Badger the Mystical Mutt and the Barking Boogie
Read Badger the Mystical Mutt and the Barking Boogie Online
Authors: Lyn McNicol
THE LUNICORN PRESS
Glasgow
Text © 2012 Lyn McNicol and Laura Cameron Jackson
Illustrations © 2012 Laura Cameron Jackson
All rights reserved
The moral right of Lyn McNicol and Laura Cameron Jackson to be identified as authors and illustrator of this work has been asserted. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of The Lunicorn Press.
First published 2012 by The Lunicorn Press.
Reprinted January 2013.
2
Printed by Martins the Printers, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Designed and typeset by Taras Young
Set in 14.25pt Gentium Book
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-0-9569640-1-4
eISBN 978-0-9569640-7-6
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For Donald McKinney
“Set to be the Top Dog of children's books ⦠a magical debut of a book.”
Social Literary
“Kids' book takes world by storm.”
The Scottish Sun
“A moving and joyful story which warmed the heart of this cynical old journalist.”
That's Books
“First-time winner.”
The Evening Times
“A toast-loving, magical hound, who has been winning fans in book shops, libraries and schools across Scotland.”
The List
“A charming and very funny children's story.”
Diana Cooper
“McNicol & Jackson have created a charming new book character; a toast-crunching hound named Badger.”
Aye Write, Glasgow's Book Festival
“A truly magical story which has all the hallmarks of a future children's classic!”
Ursula James
“A magical 21st-century narrative which will delight and inspire folk of all ages.”
Alex Lewczuk, Southside Broadcasting
“The toast-crunching, spell-muffing Badger the Mystical Mutt is a delightful, madcap, magical character, who worms his way into your affections.”
Maggie Woods, MotorBar
“This book had me laughing out loud many times. The writing of McNicol and Jackson is brilliant, inspirational, charming and just plain fun.”
BFK Books
“This story was another hit. My son absolutely adores Badger the main character, but I think it's the plot which always leaves him wanting more. It is definitely a page-turner for young children.”
Missing Sleep
“There are some underlying morality themes that should allow vigorous class discussions.”
Lomax Allwood, The School Librarian
“Badger the Mystical Mutt is the coolest doggie around and, in his brilliant stories, he helps young kids understand their world and believe in themselves and their ambitions.”
Vegetarian Living Magazine
A
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ICOL AND
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Badger the Mystical Mutt
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Badger the Mystical Mutt and the Crumpled Capers
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“Ewwwww!” winced Badger the Mystical Mutt, burying his nose in his neckerchief. “What a pong!”
It was a half past elevenses and all was not well in the lane ⦠or in Badger's tummy.
“Not long now till toast time,” he said, patting his gurgling stomach. “Once I crack my famous smell-removing spell, we can have our morning snack, and all will be well again.”
Most mornings, Badger's job was bird-poo patrol. He had to watch his Big Folk's clean washing on the clothes line, and be alert and ready to bark away the birds with their low-flying poos. But today, even the birds had decided to migrate early, to escape the vile stench of the lane. And now, before he could enjoy his higgledy-piggledy tower of toast, his Big Folk had given him a far bigger task â to get rid of the smell in the lane. An unexplained smell ⦠a mystery stink ⦠a stench of the very worst kind.
To make matters worse, his latest smell-removing spell didn't appear to be working very well.
He held his breath and tried again.
“
Charcoal rocks and mouldy old socks
,
Cardamom seeds and corn that pops
,
Mix up together in a cardboard box
,
Take this stink and make it stop!”
He stood back and waited ⦠and waited. His tummy rumbled, the charcoal crumbled, and still nothing happened. He sniffed the air around him nervously. Then his nose wrinkled in horror as he caught an even bigger whiff of the whiffiest kind.
“How can this be?” wondered Badger, scratching his head. “I followed the spell to the letter, but it's got worse not better.”
Just then he heard a loud hammering noise in the lane. He trotted to the end of his garden and peered through the crack in the fence. There in front of him, on the fence opposite, was a freshly pinned poster.
The official-looking notice read:
ATTENTION!
O
WING TO A PONG OF THE PONGIEST KIND, THE
P
ONG
P
OLICE WILL CLOSE THE LANE AT NOON TODAY FOR STINK ASSESSMENT AND REMOVAL.
T
HE
P
ONG
P
OLICE WILL SPRAY THE AREA WITH ANTI-PONG POISON. NO ONE MUST ENTER THE LANE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
“Goodness!” thought Badger. “I could have fixed this without the Pong Police getting involved. I'm almost there with my smell-removing spell.”
Suddenly, he heard a hullabaloo in the distance. He looked down the lane and saw the gang, led by Dodgy Dave, thundering towards him in a cloud of dust.
“Uh-oh! Who are they after today?” he wondered.
As they hurtled past him, Badger turned to go back to his spell and heard a tiny voice shouting after the gang:
“Dodgy Dave! Dodgy Dave! Wait, please! I just want to speak to you.”
“Leave us alone. You stink!” shouted Dodgy Dave.
“I'm getting the Pong Police on to you,” warned Snif.
“If you get any nearer, I'll keel over,” whimpered Lennie.
“Go away pooperscoopersmellysnooper!” yelled Pickle, running faster.
“I've just had my breakfast. I can't bear it!” yelled Pogo Paws, zooming ahead.
Badger watched as leaves swirled and bin lids rattled. Suddenly, the smallest dog he had ever seen went flying past him in a blur.
“Well, that makes a change. I've never seen that before; the gang on the run with someone chasing
them
!”
Badger's eyes watered as the rotten air stung his nostrils. He shook his head, thinking, “If I can sort this spell before noon, I could save the lane from closure. And get my toast!”
