DAVID AND THE DRAINOSAURS
Tales of the Teleporting Topsider (Book 1)

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During an argument with his younger brother, twelve-year-old David Gonzales accidentally drops his mother's diamond ring down the kitchen sink drain. As he reaches for the ring, he sees a tiny dinosaur creature who calls herself Princess Doris Drainosaurus and claims the ring is her kingdom’s missing crown. In his tussle with Doris over the ring, David is pulled into the magical kingdom of Drainovia. There he must find the missing Drainovian crown in order to exchange it for his mother’s ring. David has just three days to accomplish his task, or he will be stuck forever where Drainosaurs rule, doors fly, hats teleport, and treachery abounds.

DAVID AND THE DRAINOSAURS [©2021] Tales of the Teleporting Topsider (Book 1) Written & Illustrated by Janyce Brawn | Juvenile Fantasy (G) 130 pages / 35,000 words | Includes 20 full-page illustrations | Available in ebook and print from the DFP Books label of Dragonfly Publishing

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READ AN EXCERPT

CHAPTER 1:

MAMA didn’t realize babysitting Luis was the worst job in the world.
There he was, holding Abuela’s ring that she had left to Mama. I knew how much Mama treasured it, and I wished Luis understood. I ground my teeth together. If he loses it while I’m watching him, I’ll be in trouble. He blames me for everything. First, the broken garage window when we were playing baseball, and he threw the ball at it, and now this.
I sneaked up behind Luis. “Put. That. Back,” I whispered.
Luis jumped. “David, I’m not hurting it.” He put Mama’s ring on a little red and orange sombrero-shaped ring dish at the corner of the sink. The ring’s yellow diamonds winked in the sunlight. “There.”
“Scram!” I grabbed a placemat decorated with red chili peppers off the kitchen table and tossed it at him. I missed.
Luis picked it up from the floor and threw it back like a discus.
I ducked and the placemat landed on the little dish. I yanked it off and gasped as Mama’s ring tumbled into the sink.
“No!” I tried to catch the ring, but it disappeared.
“Ooh, you’re in trouble now,” said Luis.
“You started it. I hate babysitting you! I wish I was out with my friends.” I clenched and unclenched my fists.
“I’m going to tell,” Luis chanted. “I’m going to tell.”
“Don’t even try.” I reached for him as he ran out the backdoor, but all I caught was air. “Better keep quiet!”
Luis laughed as the door slammed.
My stomach did somersaults, and my mouth tasted bitter. I had to get Mama’s ring. I just had to!
After I turned twelve, Mama decided that I was old enough to babysit, when she and Papa weren’t home.
“Just think of how much Luis looks up to you, David,” Mama had said the other day. “Play with him. If your roles were reversed, you’d want him to play with you.”
I knew what she meant, but she didn’t know how bratty Luis was. I wished I could do what I wanted, instead of being stuck with him.
Turning back to the sink, I noticed the air shimmering with tiny swirling dots. Curious, I tiptoed over and peered into the drain.
Mama’s ring hadn’t fallen through the metal crosspiece at the bottom. It sat on top of a piece of carrot. We didn’t have a garbage disposal, so sometimes pieces of food stuck there.
Jabbing a couple of fingers down to get it, I poked something warm and squishy climbing up through the drain.
“Watch it!” a high-pitched voice commanded.
I squeaked, yanking back my hand.
Shocked, I stared at a green finger-length glob with thin arms and a large reptile head on a long, thick neck. Beady black eyes glared. Tiny ears wiggled. Three claw-like fingers, wearing gold rings, balled into fists and shook at me. Its fat, dress-covered belly jiggled. It looked like a weird dinosaur in clothing.
“How rude,” it said in a huff. “Don’t you know not to poke at strangers?”
The air sparkled.
I blinked, but the strange creature still stared at me. My hand shook as I pointed in the drain. “I d-d-dropped Mama’s ring down there. I have to get it back.”
“Well, I haven’t seen it, I’m sure.” The miniature dinosaur straddled the holes in the drain, hands planted on the sides of her big belly.
“Unreal,” I muttered. “I’m talking to a dinosaur in the drain.”
“Drainosaur.”
“What?”
“We’re called Drainosaurs.” She shrugged. “We live in the kingdom of Drainovia. I’m Princess Doris Drainosaurus. Now, hurry up and describe this ring you’re talking about, so you can leave me alone.”
“It’s a gold ring with three diamonds. It was right there a minute ago on a piece of carrot.”
Princess Doris Drainosaurus swiveled her head, looking around the drain. “It’s not here, so I guess you’re mistaken. Well, goodbye.” She reached behind to pick up the round chunk of carrot and placed it on her head like a hat. The ring was wedged on top of it.
“Hey! There’s the ring.” I reached for it.
“No!” Princess Doris’ fingers clamped onto the carrot and ring. “It’s the missing crown of Drainovia. We’ve been looking for it, since the end of the Plumberian War. Now that I’ve found it, I’ve got to give it to the king.” She moved to the other side of the drain, making the air shimmer.
“Wait!” I shoved in two fingers, hooked the ring, and tugged.
The next thing I knew, I began to shrink. I grabbed for the faucet with my other hand but it hit the handle and water started to drip down on me.
“Aiii!” I screamed...

