Customer Reviews

Muffin Pigdoom and the Keeper: Tales from the Three Countries

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Ignore the snobbish, sniffy review from the Horn Book (whatever that is).

This book (published in the UK as "Muffin and the Keeper)" is a well illustrated fantasy story about a young child recovering the family treasure.

There are three books in the series so far (others are "Muffin and the Urgs" and "Muffin and the Mouth of Doom". There's also an illustrated write-up of Warren's backstory, "Chronicle of the Three Counties" (note Counties, not Countries, Amazon!) which illustrates the considerable amount of thought and potential that have gone into Warren's fantasy world of Fumoria.

The stories are great for young children - my daughters are 3 and 6 and the elder one has continued to revisit it as she has learned to read. The "Chronicle" book is less suitable, despite high production values - an encyclopedia doesn't play so well, even of a fantasy world.

It's difficult to find this kind of well thought out, consistent fantasy for youngsters of this age. If you particularly liked the Hobbit, but your children aren't quite old enough for it, you'll find Warren's Muffin books a good primer.

Some reviews from the back of Muffin and the Mouth of Doom:

"The voices of Tolkien and Peake breathe o'er Fumoria" - London Times

"... brilliant: deep, detailed, humourous, teeming with characters, societies and languages" - SF Britain

"... an elaborate and impressive Tolkienesque fantasy, illustrated with great accomplishment and masses of detail" - 'Mother Goose' judging panel