beast more clearly. The sight made his blood run cold. Even from this distance, the evil flashing in Equinus's blazing eyes was visible. The Beast's lank brown hair lashed the air behind him and his hideous skeletal face was parched dry, like the land all around them.

Beast Quest: Nixa the Death Bringer by Adam Blade

The air vibrated with a sound like thunder. As the farmer stared in horror, the woman began to change. Her arms split and became a mass of thrashing tentacles. Her two eyes divided into a cluster of bulging, glistening spheres. Her scarlet robes dissolved and her body sagged into a thousand wrinkles. Green slime seeped out from her and dripped onto the ground.

Beast Quest: Sting the Scorpion Man by Adam Blade

They watched in horror as the boy's legs fused together, forming a single limb that lengthened and tore through his clothes. It grew darker and harder until it turned into a bulbous, beaded tail. The tail swiped out powerfully at Tom and Elenna, knocking them both to the ground. Seth screamed again. His voice sounded deeper and rougher. Three legs forced their way out of both sides of his torso, tearing through his tunic.

Beast Quest: Tusk the Mighty Mammoth by Adam Blade

Tusk's broad, shaggy back was as high as the tallest trees. Her trunk rose up over the branches like a monstrous snake ready to strike. The thick grey skin of her head was laced with old battle scars, and her huge ears were torn and ragged at the edges.

Beast Quest: Kaymon the Gorgon Hound by Adam Blade

Kaymon was as large as a bull and her black fur was tangled and caked with filth. She gave off a smell, too - a foul, choking stench that made Tom reel. As the Beast pounded forwards, Tom saw the evil light in her eyes and the terrible strength of her shoulders and flanks. He also noticed something else - the Beast wore a thick collar of twisted gold around her neck, and set deep into the precious metal was a huge white jewel.

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville

Mrs Hutton was a mess. Mr Hutton was furious. Mrs Thatcher was crying. And Dr Thatcher, his face still dotted with mashed potatoes, was laughing so hard he could barely stand up.

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Corville (Part 2)

The wings hung limp and crumpled at the dragon's side. At first Jeremy was afraid something was wrong with the animal. But then it started to twitch its shoulders. Soon the wings began to lift and fill. Except for the fact that they were bright red, they looked a great deal like a bat's wings. When they were finally fully extended Jeremy felt so strong it was almost as if he had managed to pump up the wings himself. The little dragon looked around, sniffed, then began crawling across the desk. Jeremy pulled back nervously. Holding his breath, ready to run if necessary, he watched in wonder. Something began to tickle at the back of his mind. He stared at the dragon, and it locked eyes with him. For a moment, Jeremy felt as if he were drowning in green. Then the baby curled up, dropped its head over its tail, and closed its eyes. The green disappeared. Jeremy felt exhausted. But he was also beginning to feel a little safer. Curled up, the dragon was no bigger than a medium-sized grapefruit, and about as threatening. Jeremy found himself longing to touch the gleaming red scales. After the beast's eyes had been closed for several minutes, he put out a tentative finger to stroke its head. The dragon opened its eyes and reared back, hissing ferociously. A slender red tongue flickered over the tiny fangs, reminding Jeremy of the lightning that had split the sky earlier that night. He sat in frozen terror. The dragon hissed again, then arched its back, stretching its leathery red wings into the air.

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Corville (Part 1)

How To Hatch A Dragon's Egg

The egg you have just purchased has already gone through a long aging process. It now needs but two things to be ready to hatch-the light of a full moon, and the words of a true friend.

To quicken the egg, take it outside at midnight on the night of the next full moon. Lift it to the moonlight and whisper:

Full moon's light to wake the egg,

Full moon's light to hatch it;

Midsummer Night will crack the world,

But St. John's Day will patch it.

Expose the egg to the moonlight for at least three hours, then await the results. You have been entrusted with a very special creature, Jeremy Thatcher. Treat it with care, for its safety depends upon your willingness to follow these directions exactly.

It goes without saying that secrecy is essential.

Good Hatching!

-S.H.Elives

Beast Quest: Narga the Sea Monster by Adam Blade

The Beast swooped down towards them, jaws agape. Odora leaped out of the way, catching a glimpse of rotten fangs and a flickering, forked tongue. The vicious jaws grabbed her brother by the head and lifted him clear of the ship. Dako kicked out and pounded his fists against the Beast's scaly neck, but he couldn't free himself.

Beast Quest: Skor the Winged Stallion by Adam Blade

Tom froze. A horse's body, as black as coal, towered above him. Silver sparks flashed from its eyes. The Beast reared on muscular hind legs, churning the air with gleaming hooves. His mane was as white as snow and his tail floated in the air like strands of emerald seaweed. Skor gave a deafening roar and unfurled giant, glossy wings. He launched himself into the air. Tom staggered backwards into Elenna. The underside of the Beast's feathers shimmered purple like an exotic seashell and the tips looked as if they had been dipped in gold.Tom spotted a shimmer of emerald green in one of the golden hooves. A jewel the size of his fist was embedded there, just like the red gem in Torgor's axe.