[Copyright ©2024 Janyce Brawn | No unauthorized reproduction or distribution]

READ REVIEWS

"DAVID AND THE DRAINOSAURS is one of those wildly creative books that kids will love and parents will savor. The pace is rapid as readers immediately plunge into an 'underworld' populated by colorful characters that are outrageous but believable, sassy but endearing. The author clearly knows her audience and can talk their talk." ~ reviewed by Holly Miller, contributing editor to Saturday Evening Post [FIVE STARS]

"Who would have thought that dropping your mother's diamond ring into the kitchen sink drain would lead to an adventure in another dimension? But that's what happened to David Gonzales. Down the drain he goes into a magical world with talking dinosaurs, menacing trolls, mischievous fairies, and more. Once he lands in Drainovia, he has only three days to find a way home or be stuck there forever. The illustrations, done by the author who is also an artist, are colorful and whimsical. DAVID AND THE DRAINOSAURS is an imaginative and wholesome story for kids, but it is also enjoyable for all ages." ~ reviewed by Amber Sparks [FIVE STARS]

"DAVID AND THE DRAINOSAURS is a great fantasy about a lad shrinking and falling down his kitchen sink into the land of Drainovia. It's the first book in the series. The first novel is about David who is trying to win back his mother’s wedding ring after he accidently drops it into the sink drain. He must travel to Drainovia and convince Princess Doris Drainosaurus that it’s not her missing crown. I thoroughly liked the author's creativity and the determination of David in helping his new friends while he was under the time limit of three days to return or be forever stuck in Drainovia. Any child would enjoy the fabulous creatures and citizens of Drainovia and David’s adventures. ~ reviewed by Todd Main [FIVE STARS]

"DAVID THE DRAINOSAURS by Janyce Brawn is an engaging middle grade novel full of colorful characters, well crafted creatures, relatable good guys and root against bad guys in cleverly mapped out slightly magical worlds. The book that comes to my mind in the best possible way is L. Frank Baum’s THE WIZARD OF OZ in terms of magical lands and creatures and being away from home. I like that author Janyce Brawn sets up a countdown that keeps the action moving and keeps the reader turning the page to read what happens next and find out if David make his deadline. I read the ebook and enjoyed the many after chapter color illustrations. I highly recommend this first book in a series." ~ reviewed by Cindy Bale Tanner [FIVE STARS]

"Great Middle Grade book! My granddaughter and I read this book about a boy who loses his mother's ring down the kitchen sink. He shrinks and falls down the drain into a land called Drainovia, with flying doors, teleporting hats, dinosaur-like creatures, fairies, trolls, and more. This is fast paced and amusing. David's adventures, helping others reminds one of the importance of the Golden Rule yet is easily relatable to children and an enjoyable read for parents and children alike. The artwork is creative, colorful and catches your eye. DAVID AND THE DRAINOSAURS is a must read for all. So glad it will be in a series and look forward to the next one!" ~ reviewed J. Pierce at Barnes & Noble [FIVE STARS]

"Loved this book as an adult. My grands really loved the book. They can’t wait for the next one to come out." ~ reviewed by Barb Wagner [FIVE STARS]

"My grandchildren were enchanted by this whimsical story about 12-year-old David who accidentally loses his mother’s diamond ring down the kitchen sink drain and ends up shrinking in size and going down the drain after it. Falling through muck and slime, he ends up in Drainovia and has many adventures trying to get it back. We read a couple of chapters each night and my grandchildren were begging for more. They ended up taking the book home to Colorado with them and I bought another one for my Pennsylvania grandchildren. Jan has quite a way with words. DAVID AND THE DRAINOSAURS is very well written and edited. I gave it a 5.0." ~ reviewed by Sue I. at Amazon [FIVE STARS]

"Wonderful characters. DAVID AND THE DRAINOSAURS kept my elementary-school age grandchildren entertained and fascinated. They were excited to hear a few of the short chapters every night for a week! Highly recommended!" ~ reviewed by William R. Mitchell [FIVE STARS]

"DAVID AND THE DRAINOSAURS is an exciting tale of a boy's adventures to retrieve his mother's ring. My granddaughter and I loved the world building, the imaginative and caring characters as well as the plot of the story. It was entertaining, imaginative and full of exciting lot twists." ~ reviewed by JLP at Amazon [FIVE STARS]

"Be prepared to become enchanted by a world you likely never imagined existed: The Kingdom of Drainovia! That's right, there's a whole nother world on the other side of the kitchen drain. That's what 12-year-old David Gonzales finds out when his mother's ring ends up in the wrong place — and he must embark on a magical journey to recover it. Janyce Brawn has created a fast-paced adventure here, with a wonderful cast of characters. (My personal favorite is Oliver the ferret). In addition to a great story and beautiful writing, Brawn's illustrations really draw you in. I highly recommend it!" ~ reviewed by Melanie Rigney [FIVE STARS]

"Much like Dorothy waking up in Oz or Alice falling into Wonderland, 12-year-old David stumbles into a mysterious new world when his mother’s diamond ring tumbles down the kitchen drain. Readers will love exploring new lands and their characters, including the Drainosaurs, trolls, large, two-headed caterpillars, and other talking animals. Meet the trickster fairies, a band of fighting crabs, and googly-eyed, marsh-living frogs. David’s adventure will keep you turning pages as he races against the clock to solve multi-layered mysteries, help his new friends, and get back home with his mother’s ring before time runs out. Inside this book, you will find lots of action and enough surprises to keep young readers turning pages. Interesting characters, each with their own special abilities, quirks, and personalities are around every corner. Short chapters keep middle-grade readers engaged and ready for the next while there is plenty of slime, mud, gross smells, and weirdness for boys (and girls too). David quickly learns how to adapt and get along with many different types of beings despite being in a totally foreign environment. And, although DAVID AND THE DRAINOSAURS is a fantasy story, readers will feel as if it's all plausible even if there are flying doors, talking books, and puffs of magical fairy dust." ~ reviewed by J. L. Saloff [FIVE STARS]

"DAVID AND THE DRAINOSAURS is a great book for kids getting into chapter books. Lots of action as David travels through the kingdoms inside the drain. Lots of very clever touches. Very imaginative!" ~ reviewed by Linda Roller [FIVE STARS]