Challenge of The Wizard: Will Music Be Discovered?
by
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Once upon a planet, the Planet Thera, there lived a Princess named Harmony and her brother, Prince Zick. They lived a long time ago in theKingdom of Sound. Of course, their mother and father were the King of Sound and the Queen of Sound; and, being of sound mind, they ruled over the kingdom quite soundly.
But alas, something was missing in the Kingdom of Sound!
Willie, the Castle Wizard, also knew that something was missing in the kingdom. He even issued a challenge to the king and queen to find what was missing.
And so, the king and queen called for the people of the land to come to the castle for a totally big time meeting. Even Princess Harmony and Prince Zick were invited. They were teen-agers and teen-agers were hardly ever invited to totally big time meetings.
When the people had gathered, the king and queen called the meeting to order. The king spoke in a deep, deep, very, very dull voice and the queen had a voice that squeaked. The king introduced her saying, “The Queen has a speech to give and will now squeak to you, I mean, speak to you.”
Secretly, the people were happy that the king would not be speaking to them, for his deep, deep, very dull voice usually put them to sleep. At least the Queen would keep them awake.
“My dear people,” the Queen began in her squeaky voice, “the King and I believe that there is something missing in the Kingdom of Sound. We all love sounds and have listened to thousands of sounds and noises in our kingdom for many, many years. We hear the rolling thunder, the gentle breeze in giant trees, the rushing river, and great galloping horses. All through the kingdom we hear the chit chat of people here and there and everywhere. And indeed, there are embarrassing sounds like the grumbling of stomachs before mealtime, loud and muffled burps after our meals. The king is very good at that! And, of course, there is that other sound which sometimes fills the air with a very unpleasant odor. Ah, but yes, we do have the happy sound of people laughing. That I love!”
The Queen paused for a moment when she realized that some of the people were starting to cringe and block their ears from the sound of her squeaky voice. Quickly she shouted, “Three cheers for laughter!”
All the people were delighted with this opportunity and resoundingly shouted, “Hip, hip, hooray - hip, hip, hooray - hip, hip, hooray!"
“And now we come to our problem," continued the queen. "There is something missing. Something is missing from the sounds in the Kingdom of Sound. Why even Harmony and Zick are worried that our sounds are just noisy and too much the same. Indeed, as they put it, ‘Our sounds are totally boring,’ and they wish for some sounds which they could call, 'Totally awesome!'"
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About the Book
CHALLENGE OF THE WIZARD:
WILL MUSIC BE DISCOVERED?
"Our book is a fanciful myth of fun, adventure and discovery. Starring in the book are: The Wizard, The Royal Family, a Long Yellow Snake, and people from the Land of Elfdom and the Kingdom of Sound.
Follow the teen-agers, Princess Harmony and Prince Zick, in their quest to meet the Wizard’s Challenge and find what is missing in the Kingdom of Sound. Learn what magic the wizard has up his sleeve.
And, what will happen to this brother and sister in the deep, dark woods? Be with them as they leap into the Land of Elfdom.
Why does that long yellow snake keep showing up and winking at Zick? And, just who are the “Band of Elves” and the “Elves of Note?”
The king and queen wonder if they will ever find their missing prince and princess. Will this brother and sister’s friendly rivalry end in trouble or triumph?
Will you accept the wizard’s challenge at the end?
Enhanced by lively illustrations, this story is a delight to read quietly or aloud with a friend and great for acting out. Ages four to one hundred and four can enjoy its adventure, values, and language fun. May you leave this musical myth with a happy heart!"
Love,
Willie
About the Author
Walter D. Vaughan, also known as Grampa Wally to his ten grandchildren, has enjoyed spontaneous storytelling to his children for many years. Encouraged by some of his youthful listeners, Grampa Wally has now written his first book. In “Challenge of the Wizard” Grampa hopes that readers and listeners from four to a hundred and four will have fun with the book’s cast of characters; enjoy his love of language nuance, and leave this mythical adventure with a happy heart.
Wally Vaughan is a graduate of Boston College, B.S. and UMass, Boston, M.Ed. He spent thirty-five years in public education as a reading consultant, classroom teacher, coach and principal. Through these years, and as an instructor at the University of Massachusetts Graduate School, Boston, children’s literature was always given a high priority.
Children learning to read and reading to learn made “Mr. Vaughan” a happy educator.
In retirement, Grampa Wally has returned to his favorite sport of golf and especially loves sharing his harmonica music in schools and senior centers. His harmonica program is called “Harmony Happens.”
Wally Vaughan and Claire, his love of fifty plus years, raised their five children in Franklin, Massachusetts and Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Their primary residence is in Massachusetts.
The author welcomes comments at P.O. Box 1334 Wolfeboro, NH 03894.