Beast Quest: Torgor the Minotaur by Adam Blade

The pair of horns was followed by a bull's head, with eyes that reflected the scarlet of the sky. Below the neck was a man's body covered with thick black hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist and in one hand he carried a giant axe with a golden blade. A red jewel glittered where the axe-head met the handle. Torgor was much taller than Tagus. He let out a roar of fury.

Beast Quest: Trillion the Three-Headed Lion by Adam Blade

It was a huge three-headed lion, the sunlight shining on its thick golden fur and the shaggy manes that hung from its three heads. Six eyes burned with a wicked emerald light as it gazed down at the cattle, and its lips were drawn back to reveal fearsome, slavering teeth.

Beast Quest: Arachnid the King of Spiders by Adam Blade

Arachnid was the size of a barn. Eight hairy legs protruded from his body, waving lazily in the air. Thick saliva dripped from his long, sharp fangs and he watched Tom carefully with six evil eyes. The beast opened his jaw and moaned. The putrid smell of dead flesh filled the air.

Beast Quest: Vipero the Snake Man by Adam Blade

Tom stared down into the valley. So this was the Beast! Vipero had the body of a snake, which lay on the sand in red and green coils. But where the snake's head would have been was the muscular torso of a man. Its scaly neck was split into two, and each part carried the flat, wedge-shaped head of a snake. The two heads swayed, hissing angrily, their beady red eyes scanning the desert. Tom suppressed a shudder. Then he spotted the golden leg armor in the middle of Vipero's coils. The swirling decoration on the metal glittered in the sunlight. Though Tom was still a long way from the snake man, he could feel the waves of heat that were thrown out by the Beast's body. It was as if a wall of fire separated them from Vipero.

Beast Quest: Soltra the Stone Charmer by Adam Blade

The woman was two heads taller than him, her body swathed in a shining, rippling garment-like a cloak made out of black water. He gazed up into the woman's face-but found that she had no face, just a featureless surface, marble smooth and milky white. Then the final terror came. The whole of her face folded up on itself like a huge eyelid-and from beneath that eyelid stared a single green eye, as green and cleaar as an emerald.

Beast Quest: Claw the Giant Monkey by Adam Blade

Claw was an enormous monkey. His chest was as wide as Storm was long, and his limbs were thicker some of the tree trunks around them. He sat hunched among the branches, a hideous creature with a lethal-looking claw at the tip of his long, snake-like tail. Huge, hairy black arms, legs and feet ended in vicious, curved. His face was covered in matted black hair, but his squashed snout was hairless. Drool hung in ropes from his long teeth. And his fierce yellow eyes were trained directly on Tom.

Beast Quest: Zepha the Monster Squid by Adam Blade

Kicking away from the rock, Tom swam towards the golden gleam. But as he reached for the helmet, he spotted movement just beyond. A dark shadow was rising up from behind the rock. It was so huge that it took Tom a moment to realise it was a head with staring, bulging eyes and a mouth like a gaping beak. Seconds later the body followed, with a mass of giant tentacles. Tom could see through the creature's skin, to where three red hearts were pumping.

Beast Quest: Epos the Flame Bird by Adam Blade

Then Epos came swooping down from the rim of the volcano. Tom saw two red eyes glaring at him. The Beast's giant beak snapped open. Her dark, glowing wings unfolded, and her talons glinted in the dim, crimson light.

Beast Quest: Nanook the Snow Monster by Adam Blade

She was bigger than any monster Tom had ever imagined. Her fur was white, her eyes redder than a blacksmith's fire and her ivory claws looked sharper than daggers. Her hideous face was scrunched up with anger and hate, and around her raw, welted neck hung a tiny bell on the end a a gold chain. It glowed with evil energy, Nanook pulled at the chain, trying to tear the bell free, then howled ferociously and stamped a paw on the ground. The whole snow dune shuddered.

Beast Quest: Tagus the Horse-Man by Adam Blade

Then the mist parted once more and Tagus appeared, still on the other side of the river, his hooves pawing the ground in fury. His muscles rippled beneath the shiny black coat of his horse's body. He flicked out his tail in agitation. His face was square and handsome, but his hair was matted and wild.

Beast Quest: Arcta the Mountain Giant by Adam Blade

Arcta the mountain giant was as tall as the highest trees, with a body almost as wide. His arms and legs bulged with muscle, and his feet left huge indentations in the ground. His gnarled hands ended in yellow claws and his mouth gaped open to reveal crooked, brown teeth. Unlike the Beasts Tom had already freed-the fire dragon and the sea serpent-there was no enchanted golden collar around his neck. Instead a black blindfold covered the Beast's eyes, held in place by a glowing knot. This was Malvel's curse. The Beast must be driven mad by the loss of his sight.

Beast Quest: Sepron the Sea Serpent by Adam Blade

Rearing out of the sea was the huge head of the sea serpent. They were face to face with Sepron! The Beast's eyes were huge and pale, flashing with icy anger. Shimmering scales in all the colours of the rainbow covered and neck and sea water foamed all around it.

Beast Quest: Ferno the Fire Dragon by Adam Blade

Ferno the fire dragon was gigantic. Towering over them all, with his huge, jagged wings extended, he blocked out the sky. His head was coal-black and spiky; and tight around his neck was the enchanted collar, held in place by a golden lock that glowed with a strange, magical light.

Beast Quest: Arax the Soul Stealer by Adam Blade

Desperately, Tom threw his head to one side to avoid it. The leather cord snaked past him and sank its barbs deep into the Beast's heart. With a roar of despair, Arax flung his wings wide-Tom was free! He fell to the ground,rolled to his feet and jumped clear. The Beast raged blindly up and down, the whip dragging after him as he tried to pull it out of his chest.

Beast Quest: Vedra and Krimon Twin Beasts of Advantia by Adam Blade

Tom left the stables, gazing up at the tall purple spires and sea-green domes of the Royal Palace. The towns and villages, fields and forests of Advantia were white with late winter snow. But in the Great Hall of the palace, a part was taking place to celebrate King Hugo's birthday.

The Secret Country by Jane Johnson

Ben stared at the door as if by sheer force of will he could employ X-ray vision and see exactly who was out there. The next thing he knew, someone was fitting a key into the lock and the door was creaking open.

Beast Quest: Creta the Winged Terror by by Adam Blade

Tom rolled over onto his back with a sigh of contentment. He linked his hands behind his head and stared up at the sky. The stars glittered like dimonds in the black, velvet night, and the half-moon cast its soft light on the mountainside. From up here, Tom could see the whole of Advantia spread out in a silvery glow. His stomach was full and he felt rested.

Beast Quest: Kragos and Kildor the Two-headed Demon

The rays of the rising sun showed a huge, splintered hole in the door of the forge. It looked as if something had kicked its way inside.

Beast Queast: Spiros the Ghost Phoenix by Adam Blade

The wizard brought his hands together in a loud clap that echoed through the forest, then rubbed his palms. Tom looked on, baffled and even Storm and Silver stepped closer. A thin trail of smoke emerged from between Aduro's clasped hands. It rose into the air, forming a cloud. Then, in the middle of the cloud, a shape emerged. It looked like a bird, but its wings were ablaze with a golden flame.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

THAT really stinks. I was actually looking FORWARD to going to the beach this summer. Not because I like the ocean and the sand and all of that, because I don't. I realized a long time ago that all the world's fish and turtles and whales go to the bathroom right there in the ocean. And I seem to be the only person who's bothered by this. My brother Rodrick likes to tease me because he thinks I'm afraid of the waves. But I'm telling you that's not it at all.

A to Z Mysteries: The Vampire's Vacation by Ron Roy

On the floor sat a black leather suitcase. Hanging above the staircase on a hanger was a long black cape.

Secret Seven Win Through by Enid Blyton

Scamper sniffed at this thing on the ledge, and then picked it up in his mouth. Perhaps it did belong to one of the children after all. He ran with it to Peter and dropped it at his feet with a little bark.

The Kingdom of Fantasy by Geronimo Stilton

I had to figure out king Firebreath's secret. So I came up with a plan. I started squeaking and running around in circles. The King of the Dragon was so startled his jaw dropped open in surprise. Then I understood his secret. He was missing a tooth.

The BFG by Roald Dahl

Then Sophie saw them. In the light of the moon, she saw all nine of those half-naked brutes thundering across the landscape together. They were galloping in a pack, their necks craned forward, their arms bent at the elbows, and worst of all, their stomachs bulging. The strides they took were incredible. Their speed was unbelievable. their feet pounded and thundered on the ground and left a great sheet of dust behind them. But in ten seconds they were gone.

Freefall by Roderick Gordan and Brian Williams

"Herrrrrph," Chester Rawls groaned softly to himself. His mouth was so dry it was a few moments before he could actually speak. "Aw, Mum, leave off, will you," he finally managed to say, but not unpleasantly.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

In a city called Stonetown, near a port called Stonetown harbour, a boy named Reynie Muldoon was preparing to take an important test. It was the second test of the day-the first had been in an office across town. After that one he was told to come here, to the Monk Building on Third Street, and to bring nothing but a single pencil and a single rubber eraser, and to arrive no later than one o'clock. If he happened to be late, or bring two pencils, or forget his eraser, or in any other way deviate from the instructions, he would not be allowed to take the test, and that would be that. Reynie, who very much wanted to take it, was careful to follow the instructions. Curiously enough, these were the only ones given. He was not told how to get to the Monk Building, for example, and had found it necessary to ask directions from the nearest bus stop, acquire a schedule from a dishonest bus driver who tried to trick him into paying for it, and walk several blocks to catch the Third Street bus. Not that any of this was difficult for Reynie Muldoon. Although he was only eleven years old, he was quite used to figuring things out by himself.

Deeper by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

With a hiss and a clunk, the doors whisked shut, depositing the woman by the bus stop. Apparently indifferent to the whipping wind and the pelting rain, she stood watching as the vehicle rumbled into motion again, grinding the gears as it wound its way laboriously down the hill. Only when it finally vanished from sight behind the briar hedges did she turn to gaze at the grassy slopes that rose on either side of the road. Through the downpour they seemed to fade into the washed-out grey of the sky itself, so that it was difficult to tell where the one started and the other finished.